Called to LOVE + SERVE
Mount Olive’s tagline is “Loving People to Jesus.”
At Mount Olive, we believe that God has called us to love and serve our neighbor (vocation – John 15:16-17). We love and serve our neighbor, not to earn God's love or favor, but out of response to His immeasurable love for us (Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 4:7-21)! Scroll down to learn more about outreach + service opportunities at and through Mount Olive.
Click here to view Mt. Olive’s 2024 Focus
Labors of Love Volunteers
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And we ought to lay down our lives for one another.” – 1 Jn. 3:16
Through our “Labors of Love” ministry we are looking to do two things: (1) love our neighbors in need in tangible and meaningful ways, and (2) mobilize the people in our neighborhoods in loving their neighbors in meaningful and tangible ways. In other words, we want to partner with our neighbors in Rockford, Loves Park, and Machesney Park in loving their neighbors and our neighbors.
In the months with FIVE Saturdays on that fifth Saturday of the month (still for 2024: November 30th and for 2025: March 29th, May 31st, August 30th, and Nov. 29th) we are asking the members of Mt. Olive and Concordia Lutheran Churches, and others living in our neighborhoods to make yourselves available to respond to our/your neighbors’ requests for labor assistance. To become a “Labor of Love Volunteer” please complete the volunteer application form with waiver by clicking here and sending the complete form to bcullen@mtolivelutheran.com
Brookview Elementary School
Mt. Olive Lutheran Church has partnered with Brookview Elementary School, through Kids Hope USA, to make a positive impact on the lives of children at Brookview. Through Kids Hope USA our members have the opportunity to be trained and paired with an at-risk child in a supportive mentoring relationship. Our partnership with Brookview, however, extends beyond Kids Hope USA and the mentoring of children to being a blessing at Brookview School in a variety of ways.
To learn more about Kids Hope USA, click here.
Rockford RESCUE MISSION
Volunteers have the opportunity to work with the homeless at the mission. We annually conduct a worship service and serve sack dinners at Rockford Rescue Mission. We also make it a priority to respond to requests made by Rockford Rescue Mission (e.g., request for donated items and for assistance at their thrift store).
For more information on the Rockford Rescue Mission, click here.
LABORS OF LOVE
Jesus instructs us to “love our neighbors.” This we sincerely want to do. In the months with FIVE Saturdays on that fifth Saturday (for 2024: March 30th, June 29th, August 31st, and November 30th) Mt. Olive and Concordia Lutheran Churches have members of our congregations available to reach out to our neighbors to provide labors of love. The skill level of our members will vary, but as we are able, we would like to offer our services free of charge to assist you with your labor needs. If you would like assistance, please complete and submit the labor request form by clicking here. If you have a pressing immediate need for assistance, please call the church office: 815-399-3171.
CARPENTER'S PLACE
Carpenter's Place is a ministry that serves the homeless of Rockford.
-On the third Monday of each month our congregation provides lunch for approximately 100 people at Carpenter's Place.
-On the fourth Friday of each month we lead a chapel service.
We regularly make contributions of donated items (everything from clothes, to furniture, to toiletries.
There is also opportunity teach a Bible class, help with inventorying donations, collecting donations, or simply befriending the guests at Carpenter's Place-offering them encouragement and support.
Click here to learn more about the ministry + services of Carpenter Place.
YOUTH FOR CHRIST
Youth for Christ’s stated mission is Stateline YFC exists for one reason: To reach youth throughout the Stateline area with the gospel of Jesus Christ and in doing so bring gospel-centered transformation to the Stateline area.
Talk with Alyssa Newton or click here to learn more about the ministry + services of Youth for Christ.
MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES
We encourage all our members to be involved in a missional community. A missional community is a group of Christians (typically three to twelve people – it may be a family unit) who meet regularly to encourage one another to live with a missional mindset in order to better bring Jesus’ love to bear upon people’s lives (particularly those not yet in a meaningful relationship with Jesus). A missional community typically identifies a missional neighborhood upon which they want to concentrate their efforts. A missional neighborhood might be a geographic neighborhood, a place of employment, a school, etc. To assist them in their efforts missional communities when they get together to encourage one another ask and share around five questions coined by Rev. Greg Finke:
-What is Jesus up to and doing in your missional neighborhood?
-What has God been saying to you and showing you in and through His Word? How and to what has God been nudging you?
-With whom in your missional neighborhood have you been in conversation? What are you learning (joys and sorrows, interests, needs) and how are you doing in developing and enjoying a caring, loving relationship?
-What opportunities do you have to do good, to express Your loving care and God’s loving care?
-For whom are you praying and how can we support you in prayer?
To learn more about MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES at Mount Olive, click here!
Second Monday - In Person Missional Community with Dinner - @ 6:30 pm. Leader: Bill Cullen - address 4509 Linder Pl., Rockford, IL 61107 (Ph. 815-713-7072)
Third Monday - ZOOM Missional Community - @ 6:30 pm. Leader: Bill Cullen
link - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84001898173?pwd=8le29GRPzYSajjOOvb5k8L7z7npuLa.1
Second & Fourth Thursdays - In Person Missional Community - 6:00 pm. Leader Karen Freudenberg - Phone: 815-985-6799
If you would like more information about any of these ministries and/or about how you might get involved, contact Bill Cullen at bcullen@mtolivelutheran.com or call 815.399.3171.
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Other Ministries For Your Consideration
Lutheran Church Charities - Lutheran Church Charities provides local (northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin) as well as national and international emergency assistance to families suffering from flooding, tornadoes, etc. This work is most typically salvage work, clean-up, and repair. Lutheran Church Charities also provides a valuable ministry with comfort dogs. To learn more about the work of Lutheran Church Charities, click here.
ONE BODY Collaboratives - One Body Collaboratives is an organization that exists to assist local churches + faith organizations more effectively meet individual and community needs. One Body Collaboratives has a number of initiatives you might want to consider. To learn more about One Body Collaboratives click here.
Rock House Kids – Rock House Kids stated mission and vision is: Our Mission - Sharing God's love with inner-city children through Biblical principles, with physical and spiritual solutions. Our Vision - To meet the physical, emotional, and educational needs of inner-city children by instilling hope in a safe, Christ-centered environment. To learn more about Rock House Kids, click here.
Pregnancy Care Center – Pregnancy Care Center offers compassionate help and hope to those facing an unplanned pregnancy through free and confidential pregnancy testing, ultrasound, STD testing, mentoring, case management, education, resources, and referrals. To learn more about Pregnancy Care Center click here.
Habitat for Humanity – Volunteers have the opportunity to help build homes for needy families, to prepare lunches for the laborers and/or volunteer to help at the Habitat for Humanity's Restore Store. Interested in learning more about Habitat for Humanity? Click here.
