Another Moving Week

Through our combined efforts at St. Paul's and St. Johannes Lutheran Churches, working alongside our partners at Next Steps of South Carolina and the Navigation Center of Charleston, we continue to witness miraculous transformations in the lives of our neighbors in need. Together, we're providing life-changing assistance across Charleston and surrounding communities.

Let us share the stories of those we've been blessed to help this week:

We met Carla, a brave Haitian-American citizen and mother of three, who came to us while managing significant challenges. While she receives counseling for PTSD and mental health support, her family faced a crisis when they lost access to basic utilities. Through our coordinated efforts, we helped initiate her disability application process through the Navigation Center, while our teams at St. Johannes and Next Steps successfully negotiated with the water department to restore her family's water service. We were also able to secure additional assistance to restore her electric service, ensuring her family's basic needs were met.

When we met Cassie, we found a disabled retiree facing unexpected financial burdens. Living on her late father's property outside Charleston during probate proceedings, she struggled with unexpectedly high property taxes that threatened her typically stable budget. Through our faithful giving, we provided crucial assistance to prevent her utilities from being disconnected, offering her breathing room during this challenging transition.

Sandy's situation touched our hearts deeply. Having finally secured an apartment after experiencing homelessness, she faced a difficult choice when her mother in New York suffered a serious car accident. When she returned from caring for her mother, we found her struggling to catch up on rent. Understanding the vital importance of maintaining her housing stability, we worked together across our organizations to provide partial rent assistance while empowering her to contribute what she could.

These aren't just stories to us—they're our neighbors, our brothers and sisters in Christ. Each person we help represents the face of Jesus in our community. As we continue this vital ministry together, we're grateful for the opportunity to show Christ's love in tangible ways to those around us.

Through our collaborative efforts, we're seeing real change happen. When we join hands—St. Paul's, St. Johannes, Next Steps, and the Navigation Center—we're able to provide not just immediate relief, but also dignity and hope for tomorrow. We witness daily how God works through our combined resources and dedication to help those in need find their path forward.

These moments of transformation remind us why we do this work. As we continue to serve our community together, we remain committed to walking alongside those who need support, offering both practical assistance and spiritual encouragement. Through God's grace, we're making a difference, one person, one family at a time.