Global and Social Missions
Dale Wittenberg, Global and Social Missions Chair
Organizes members and service programs to reach out to others through benevolence, social service and advocacy.  Provides opportunities for members to participate in the spread of the Gospel beyond the borders of the Atonement community, including overseas missions, and seeks ways to encourage commitment to mission by the congregation.

Board Chair:  Dale Wittenberg
Members:  Konrad Bald, Nanci Behrendt, Jim Glatczak, Doug Morrison, Michael Snyder
  • Adopt a Family for Christmas Giving.   This is a program of sharing at Christmas time.  Names of members of needy families are provided by agencies which work with our congregation.  Congregational members take these names and buy Christmas gifts for each person in the family and also provide food for Christmas dinner.  Helpers are needed to organize the gifts for pick up by the receiving agencies. 
     
  • Advocacy Program.  The Lutheran Network for Justice Advocacy is a joint ministry of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), the three (regional) synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in the State of Illinois and the ELCA’s Division for the Church in Society.  The Lutheran Network is the ELCA state public policy office for the state of Illinois. 
     
  • Benevolence Committee.  This committee is responsible for identifying the recipients of General Benevolence monies from Atonement's operating fund supported by the congregation.    
     
  • Blanket of Love/Tools of Hope (Church World Service).  A sponsorship program to reach out to others in need during Mothers Day and Fathers Day.   
       
  • CROP Walk.  This is an annual Barrington community project which occurs in October and raises money to help hungry people.  Members of the congregation are encouraged to be involved as walkers and as sponsors for walkers.    
     
  • ELCA Global Mission Events.  Board promotes participation in the annual ELCA Global Mission Events.     
  • Guatemala Ministry "Sharing the Dream".  This ministry focuses on helping feed, cloth, provide medical help and minister to the elder forgotten people of Guatemala through the sale of their handmade crafts and through sponsorship of various organizations.  
     
  • Habitat for Humanity.  Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing organization. It welcomes all people to join them as they build simple, decent, affordable, houses in partnership with those in need of adequate shelter.   
     
  • Holy Family Lutheran School (HFLS).  This was founded by Holy Family Lutheran Church in 1984.  This kindergarten through eighth grade school provides a high quality Christian based education for minority children from Chicago's West Side and housing projects.  Atonement volunteers serve on the HFLS Advisory Council, as classroom teaching assistants, and on the planning committee for the annual HFLS Northwest Suburban fundraiser.  First and second graders are bussed annually to JFK Health Center in Barrington and then to a picnic at Mary and Bob Anderson's home, chaperoned by many Atonement members.  Opportunities to serve through giving and hands on activities are many.    
     
  • Lutheran World Relief (LWR) Projects.  Donations of health kits and school kits are collected from the congregation and distributed to those in need throughout the world by LWR.   
     
  • Lydia Circle.  This is a group of women who meet on the first Wednesday of the month from September through May at 9:30 a.m. to make quilts and other useful items.  They send these to Lutheran World Relief for distribution to needy recipients.  People are needed to cut material, put fabric squares together in preparation for sewing, for sewing (we have sewing machines), and for tying layers of the quilt.     
     
  • Meals with Wheels.  Volunteers deliver hot meals to the elderly in this community-based program.   
     
  • Missionary Sponsorship.  Financial and prayer support to an ELCA missionary. The board provides the congregation with updates on his or her work and challenges.   
     
  • Northern Illinois Food Bank.  Volunteers work the Thursday morning shift at the center in St. Charles cleaning, sorting and packaging donated foods.   
       
     
  • Prison Ministry.  A support group that also provides services for the people incarcerated in correctional facilities and their families throughout Illinois.   
     
  • Rebuilding Together.  A national organization that repairs and rehabilitates the homes of the elderly, disabled or low-income people through an all-volunteer barn-raising event, held each year on the last Saturday in April.   
     
  • Souper Bowl of Caring - Church World Service.  The Souper Bowl is a simple effort to "love the Lord our God .and love our neighbors" by encouraging people to give one dollar each as they leave worship on, or near, Super Bowl Sunday.  Every penny collected is sent directly to a local food bank.   
     
  • Support for Other Mission Organizations. The Board encourages support for other mission opportunities throughout the year, such as Compassion International and World Vision (for child sponsorship), Bibles for China, and Lutheran Bible Translators.  
     
Last Published: May 31, 2007 7:5 PM
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