Where the Spirit Showed Up: How St. Paul Catonsville Reimagined Community Outreach
St. Paul Lutheran in Catonsville, Maryland used an SED Community Engagement Grant to trade a declining outreach event for something the neighborhood did not know it needed.
Beginning in 2017, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Catonsville, Maryland, hosted an annual community shredding event. The outreach effort helped neighbors dispose of unwanted documents while also creating opportunities for church members to foster positive relationships within the community.Over time, however, participation declined. As other organizations began offering similar — and more frequent — shredding events, attendance dropped from approximately 160 participants to around 50.
Recognizing the need for a fresh approach, the congregation decided it was time to reimagine its outreach strategy.
St. Paul applied for and received an SED Community Engagement Grant. This May, the congregation replaced the shredding event with a free, family-friendly Spring Fest held on its campus. The festival featured a craft fair with 19 vendors, two food trucks, bounce houses, outdoor games, face painting, a visit from Kezia the comfort dog, and participation from the Baltimore County Public Library.
As with the shredding event, St. Paul sought to create natural opportunities for conversation and connection, bearing witness to Christ’s love through service and hospitality.The May 2 Spring Fest attracted approximately 250 members of the community.
Recipients of district grants are asked to complete a Final Report not only to share measurable outcomes, but also to reflect on where they witnessed God at work through their ministry efforts. In St. Paul’s case, one unexpected area of impact emerged through relationships formed with the event’s craft vendors.
“One of the most meaningful and unanticipated takeaways from this event was the degree to which the craft vendors themselves became a mission field. Of the 19 vendors who participated, 15 came from the broader Baltimore area with no prior relationship to St. Paul,” said Cameron Jones, chairman of St. Paul’s Mission Board. “Many were small business owners, artists, and entrepreneurs who arrived carrying their own stories, burdens, and hopes.”
“Multiple vendors described their day as a genuine joy, not merely because sales went well, but because they felt seen and valued. This was ministry. The same hospitality and intentionality that the church offered to community members walking through the gates was extended — often even more personally — to the vendors who spent the entire day alongside our volunteers. These conversations and acts of service, offered freely and without agenda, opened natural doors to share the love of Christ.”St. Paul intends to host its second annual Spring Fest next year.
God is always at work in and through His people. If your congregation is exploring new ways to connect with neighbors and share the hope of Christ, the Southeastern District would love to walk alongside you. To learn more about district grants, contact Deaconess Robin Domeier.