Ministry Celebration
We celebrate how the people of Messiah live
out the Good News, engage in God’s Word daily,
and join Jesus on His mission.
Senior Ministry
Our Senior Ministry, led by Pastor David Loeschen and Team Leader Gwelda Carlson, brings seniors together for friendship, faith, and fellowship. Through gatherings, special events, and opportunities to serve, seniors build meaningful relationships, grow in faith, and enjoy life together as they experience God’s work in our church and community.
Something for Everyone
Monthly gatherings bring seniors together for fellowship, learning, and shared experiences, with programs and activities such as:
- Mourning Hope
- Bingo with Messiah Kindergarten
- Financial Planning for Seniors
- Missouri Synod Lutheran Comfort Dogs
- Therapy Horses
- Hospice Education
- Annual Show & Shine Car Show and Potluck
- Heritage & Ethnic History
- Community tours and special outings
A Ministry of Connection and Care
We’re celebrating the many ways Senior Ministry brings people together throughout the year.
Monthly Gatherings
20-40 seniors typically participate
Advent & Lenten Luncheons
40-70 attending
Senior Card Ministry
Around 200 cards sent each year
Respite Ministry
Serving and assisting with activities and noon luncheons.
Through these gatherings and acts of care, Senior Ministry provides meaningful opportunities for seniors to remain connected, encouraged, and involved in the Messiah family.
Everyone has a place to connect, serve, and enjoy fellowship at Messiah.
Serving Together
Senior Ministry is made possible by a team of faithful volunteers. Together, they create welcoming spaces for seniors to build friendships, explore new interests, care for others, and continue growing in their relationship with Christs.
Women's Ministry
Growing in Faith, Connection, and Community
We celebrate the many ways God is working through Messiah Women’s Ministry! Women of all ages and life stages are finding opportunities to grow in faith, build meaningful relationships, and serve together.
From Bible studies and Bible Navigation to ANEW — A Never-Ending Worship, women have opportunities to engage with Scripture, worship, pray, and grow in their relationship with Christ. Simple Connections, book clubs, social gatherings, and wellness events create space for women to build friendships and encourage one another.
Annual gatherings including Advent by Candlelight, LWML’s Mission Awareness Salad Supper, and Women’s Crafter Noon bring women together through fellowship, service, and outreach.
Strong Participation & Lasting Connections
We’re celebrating strong participation throughout the ministry.
Tuesday morning Bible study
50+ women registered
Simple Connections
30-40 women typically participate
Wholehearted Women’s Wellness
30+ attended
Crafter Noon in 2026
25 registered
Zoom Bible Study
21 women participated
And the connections often continue beyond the event itself, with many Simple Connections groups continuing to meet after their three-month experience.
When women grow deeper in Christ and stronger in community, the impact reaches far beyond the ministry itself. We’re grateful for a community of faithful sisters who are growing, serving, and following Jesus together.
Women Investing in Women
A dedicated core team, along with Bible study leaders, event hosts, and volunteers, makes these opportunities possible. Women are stepping forward to lead, serve, welcome, and encourage one another—and their investment is helping this ministry continue to grow.
Messiah Lutheran Foundation
Empowering Messiah to thrive - today, tomorrow, and until Christ returns.
We celebrate how God is working through the generosity of the Messiah family. The Messiah Lutheran Foundation helps create a lasting legacy of faith and generosity that supports Messiah’s ministry today and for generations to come.
This past year, that generosity has been put into action in meaningful ways. Through the Legacy Giving Society, Quarterly Grant Program, and Mustard Seed Movement, the Foundation has helped support ministry opportunities and encourage faithful generosity throughout our congregation.
The Foundation has also created opportunities to grow in stewardship and financial wisdom through Legacy Planning Workshops and Financial Peace University, while gatherings like LutherFEST bring our congregation together in fellowship and celebration.
A Year of Generosity
We celebrate the generosity that is helping Messiah thrive and building momentum for the future.
$318K+
Received since January 2025
$95K+
In ministry grants
47
Ministries supported
$1M+
Growing for Messiah’s future
Involvement
13 Board Members & 15 Volunteers
A Ministry strengthened by people who give their time, leadership, and talents.
Creating opportunities for generosity and investing in the future of Messiah’s ministry – Today. Tomorrow. Until Christ returns.
Partner Ministries
Through long-standing partnerships and new opportunities to serve, our church family is living out Jesus’ call to love others in practical ways. Whether it’s supporting children, providing food, responding to disasters, or walking alongside women and families, every act of service points people to the hope found in Christ.
Royal Family KIDS
Each summer, Royal Family KIDS Camp gives children who have experienced abuse and neglect a safe place to have fun, build relationships, and experience the love of Christ.
Messiah has proudly partnered with Royal Family KIDS Camp since 2001 as one of the five founding sponsoring churches. For 26 years, our church has faithfully supported the ministry through volunteers, prayer, and financial giving.
Interested in learning more about Royal Family KIDS or how you can serve?
Camp is the first step into the Royal Family Kids ministry.
Year-round impact continues through mentoring and monthly Royal Family Club.
Serve at camp
to become involved in these ongoing ministries.
Try it out with short-term volunteer opportunities at camp or at events in Lincoln.
This summer marked the 26th annual Royal Family KIDS Camp.
Thank you to everyone who has volunteered, prayed, and given over the years – your faithfulness continues to bring hope and the love of Christ to children who need it most.
Immanuel Food Pantry/ Bread of Life
Immanuel Food Pantry serves individuals and families throughout south Lincoln by providing food and essential household items to neighbors facing food insecurity.
Since 2023, Messiah has partnered with Immanuel Food Pantry through generous congregational donations and food drives led by Messiah Lutheran School. Together, we are helping meet the everyday needs of our local community.
Interested in learning more about Immanuel Food Pantry or how you can help?
Donate year-round to help keep pantry shelves stocked with food and personal care items.
Most-needed items include
canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, pasta, peanut butter, soup, coffee, crackers, and juice.
Personal care items are always appreciated, including toothpaste, shampoo, soap, deodorant, toilet paper, and laundry detergent.
School food drives provide another opportunity for Messiah families to support this important ministry.
Thank you to everyone who has donated, prayed, and supported Immanuel Food Pantry. Your generosity is helping care for our neighbors and share Christ’s love throughout our community.
Lincoln Pregnancy Center
Provides free, Christ-centered support for women and families facing pregnancy and parenting decisions. Services include pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, parenting classes, material assistance, counseling, and ongoing support for up to two years after a baby’s birth.
For more than 20 years, Messiah has partnered with the Pregnancy Center through baby supply drives, school collections, and the generous support of our congregation. Together, we help provide practical resources and share the hope and love of Christ with women, children, and families in our community.
Interested in learning more about Lincoln Pregnancy Center or how you can help?
Donate baby essentials including diapers (especially sizes 4-6), clothing, formula, books, toys, and other baby supplies.
Volunteer your time
by helping sort donated clothing and baby items at the Pregnancy Center.
Pray for families and for the staff and volunteers as they share God’s grace, truth, and compassion with every person who walks through their doors.
As a donor-supported ministry, we are grateful for your generosity. Your gifts provide life-affirming care and practical support to women and families throughout Lincoln, Omaha, and the surrounding communities.
Orphan Grain Train
This ministry is led by Don and Connie Johnson, with Jim Carter serving as the Lincoln Branch Manager. Through Orphan Grain Train, a Christian volunteer network that shares food, clothing, medical supplies, and other humanitarian aid with people in need around the world, their faithful leadership and the dedication of Messiah volunteers continue to make a lasting impact.
For more than 20 years, Messiah has partnered with Orphan Grain Train to serve people in need around the world. Each month, a dedicated team of about 20 volunteers sorts and packs donations at the Lincoln branch, helping prepare essential supplies for shipment.
Interested in learning more about Orphan Grain Train or how you can serve?
Partner with 44 local non-profits to meet needs to disaster areas, border missions, Indian reservations
Meeting physical and spiritual needs
to 74 countries around the world
Mercy Meals over 500,000 produced entirely with volunteer help this past year
Partnered with Common Threads and shipped 5000 feminine hygiene kits around the world
You can help with prayers, volunteering, donations of gently used clothing, shoes, bedding and Bibles, and medical supplies as well as financial support. We are walking with Jesus on His mission.
Common Threads
A volunteer community serving together with joy to meet practical needs and share Christ’s love with women and girls around the world.
The primary mission of Common Threads is the production of feminine care kits for women and girls in areas where access to essential hygiene supplies is limited. Distributed to places such as Ukraine, Mexico, Peru, India, Haiti, and many more countries, these kits provide dignity, comfort, and hope to those in need.
Without these essential items, many women and girls are forced to miss school, work, and even church during their monthly cycles. By creating these kits, volunteers help open doors to education, employment, and opportunities to grow in faith.
A Ministry Making a Difference
Since 2018, God has used Common Threads Ministry to impact lives around the world.
Lives touched
Over 40,000
Produced & Distributed
320,000+ pieces
Serving Each Year
500+ Volunteers
People Blessed
7,000+ last year alone
Pieces Gifted
65,000+ in the past year
Every kit is a tangible espression of Christ’s love.
God is working mightily through Common Threads Ministry. Will you join Him where He is already at work?
Everyone Has a Place to Serve
Volunteers gather in The Studio (Portable #21) on Messiah’s campus several times each week, serving as often as their schedules allow. Many also participate from home using organized take-home project bins.
No sewing experience is required. There is a task for every person and every skill level, and all tools and materials are provided.
Serving Together in Joy
Volunteers find abundant joy and reward in being part of Common Threads Ministry. Through Christian fellowship, we lift one another up in prayer and love while creating gifts of care for people near and far.
Consider supporting this ministry by volunteering or donating to purchase supplies. Thrivent grants designated for Common Threads are very helpful in accomplishing our goals.
Open Studio Hours:
August 17, 8:00am-1:00pm
August 20, 8:00am-12:00pm
More dates and times available here.
Men's Ministry
Stronger and On Mission, Together
We celebrate how God is working through our Men’s Ministry, led by Bob Wenger and Pastor Andy. This ministry is focused on building strong, Christ-centered men who are growing in faith, forming authentic relationships, and living on mission together.
Men’s Ministry offers a wide range of opportunities designed to meet men wherever they are in their faith journey. From regular Bible studies to deeper discipleship experiences like Wild at Heart studies and Every Man A Warrior groups, there are intentional pathways for growth.
At the same time, connection is built through more relaxed gatherings like Meet & Eats, BBQs, and breakfasts where friendships form naturally. Events such as the Father/Son Campout and Golf League create meaningful space for community, fun, and shared experiences.
A Ministry That’s Growing
We celebrate the strong participation and steady growth of this ministry.
Bible Studies
Over 100 men engaged regularly
Meet & Eat Events
40-100 men gathering
Men’s Breakfast
Around 180 men attending breakfasts
Golf League
53+ men play golf together in the spring and summer
Involvement
New men joining regularly
Through studies, retreats, and events, men are consistently being strengthened in their faith and encouraged in their daily lives.
As men grow stronger in their faith, the impact extends into their homes, their workplaces, and their communities.
Built on Shared Leadership
This ministry thrives because of the many men who step forward to lead and serve. With more than 20 lay leaders and volunteers, the ministry is supported by a strong foundation of shared leadership.
From the Men’s Action Team to Bible study leaders, retreat leaders, and event volunteers, each person plays a role in helping others grow. This collaborative model creates space for men to use their gifts and invest in one another.
Human Care Team
Our Human Care Team, lay-led under the leadership of Pastor David and overseen by Pastor Dustin, brings compassion and practical support to our church and community. Together, volunteers create meaningful moments of care—whether delivering needed items, visiting homes, or connecting members with resources.
During the Baby Supply Drive, over 5,000 diapers, 140 packages of wipes, 80 toys, 52 blankets, and more than 400 clothing items were collected.
Volunteers helped gather food for the Immanuel Food Pantry, assembled Thanksgiving baskets, and delivered over 100 Easter and Christmas blessing bags to shut-ins and elderly members, spreading hope and joy throughout the year.
Pastor David and Deb Loeschen bring care directly to homes through visits and home communion—nearly 60 each month. Their presence is so meaningful that if Deb doesn’t go along, people will ask for her by name!
Van Ministry:
Every Sunday, about nine members rely on the Van Ministry to attend worship. Volunteers assist with getting in and out of the van safely.
Health & Safety:
The Health Ministry provides monthly blood pressure screenings, school health education, and maintains first aid equipment and AEDs.
Support & Care:
Grief care, the Encourager group for widows, and guidance for those navigating community resources.
Birthday Blessings:
over 20 small bundt cakes delivered to members age 90 and above.
Countless volunteers make this ministry possible. Their dedication, often behind the scenes, strengthens our community and reminds us that every act of care—big or small—makes a lasting impact.
Explore Human Care at Messiah – Get Involved or Find Support Today.
Passionately ministers to homebound, widowed, and struggling individuals, offering spiritual, social, emotional, and physical support along with companionship.
We love and care for all of God’s people, regardless of size, level of development, and degree of dependence.
Promotes the physical, mental, and spiritual health of the people of Messiah and the communities we serve. Our team members include nurses and other healthcare professionals.