By Susan Shinn Turner

For the Salisbury Post

Get ready to celebrate the ministries of St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St. in Downtown Salisbury.

A campus-wide Community Ministry Celebration is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Events will take place from the sanctuary to the Child Development Center and everywhere in between. Outdoor activities will take place weather permitting. This event is free and the public is invited.

Jackson Street will be closed from Innes to Council streets. Queso Salsa, Hot Dog Shack and Kona Ice will be on hand for guests to purchase food.

“We want to showcase all of the good ministries we offer,” said Pastor Lori Carter,  pastor for congregational care. “The ultimate goal is for the people of St. John’s to get excited and sign up to share their talents.

“We are a big church, but we have a heart to share the love of Christ in practical and tangible ways. We have a heart for making a difference in others’ lives.” 

Pastor Dan Joyner Miller, senior pastor, invites folks to come for any or all of the four-hour event. 

“There’s going to be tons to do,” he said. “All of our ministries are going to be on display, and we’re going to celebrate each and every amazing thing that goes on here.

“We can dream about all the things that we can do when we are together.”

Volunteers will mingle throughout campus wearing name tags: “I would love to tell you about ____________ .”]

“It’s all about relationships and making these people-to-people connections,” Carter said. “Our tagline is, ‘Find where you belong.’”

Attendees will have the opportunity to complete a brief spiritual gifts inventory. 

“We’ll be talking about how many volunteers it takes to make ministries happen,” Carter said. “We’ll be sharing hard-number data. These ministries don’t just happen. It takes people. Each of our ministries will have a description and the approximate time commitment so our attendees can be as informed as possible.”

There will be interactive activities, as well as the opportunity to listen to the 9:27 band and the handbell choir. 

“We want our groups to share what they do,” Carter said. 

Carter invites all St. John’s members as well.

“We’ll have a golf cart brigade to transport senior adults around campus. Accessibility is going to be key for people of all ages.”

She added, “I want people to know that St. John’s is full of nice, good, kind, Jesus-loving people — not just a set of brick buildings.”

For more information about St. John’s Lutheran Church, visit stjohns-salisbury.org.