St. John's Episcopal Church, Roanoke, VA • Outreach Programs

“For I  was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me...” Matthew 25:35
 
Among the most satisfying and vital ministries is St. John's is Christian outreach.  A downtown parish  sees its neighbors in need on a daily basis.  As with all ministries at St. John's lay volunteers lead outreach.  As we work alongside those less fortunate than ourselves, we begin to see Christ in one another as never before.

Click on any of the Outreach Programs below to learn more!

Community Living Club  
Twice a month members of St. John's provide food, fellowship, and Christian community in our Parish Hall for area residents who need emotional support.  St. John's owns Mountain Manor on Elm Avenue where some members of the Community Living Club receive HUD subsidized housing.

Community Youth Program
This after school program serves about twenty at-risk middle school students.  Volunteers provide tutoring, snacks, and friendship to the youth and their families. Mark Hurley is the Executive Director.

Ghana Mission - Kimoyo (the language of the spirit)
Through the Kimoyo organization, St. John's actively supports the Anglican Diocese of Tamale in its efforts to improve the lives of northern Ghanaians.  In November 1998, St. John's joined Kingdom Life  Ministries (a church in Northwest Roanoke) in opening the Binaba Shop, a non-profit retail store specializing in African clothing, jewelry, hand-crafted wood carvings, and home decor.  The income from the shop is used to develop Ghanaian cottage industries and medical facilities in Binaba.  Kingdom Life Ministries and St. John's also send church members to Ghana to work with our brothers and sisters there and to welcome guests from Ghana to Roanoke. Kimoyo also provides education experiences about Africa to Roanoke area school children.

Summer Enrichment Program
St. John's joins forces with four other area churches to provide a program of education, recreation, and fellowship for some of our city's children in the West End neighborhood.

Habitat for Humanity  
Since the spring of 1993, St. John's has built three Habitat houses (the last two in partnership with Kingdom Life Ministries) and helped to finance construction on another house.  Literally  hundreds of St. John's members have taken part in the building of these houses.

Boy's Home
St. John's helps to provide school supplies, clothing, and Christmas gifts for several boys at this Episcopal home for boys in Covington, VA.

Interfaith Hospitality Network  
As part of the Network, St. John's works with Temple Emmanuel to provide a week of overnight accommodations and meals to homeless families every three months.

Crossroads Ministries  
This committee of St. John's makes grants to enable participants to break the cycle of poverty and to obtain self-sufficiency through a mentoring relationship.
 
Ongoing partnerships also exist with the Rescue Mission, Meals on Wheels, RAM House, and the West End Center. St. John's parishioners lead the evening Rescue Mission worship service on the second Thursday of even numbered months.