Making a Difference
When Lori Salsgiver lost her sight after a stroke, she resorted to public transportation and walking.
Through those trips, she has met many Butler residents and learned about their needs.
“I want to build relationships. I want to help people who are in need and meet them where they're at and go from there,” said Salsgiver, a Butler resident. “I think being a Christian, our number one calling is to serve others. I love to serve. It's important to put other people first.”
Salsgiver is one of eight members on the Missionaries in Butler, or MIB, a missionary team that meets biweekly Wednesdays and kicked off in May at the St. Luke Lutheran Church's Butler campus. Team members hope to make a difference in Butler by starting mission work at Father Marinaro Park on Short Street.
Although one aspect is sharing the church's mission and garnering interest, Salsgiver would like to be a helping hand and set an example for her two young children about the importance of helping neighbors, she said.
“Who doesn't want to make the city they live in a better place?” she said.
Salsgiver lives close to the park, she said. Elderly people and children live in the government housing located nearby.
“It's a real opportunity to reach out to those folks and help them,” she said. “They need it just as much as other areas of Butler.”
With a name inspired by the “Men in Black” movies, the team and its pastor and mission developer Amadeus Gandy started serving a free bag lunch to the community last month at the park.
Gandy arrived last June at Faith Lutheran Church, at 241 Freeport Road. During that time, Faith Lutheran Church and St. Luke Lutheran Church in Cabot agreed to merge into what has become St. Luke Lutheran Church — Butler campus, which has an aim to do mission work in the city of Butler, he said.
“St. Luke was so far in Cabot, the people in Butler think that's country, it's too far away to do things,” Gandy said. “We want to bring the church this direction. We want to let them know we are interested in the life of Butler.”
Cindy Simpson, a Lyndora resident who has attended Faith Lutheran Church, was eager to work with Gandy because she has a passion for mission work. Previously, she was part of an outreach ministry team that served community meals for two years and volunteered at an inpatient hospice for four years.
“We are trying to get as involved as possible to let people know we're there, not only for spiritual need, but for their life needs,” said Simpson.
When parishioners took a census about needs in the Butler area, one recommended community parks, Gandy said, which inspired the group to set up a free bag lunch from noon to 1 p.m. the fourth Saturday of every month.Last month, the mission team served about 35 meals on its first visit.Father Marinaro Park is an area that is often overlooked, Simpson said.Although the park was cleaned and a skateboard park was added, community meals were missing, she said.Cooking and food is her talent she hopes to share with those around her, Simpson said.“I couldn't imagine being in a position of having nothing to eat, especially a child,” she said. “I feel everyone should have a meal.”As mission developer, Gandy spends as much time as he can with the community and attends social services meetings and gatherings and talks with other pastors and nonprofit groups to gauge Butler's needs.The name “MIB” is a play on the “Men in Black” movie.Another effort the team is starting at Father Marinaro Park is a “Movie in the Park” screening. Next spring, MIB members plan to collaborate with other local churches that have praise bands for a Music in the Park concert, which puts a spin on a warm and welcoming community event with a Christian flavor, Gandy said.The desire to form the mission team was twofold, Gandy said.“We have a servant heart,” he said. “Jesus was that servant who we emulate and imitate.”About 70,000 Butler County residents do not belong to a church or religious group, he said.“It's an opportunity to say we're here and we'd like to welcome any lost sheep back into the fold,” he said.New members are welcome, Gandy said. The MIB's next meeting is 7 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Butler campus.“The church loves to serve,” he said. “We are not a church that sits still.”Simpson said she hopes to expand the mission work to not only the hungry, but families and children.Aid is the most important part, Simpson said.“We're not there to preach God's word. We're there to reach out in whatever manner needed,” she said. “If you're Christian and read the Bible, it tells you that you need to reach out to your fellow man and help where needed. Anybody can go to church on Sunday, that doesn't make you Christian. If you're active in whatever church you belong, it's important.”
Community bag lunchWHEN: Noon to 1 p.m. every fourth SaturdayWHERE: Father Marinaro Park, Short StreetCOST: FreeMovie in the Park “Ferdinand”WHEN: 4 p.m. Aug. 16WHERE: Father Marinaro Park, Short StreetCOST: Free; popcorn and water to be given out
