In 2023 St. Luke’s adopted a new, three-year strategic plan:
Being the church in a changing world
LOVE OUR CITY
We will develop leaders and send them into their communities to lead transformational change.
But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” … And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke them and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. Luke 9:13,16
Sleep In Heavenly Peace
June VBS Fundraising $7,945 with Congregational Match $25,710
Totaling $33,655
November 2023 Build
Children living in under-furnished homes who had been sleeping on the floor every night are now having sweet dreams in 110 new beds built and delivered by 380 St. Luke’s volunteers.
“As a parent, my biggest hope and prayer is that my step-daughter was able to see that there are many people in our own backyard who are less fortunate than we are. Helping people is one of the biggest gifts you can give.”
Skyla Patterson, St. Luke’s Mom
Through Working Faith, St. Luke’s is erasing the Sunday-Monday divide
March, 2023
New Working Faith cohorts began and monthly breakfast speaker events were slated to start in January, all to help us see our careers as a way that God will build the kingdom. Working Faith can engage and impact people all over Houston, not just those who already call St. Luke’s home.
“My attendance at one of the Working Faith cohorts came at a time my business had reached a nice goal. After being in business for two years, my partners and I were enjoying a sweet spot in comfort with workload and expectation. Would we choose to continue at that size and be content? Or would we choose to step out again in faith, expand office space and personnel, and continue to see where God led us? As I listened to others in my cohort’s stories and prayed with them for their work goals, I opened up and shared my conundrum. Stepping out again restored the chance of failure to our loving enterprise. One of the members replied, ‘Well it is called Working Faith for a reason. Let’s all do the work and keep our faith that God is with us.” Since that day, my partners and I have based our expansion on that simple reminder.”
Laurie Noteboom, St. Luke’s Member and Business Owner
EXPAND OUR TABLE
We will embrace an inclusive and invitational posture to engage new people.
Then the master said, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in,
so that my house may be filled.” Luke 14:23
New bilingual worship at Gethsemane allows those who speak different languages to worship together.
February, 2023
On the first Sunday of each month, Gethsemane offers a combined English/Spanish service which brings worshipers together.
Para mi el servicio bilingue me emociona. Me alegra y me motiva asistir a la iglesia porque entiendo en mi idioma. Me hace sentir parte de la iglesia Gethsemane y de mi congregacion en Cristo.
For me, the bilingual service excites me. It makes me happy and motivated to attend church because I understand in my language. It makes me feel part of the Gethsemane church and my congregation in Christ.
Silvia Elizalde, 13-year Gethsemane Member
branches Worship Community celebrated its first birthday and continued its growth with the addition of Livestream.
September, 2023
“Branches is not just a ‘Sunday-church’, it is a community that welcomes me and loves me right where I am. It has given me a renewed sense of community and belonging to do this faith thing with others. I know I do not have to fit into some ‘perfect model’ and have it all together to be truly loved by Christ and others.”
Chris Frease, Alpha Leader
Young Adults Restart
September, 2023
“Joining St Luke’s Young Adults has helped strengthen my relationship with the Lord. It has inspired me and shed a lot of perspective on understanding what my peers have to say about their interpretations and what it means to them, as well as having a safe space to disclose any doubts or worries I have faced through my journey. Being part of a community filled with positive influences that practice the love of Jesus has helped me embrace my relationship with Jesus wholeheartedly and pass it on in my daily life.”
Kaitlin Eckert (who was baptized this past January)
STRENGTHEN OUR FOUNDATION
We will develop the human, financial, and technological resources necessary for the growth of the church and the success of current and future ministries.
From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required, and from the one to whom much has been entrusted,
even more will be demanded. Luke 12:48,43
Servant Leadership Academy Strengthens our Students
The SLA is a process of deeper discipleship and intentional training and leadership opportunities for students who are hungry to grow in their faith
“SLA has allowed me to discover what God has called me to do. I have grown as a leader, become more responsible and comfortable with (life’s) pressure, and have been able to rely on God to guide me through it all. It is truly what keeps me coming back to church and excited about my faith.”
Jack Reid, High School Junior
Perkins School of Theology selected St. Luke’s to participate
in the Testimony HQ cohort
August, 2023
The St. Luke’s Testimony HQ leadership team, comprised of all ages and four different worshipping communities, is leading the congregation in the practice of testimony, buoying our habit “We tell our stories to share with others how God is at work in the world.:
We redefined the scary word ‘testimony’ according to input from our congregation at our kick-off workshop:
“Testimony is an authentic sharing of our personal stories where we’ve seen God’s presence in our lives.”Suzi Pitts, Director of Communications and Chief Storyteller
FINANCIALS
St. Luke’s thanks God for our church family and all that you have entrusted to us to continue to live out our vision of “A city transformed by the love of Jesus.” St. Luke’s is grateful for faithful giving to the church financially, and in turn the church strives to be a good steward of all that God has provided. Our financial statements are audited annually by Blazek & Vetterling with reports presented to the Finance Committee.
In addition to the core church ministries, the Nick Finnegan Counseling Center, St. Luke’s Day School, and Summer Camp programs are supported by the infrastructure of the church and provide unique opportunities for St. Luke’s to reach the surrounding community.
In 2023, we supported many organizations with our gifts
Easter Offering raised $124,000+ to furnish and equip The Study, a space in The Garden community youth center.
Christmas Offering raised $125,300+ for our Big Serve project to build a Habitat for Humanity house in Spring 2024.
Houston Project issued grants totaling $100,000 to the following organizations that are doing great things in our city:
Covenant House Texas, Have Shears Will Travel, Main Street Ministries, Mission of Yahweh, and The Women’s Home.
LOOKING FORWARD
The Garden, our community youth center, is nearing completion on the Gethsemane Campus. View the online tour!
Grand Opening Expected- April 2024
The Garden is a community that encourages the curiosity, growth, well-being, and unlimited potential of all young people. We are committed to helping young people ask questions about their lives: Who am I? What do I believe in? Where am I going? How can I get there?
Ryan Villarreal, Executive Director
Loving and engaging our Online Community
Mid-2024
“Almost everyone that we want to reach is online. Think about the people you’re praying for. They may have never been to church, but they’re probably on Instagram, TikTok or X. Digital ministry makes it possible for people who aren’t in our building to begin, grow, and deepen their faith. It’s not just about Sunday morning worship; it’s about creating intentional opportunities for folks to grow closer to God and others through discipleship, classes, community & support groups, and service opportunities. And it doesn’t just happen on Sundays; digital ministry makes it possible to engage any time someone wants. We’re taking this dream about expanding our table and turning it into a strategy to reach our neighbors near and far! “
Rev. Katie Montgomery Mears, Executive Pastor