As a congregation, how do we elevate our outreach efforts from merely providing resources to building relationships? That is exactly the question St. John’s has been asking this summer. Take a moment and explore with us an interesting possibility in outreach. It’s a structure called Open Table and it’s already making an impact in Saginaw. You know the old saying, “Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” Well, this is it. Open Table is a ministry program that offers training and resources to congregations willing to work with an individual in need of their knowledge, networks and support.

Congregations involved in this ministry choose 6-8 members or partner with another church to form a “table” that will meet for one year. In this time, the table will seek to understand the needs and goals of an individual then help him or her network, and gain the skills necessary to meet his or her goals.

Interested in learning more? Www.theopentable.org is a great place to get started. Please take a few minutes to investigate Open Table and if you think you might be interested in moving forward, plan on attending an exploratory meeting on Sunday, August 21 following the 10:30 service.