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Freedom School – Successful Fall Pitch-In

The Fall Pitch-In for St. Luke’s UMC Freedom School staff, scholars, and their families was a joyful celebration filled with games, delicious treats, and plenty of laughter. Held in the welcoming environment of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, the event was designed to foster community and connection as scholars, their families, and the dedicated Freedom School staff gathered. Scholars and their families enjoyed fun, autumn-themed games, prizes and activities, while also connecting with staff and other families.

One of the primary goals of the Freedom School at St. Luke’s is to build a lasting sense of community that continues to grow throughout the school year. Events like this fall pitch-in allow scholars and their families to feel a genuine sense of belonging not only within Freedom School but also within the larger St. Luke’s community. This sense of community and support is something that we hope to carry forward, helping families feel at home within St. Luke's and reinforcing the collaborative spirit that underlies the mission of the program. Church volunteers have the opportunity to walk side by side with Freedom School staff, scholars and their families. This collaboration aligns with Freedom School’s vision of empowering scholars through strong community ties, making them feel valued and supported. We are excited about the potential for this partnership to grow, deepening the bonds between the Freedom School families and the larger St. Luke’s congregation.

We will begin recruiting volunteers for our 2025 Freedom School soon. If you’d like to receive more information, please contact us at stlukesfreedomschool@gmail.com.

Luke’s Leaders – Indiana Youth & Government Organization Day

Recently our 8th Grade Youth and Government students had the opportunity to visit YMCA Camp Eberhart in Three Rivers, Michigan for the Indiana Youth and Government Organization Day on November 2. We had a very early morning, boarding the bus at 5:00 a.m., armed with breakfast and pillows!

Upon arriving at Camp Eberhart, the students immediately jumped right into climbing a 30-ft rock wall, and we talked about overcoming fear and embracing challenges. We joined students from other Youth and Government delegations for lunch, and then went down to the lake front to practice debate skills and parliamentary procedure. Our group then took on a team building challenge, where they worked together to balance ten people on an imbalanced platform. It was wonderful seeing them work together, try out each other’s ideas, and literally lift one another up. We concluded our trip with a group gathering with the other delegates, and our students had a chance to check out the lake, the beach, and even the horses! We arrived back at the YMCA around 6:15 p.m., and departed, after a wonderful, exciting day!

Luke's Leaders is always looking for adult volunteers to mentor these students and to work with them during their weekly sessions. For more information about volunteering or about the Luke's Leaders Program, please click HERE.

Tanzania Mission

This month we welcomed Emmanuel Pius to St. Luke’s. Emmanuel is a medical student from Tanzania, and a graduate of Angel House Children’s Home and Secondary School. Emmanuel shared with us how education has changed his life, taking him from an uneducated family that couldn’t afford to send him to school, to the best medical school in the country and a dream for a clinic in his home village.

St. Luke’s has committed to raise $29,000 to build one classroom as Angel House builds an elementary school for local students. We are also putting together an exploratory trip to Tanzania in September 2025.

CLICK HERE to donate funds to build a classroom

CLICK HERE to receive information about the trip as we know details.