Together We  Are Making A Difference

 At the annual Synod Assembly, we once again demonstrated how we as a body of Christ put our faith into action to serve thousands in need oceans away.  For months, Lutherans from 150 congregations in our synod  worked to purchase, pack and deliver kits that will be appreciated by midwives and new mothers and for terminally ill patients in hospitals in underdeveloped countries.  All totaled, our congregations assembled and delivered 1,446 Midwife Kits and 929 Hospice Kits for a total of 2,375 kits for Global Health Ministries.  In addition, there were many handmade bandages, baby caps and blankets that were collected.  God used our hands to do God’s work.Rev. Richard Dowling, Coordinator of this ministry oversaw the loading of all of these wonderful contributions onto a truck that traveled their way from the Synod Assembly location in Madison, Wisconsin all the way to the warehouse in Minneapolis.  “I was overwhelmed by the collection of supplies that had been taken in.   It is the fullest I have ever seen the warehouse to be and we had a  difficult time just making sure we weren’t blocking alleyways in the warehouse as we unloaded.  What’s more, I couldn’t find a single wooden pallet on which to stack our boxes. “

 Rev. Dowling  also began to imagine what it must cost to ship these kits to our beloved friends.  “I began to wonder as I helped to unload the truck about what it would cost to put a single kit into the hands of one who would use it.  The cost for shipping one of those metal containers 8 foot by 8 foot by 20 foot is $13,000 (according to the website www.ghm.org) or about $10 per square foot.  Global Health can put about 7,000 kits into one of these containers.”

Not satisfied with just wondering, Richard phoned  Global Health Ministries to learn that GHM actually has a suggestion for another way to support this ministry.  Scott Lien from GHM suggests $3 per kit (about the cost of a fast food hamburger) to cover shipping costs and distribution from the warehouse to the hospital to the patient. Shipping costs appears a great need for Global Health Ministries and one that we should prayerfully consider as we put our kits together.   Another opportunity for God to use our hands awaits.   

If you are interested in helping with this important ministry in the future, please contact Rev. Richard Dowling at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at West  Koshkonong Lutheran Church at 608-873-9456 .  He is looking for 6 to 8 people who have a passion for Global Health Ministries and would not only help in the planning and distribution. 

 We think this is a wonderful example of God’s Work.  Our Hands.