St. Martin of Tours

Our Outreach Services

A  Few Preliminary Thoughts

Outreach is a matter today for future development. We know that we are a church strategically located in South Omaha. However at this point in time, August 2007, we are a transitional congregation. 

For some time our building has been used on Thursday evenings for AA meetings. This will continue. We anticipate that over the months ahead there may be other ways in which the church can be of service to the larger community. We welcome these opportunities.

The membership of St. Martin's congregation has and will, over time, open up opportunities for outreach.  The interests, talents, and capacities of our members contribute greatly to the development of the church's outreach.

One example of this is Habitat for Humanity.  Stephanie Russell-Heller has been active with Habitat for a number of years. If this is an area where you would like to become involved, do give her a call.  Her number is 292-7416.

As our work in outreach continues to unfold certain understandings may become clear in the process. I share with you a few thoughts as we continue in our adventure in this transitional time together.

1. We will proceed as a communty of faith appropriate to the interests, talents, and capacities of those who are or become part of St. Martin's under the on-going direction of the Holy Spirit.  We will seek to function as a mission / ministry team operating close to ground, but with hearts and minds attuned to matters above. 
2. We will seek to work collaboratively with others, beyond our congregation, in addressing the needs of our community.
3. We will be vigilent in identifying areas of need that are not being served, or, that are being underserved. We will be as responsive as we can, striving to work with others within the larger community.
4. Ministry begins where we are and proceeds from there as both a ministry of action as well as an on-going learning opportunity for all engaged.
5. We will be oriented toward training and on-going learning focused on the mission / ministry of the St. Martin's community. One way in which this will be addressed is through developing our capacity for presence as 'called ones alongside,' listening skills, and awake to the healing power of our stories.
6. We will from the outset serve as a community of prayer and service for the well being of all, within and without the church of St. Martin's. We begin in generalities and as rapidly as possible move toward concrete and specific siuations of need. Let us hear from you.

Fr. Ron Whitmer, August 16, 2007

Millennium Development Goals

The MDGs represent a global partnership that has grown from the commitments and targets established at the world summits of the 1990s. Responding to the world's main development challenges and to the calls of civil society, the MDGs promote poverty reduction, education, maternal health, gender equality, and aim at combating child mortality, AIDS and other diseases.