Human Concerns — Past Involvement

Augustana Lutheran Church is committed to step out with the vision that Christ has given us to be a servant church in the heart of the city to all the world. We will continue to center ourselves in Word and Sacrament as we worship, act and reflect together in response to the ministry that Jesus has called us to.

Peace and Justice Highlights Since 1995

Held Interfaith Services for Peace in Iraq since 2002.

Co-sponsored annual peace marches against involvement in the War in Iraq including the “Stop the War” peace march held in Portland, OR on March 19, 2007.

Hosted Ron Young, Interfaith Leader for Peace in the Holy Land.

Were cited nationally in the Christian Century for being the first Sanctuary Congregation in Oregon. We stood with undocumented workers in May 2007 and throughout the remainder of the year.

Created a new website with a significant emphasis on peace and justice in Oct 2007.

Hosted Rev. Fred Taylor of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 2007.

Hosted Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, to speak of our collective ecumenical efforts for peace and justice.

Advocated in the legislature for the ending of predatory lending practices and for a cap on payday loans in 2007.

Healthy Communities Highlights Since 1995

“Piso” Ministry
In the summer of 2000 six members of Augustana committed to do a one week trip Mexico city to work with the staff at Manos Ayuda, the community center that works with the poorest of the poor… peple who make their living by scrounging at a huge dump outside of Mexico City. During that week they poured 13 concrete floors in houses that had walls that ranged from cinder blocks to pallets covered in Christmas wrapping. (“Piso” means “floor” in Mexican, hence the name for the Piso ministry.) These 13 concrete floors meant that the 13 families wouldn’t have to live on mud and sewage. The team returned in 2002 and then in 2004 to pour more concrete floors. In 2006 the team made latrines for families who lived in areas where the dump might expand to, so there could not be permanent homes with concrete floors. In 2008 a fifth team of Augustana volunteers traveled to Mexico to help 15 more families. The teams have changed over the years and any group that would like to go at another time would be welcome.

LWR Coffee Project
The Social Ministry Committee at Augustana began purchasing Fair Trade Coffee through the Lutheran World Relief Coffee Project in June 2006. Since then we’ve purchased 104 packages of coffee, 30 cans of hot cocoa mix, chocolate bars and boxes of tea. In turn we resell these products to members of Augustana at a profit which is given to the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund (used to support members who have emergency financial needs).

These products are raised by small scale farmers in Latin America, Asia and Africa. The farmers are insured of receiving a fair price for their products. By participating in this program, we are helping these farmers in the developing world build a better life for their families and their communities. Over 4,600 Lutheran congregations have joined this parish project! Since we started buying Fair Trade Coffee we have sent over $1,880 to LWR and $720 to support Augustana's Friends in Need fund. This fund supports community members who have emergency financial needs throughout the year.

House of Zion Ministries
Augustana participates with House of Zion Ministries to pack food boxes for the migrant workers in the Woodburn area. Other projects have been to bag gallon bags of beans, fill bags of rice, make candy bags for the children, purchase and bag oranges. Filled food boxes contain all the food necessary for a Christmas dinner; cooking oil, flour, masa flour, cereal, canned vegetables, margarine and much more. Augustana members. Over the years Augustana members have donated a variety of food products to supplement the other food products that House of Zion Ministries has received through their donation program.

North East Food Program (A ministry of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon)
Augustana has been helping to support NEFP for more than 25 years by donating food on a year round basis. There is also a Christmas in July food drive. In 2008 members of Augustana donated more than 1,000 pounds of food to NEFP. Besides the food donations, many members contribute personal dollars and volunteer their time.

Habitat for Humanity
Augustana members have supported the Portland Metro Area Habitat for Humanity since May 2002. For the past 4 years Augustana has also partnered with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans which is in it's fourth year of a nation-wide five year housing program with Habitat. In this program Thrivent provides $96,000 for a house, local Lutheran church members provide $16,000 and Habitat provides the land for the home. Lutheran church members provide 50% of the volunteer labor to construct the homes. Over the last four years more than 30 members of Augustana have helped build 4 Thrivent sponsored homes. In 2009 Augustana members will be volunteering to build another Thrivent sponsored home.

In 2008 we contributed 7% of our annual budget to ministries beyond Augustana church.