North Liberty, Iowa

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Hits the Ground Running

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Hits the Ground Running

The Rev. Timothy Smith, mission developer at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, began his ministry in North Liberty, Iowa, by helping with local flood relief efforts—not the expected first task but certainly important and necessary.

Those activities, as well as many planned activities, helped him establish visibility, form relationships with community leaders, and memorize names. Smith also planned a comprehensive door knocking campaign “so that I could get to know residents one-on-one, instead of as statistics,” he said.

He found it helpful that an interest survey was completed before his May 2008, arrival in this rapidly growing area between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. Also vital was the “permission, leadership, and encouragement” of leaders from surrounding ELCA congregations.

Funding from one or more Mission Partners to cover the initial development is essential, as are prayers and help with door knocking. Smith said, “Hands-on help seems to maintain an awareness of a mission's presence more than sending an occasional check.”

Smith believes that any “requested” support, materials, or assistance—as compared to “unsolicited cast-offs”—can be essential to a good start.

Established congregations also can invite their members living near the mission development to provide encouragement, attend worship, and publicize its existence. “We can have a healthy mission focus in every congregation without congregations or pastors feeling threatened by a new mission start,” said Smith. “We are not there to take away their members but to reach those who don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ.”

In this spirit, a member of a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregation donated unused office space to Holy Trinity for six months and offered a lease. The space now provides a sanctuary and classrooms for Holy Trinity to grow and reach out to the community.