The Faith and Finances team is attempting to inform our members about the many ways that we fulfill our Mission Statement which is  "Empowered by the Spirit, we love and serve in Jesus' name."  These words comprise our mission statement and are said by us at the close of our worship and go forth to serve our Lord and neighbors. 

There are many ways that we are empowered through worship and Christian education. There are also many ways that we love and serve in Jesus' name. The following summary of our outreach ministry highlights some of the wonderful ways that we fulfill our calling as Jesus' disciples. To learn more about HTLC outreach ministries visit our outreach webpage and our volunteer webpage. 

Habitat for Humanity

2025 Women’s Build is an examplie of a high impact and well executed ministry that expands the effectiveness of our service by partnering with Habitat for Humanity. A Holy Trinity team of 7 women answered the call to hang drywall and paint on lots of walls on  a HOT day in August. Habitat works with partner families to teach essentials of home ownership, financial management skills and requires sweat equity as part of the association they forge with new owners. Our church’s financial support and volunteer commitment will forever change the lives of two families in our community. 

Learn more about how HTLC participates in building houses for people in the community who need homes through Habitat for Humanity.  

Jubilee Christmas

Another impactful outreach ministry is Jubilee Christmas. Joining with other churches in our community we participate in a well-run program coordinated by Lafayette Urban Ministry (LUM). For example, LUM does background work to coordinate with other Christmas programs in the area (like Salvation Army, Christmas for Everyone, etc.) to avoid duplicate enrollments so that as many  eligible families are helped as possible. We host local parents who prepare for their own family Christmas. Another unique feature of Jubilee is the effort to make the parent the Christmas “hero” rather than well meaning folks dropping off boxes. We equip them to give their children gifts, a special holiday meal, a new outfit, household supplies and the kind of love Jesus asks us to extend. Last December 2024, we hosted 20 families with 62 children and are gearing up for another HTLC “Christmas Village” on December 13, 2025 - Mark your Calendars! 

Learn more about Jubliee Christmas.

Senior Living Community Worship Outreach

HTLC volunteers are active in several senior living communities. HTLC folks lead a worship service each week at our neighboring facility, Rosewalk Village Skilled Care. St. Mary’s Healthcare Center worships together on the first, third and fifth Sunday. Residents of many faiths participate in hearing scripture, praying together, listening to a message and enjoying music. In addition, Cumberland Pointe Health, with a campus in West Lafayette notifies the office to schedule a visit approximately four times a year.

Learn more about HTLC senior living community outreach. 

Back-to-School Barbecue & Blessing

We partner annually with Bethany Presbyterian for a Back-to-School Barbecue & Blessing to which families come to enjoy a meal and receive needed school supplies. HTLC was very generous with their donations of shoes, book bags, haircuts and time for this year's (2025) event.15 volunteers from HTLC were there at the time of the event. The barbecue gave away 335 pairs of shoes, 150 pairs of socks, 300 book bags, 300 hair cuts, and 600 hot dogs.

Mark your calendars for next year's event which typically takes place on the last Wednesday of July from 5:30 - 7 pm. 

Did you know that you can give your offerings and donations for the ministry of Holy Trinity Lutheran  Church electronically?  Yes, it’s easy and provides a steady source of income for the church. One way to do that is through Vanco. 

Vanco’s online donation platform is beneficial for several reasons. Online donations are easy to manage. Vanco ensures that your personal information is protected, making online donations secure. You can give at your convenience, whether it’s a one-time donation or recurring contributions. Online giving reduces the administrative workload and helps in budget forecasting. By choosing to give via Vanco's online donation platform, you contribute to our ongoing mission and support the church's efforts to make a positive impact in the community. Check out our Giving webpage to learn more about how HTLC uses Vanco.

Currently, 14 giving units contribute to our mission through Vanco. If you wish to give in this way, check out the church Vanco online webpage or contact Debra Blum, Floyd Garrott, or the church office. The new laminated contribution card in the pew rack has a QR Code through which you can make a donation to our ministry via Vanco. Take a picture of the QR Code and click on the link to see where you can contribute. Other electronic means are also available in order to make church contributions such as Qualified Charitable Distributions from an IRA. Starting Sunday, August 17, reusable pew cards stating one’s participation in electronic giving will be available to place in the offering plates. 

However you give your offerings to the church, know that your contributions are vital to our ministry. Thank you for your offerings!

Written by: Finance Committee Member Jim Lichtenberger (retired Pastor)

Who was a role model for you when you were growing up? More specifically, who was a Christian role model that helped shape your faith and spiritual life?

In today’s world there are many influences including social media, peer pressure, and entertainment figures that our youth aspire to follow. Several years ago the assistant pastor at my church shared that teenagers need at least five adults who are Christian role models for them so that their faith becomes vibrant and lasting.  Having several positive faith-filled people in their lives has to make a difference in a teenager’s faith and spiritual growth. These role models include parents, youth leaders, teachers, coaches, and other adults who demonstrate a strong Christian faith and lifestyle. 

For many children and teenagers, the most important role models are their parents and caregivers. Children look up to a variety of role models to help shape how they behave in school, relationships, or when making difficult decisions. I would hope that many teens choose their parents as character role models. Parents should never overlook the important role that they play in their child’s faith development. But it isn’t always the words that they say, it’s how parents listen. And it isn’t always what they do, but the things that parents refrain from doing that are impactful as well. 

Parents aren't the only character role models out there. There are also aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings and cousins, non-family adults (like teachers), and friends that can serve as role models. Teenagers need understanding adults who will spend time with them, listen to them, and be an example of what it means to follow Jesus.

Back to one of the questions with which I started this article.  Who was a Christian role model that helped shaped your faith and spiritual life? First of all, mine were my parents who taught me the faith, saw that I went to church and Sunday School every Sunday, and gave me a dime to put in the offering plate as it passed on Sunday mornings. Also important were my two sisters, Pastor Troutman and a man named Chuck. 

I looked up to Chuck because he had played high school basketball and later served as a Sunday  School teacher for me and was our youth group leader. I could see in him his faith and his love for Jesus Christ. That made a profound impact on my life. And really, who is the best role model of all to follow? It’s Jesus. 

Who was the person that made a difference in your life? But don’t stop there in answering only that question. For whom can you be a positive role model of the faith and spend time with  young people and in doing so, point them to Jesus? Remember, your actions are just as important as the words that you say.  Maybe it’s the kid in church, your own child or relative, or the boy or girl down the street. Their future depends on it. 

 Written by: Jim Lichtenberger (retired Pastor)

ALS is an amplification system utilizing transmitters, receivers, and coupling devices to bypass the acoustical space between a sound source and a listener by means of induction loop, radio frequency (FM system), infrared, or direct-wired equipment. 

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church has an FM system which is like a tiny radio station with its own frequency and has two parts. One part is a microphone that the speaker wears. The microphone sends a signal to a hand-held receiver with headphones worn by the listener. This allows the listener to hear the speaker's voice more clearly, independent of distance and background noise. 

Alternatively, individuals with hearing aids or cochlear implant that have Telecoils (T-coils) can connect to the FM system by selecting the "T" setting. T-coils, are small, discreet copper wires built into many hearing aids and cochlear implants. They act as a miniature wireless receiver, picking up magnetic signals from assistive listening systems, allowing audio to be directly broadcasted to the individuals’ hearing aid or cochlear implant. When the "T-switch" is activated on a person's hearing aid or cochlear implant, amplified sound is delivered directly to the individual's ear, reducing background noise and improving clarity. 

The sound level received can be controlled by both the receiver and hearing aid/implant processor volume controls.

To utilize HTLC’s FM system, please let one of the greeters know you would like a hand-held receiver and they will provide you with one to use during church service. If you have additional questions, please contact the church.