Proverbs 14:31 - He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
Our Vision
is to be a community that honors God by honoring and caring for those who are in need and to provide regular opportunities for our members to show God’s mercy to those who are poor, oppressed, overlooked or disadvantaged. We are a community that will bring to them the loving power of Christ through actions, words and prayers.
Our Philosophy:
When we participate in what God is doing, our ministry to the poor and needy becomes less overwhelming and more effective. This is because God is already doing much of the work and uses us as His instruments to bring forth His Kingdom despite our human limitations.
Our Priorities:
We prioritize outreach opportunities that allow us to know and be known by the people we serve. We take a “no strings attached” approach to our outreach efforts; our goal is to show care and concern for all we serve regardless of where they are spiritually. By developing relationships, we build trust and can reach individuals on a deeper level.
Our goal
is to move beyond simply task-oriented service, to bringing God's presence and love to people through prayer ministry and by providing comfort and consideration for the circumstances of the people we serve. Because there are so many complexities of racial, cultural, and socio-economic dynamics here in St. Louis, Mercy Ministries seeks to prepare and educate our volunteers for service to the poor. Sensitivity and understanding are key to loving and honoring those we serve.
Serving Opportunity
Vineyard Community Church supports and serves at Oasis International, a ministry to the refugee population in South St. Louis City. We head down to Oasis on the second Saturday of every month to help host the free meal and giveaways Oasis offers for the area residents. Our members help at this event in many ways:
- offering rides to those without transportation
- serving the meal
- playing games with the children
- getting to know the area refugees
There are also many other opportunities to serve at Oasis International, including:
- donating furniture or other household items to be given to refugees in need
- tutoring children
- teaching English
If you are interested in learning more, you can contact Susan Tarr at vineyardoffice@the-vineyard.org or visit the Oasis Website at www.oasisinternational.info .
