We are a church that makes a difference: Here, Near and Far! Jesus said to his disciples, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem (here), in all Judea and Samaria (near), and to the ends of the earth (far)."
From the beginning of Christianity, followers of Jesus have been serving in ways that reflect that promise and ripple God's love outward. This year our matching gift campaign will make a big impact—here, near and far.
The first $15,000 received will be matched by a generous family in our church, for a potential total of more than $30,000 to further God's mission. We will divide funds between three ministries:
- Here - Increased staffing for ministry at Good Shepherd including our pastoral intern and potentially adding a paid nursery attendant
- Near - GSLC Refugee Support Fund to continue our assistance for our friends the Habib family, Afghan refugees living in Alexandria, through Lutheran Social Services (lssnca.org)
- Far - Lutheran World Relief to provide humanitarian aid in Ukraine, relief for areas affected by the earthquakes in Morocco, and other places facing immediate needs (lwr.org)
To contribute online, select Matching fund when you make your donation. Or you can give at church or by mail—simply write Matching campaign on your giving envelope or check.
This annual campaign has been successful in past years to target critical mission and facility needs and enable GSLC to grow within our building and community. The 2022 campaign raised $39,375 total. Generous GSLC member contributions to the campaign helped erase year end operating fund deficit and provided over $10,000 of support for refugee resettlement. This year, we know the campaign will make a true difference in our own community and in the world.
We respect each member and their personal financial situation. Contributing to the annual matching funds campaign is up to you. If you receive end-of-year bonuses or dividends or prefer to consolidate your giving at the end of the year, we ask you to consider contributing to the 2023 matching campaign. Please remember that this campaign is an "above and beyond" fund. We rely on your regular donations to fulfill our 2023 spend plan first, so we ask that you give to this campaign only after you have given your usual contribution to the general budget.
If you have any questions about this campaign or giving to GSLC, please contact us. Thanks to your support, Good Shepherd will be a strong pillar in the community for generations to come.
In God’s Peace,
Chris Hoeffner, Stewardship Chair, Denise Gray, Financial Secretary, Pastor Kate Costa