“We are gardeners and field workers laboring with God.
You are the vineyard, the garden, the house where God dwells.” – 1 Corinthians 3:9 (The Voice)

June 9, 2025

Friends,

Back in 2017, St. Andrew constructed more than a building—we planted a bold experiment in hope. And like any good garden, what we planted has taken root, grown tall, and started bearing some beautiful (and delicious) fruit.

As a proud Matthew 25 congregation, we’re not just praying for change—we’re cooking, planting, and showing up for it. Our building has become the center of a food security movement that is as local as your backyard and as sacred as the table at Emmaus.

Our monthly Food Market gives neighbors a dignified place to shop for groceries. Our Lettuce Feed Others

garden turns green thumbs into grace-filled hands. Working with Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County, we serve up meals and joy to kids each summer via the Summer Lunch Bunch. And our kitchen crews also pitch in for the

Iowa City Free Lunch Program and the Agape Café, because feeding people isn’t just kind—it’s holy.

But none of this just magically happens. Our mission flows through the walls—and those walls still have a bit of a mortgage. That’s where you come in.

Our 2026-28 campaign, "Harvesting Hope | Sowing Seeds of Service," invites you to keep this good thing growing. Your pledge helps us whittle down the remaining debt on our building so we can invest more directly in ministry. 

Thanks to the faithful folks over the past five campaigns, our debt has withered from $5.8 million to under $2 million:

• 2008-2011: “Our Place to Grow”: Pledged, $1,553,382; Received: $1,501,118

• 2013-2016: “Our Journey With Christ”: Pledged, $2,307,254; Received: 2,206,847

• 2016-2019: “With Our Eyes on Christ”: Pledged, $1,390,008; Received: 1,476,830

• 2019-2022: “Connecting Hearts” | Renewing Lives: Pledged, $1,365,868; Received, 1,573,550

• 2022-2025: “Rooted in Faith | Growing to Serve”: Pledged,  $1,045,760; Received: $860,699 (so far)

Now we’re rolling up our sleeves for one last push—because with a little more love (and some strategic generosity), we fully expect to graft that final chunk into our regular annual budget and let the building serve its intended purpose. (For the past decade, we’ve called this our “Soft Landing,” winnowing our building debt until it is small enough to fit within our regular operating budget.)

This isn’t just about paying off a loan. It’s about freeing up resources to respond when God calls. It’s about saying yes to justice, hospitality, and neighborly love.

Let’s keep sowing seeds. Let’s keep harvesting hope. Let’s do what St. Andrew does best: show up, serve well, and ensure that everyone gets fed (spiritually as well as physically).

Make your gift or pledge today: Website To Be Added

Because faith isn’t meant to sit still—and neither are we.

With growing gratitude,

The St. Andrew Stewardship Team