Missions are a vital part of our corporate life.  We believe in getting people involved when they are young, and keeping them involved.  Opportunities for missions include: Children’s Missions on Wednesday evenings, “Helping Hands” and “Bridge Builders” summer mission programs for children, summer mission trips for youth and adults, Meals on Wheels, Family Self-Sufficiency, Caritas food bank, Central Texas Senior Ministries, Habitat for Humanity. Through our mission budget, and, in some cases, through the direct involvement of our members, we support the following missions and ministries.

A New Church Building in Gaza

In 2004, Lake Shore sent its World Communion offering to the Gaza Baptist Church through the Baptist World Alliance. Now we celebrate with the Christians in Gaza who have used these and other contributions to dedicate a new six-story church building. The first two floors are now the only Christian public library in Gaza. 

The library in the new Gaza Baptist Church

The third floor will be women's medical clinic with one of the few mammography units in Gaza. The fourth floor will be used by Campus Crusade for Christ.  The fifth floor will be a guest house for volunteers and other visitors, and the sixth floor will be used for worship until a new sanctuary can be built.

According to Pastor Hanna Massad, "it’s wonderful to watch how God’s work is going forward in the midst of all the difficulties and trials," and "it’s wonderful to watch that we belong to a big family and to a strong body -- the body of Christ."

According to our good friend, Nancie Wingo, "I

 

Global Missions The Alliance of Baptists     Through its Bridges of Hope program, the Alliance provides support to 24 organizations around the world, such as the Fraternity of Baptist Churches of Cuba, the Baptist Theological Seminary of Zimbabwe, and the Agalawatta Baptist Church in Sri Lanka. Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Sixty-three percent of the CBF budget goes for global missions, supporting more than 125 missionaries, a Rural Poverty Initiative, Friends of New Churches, and relief ministries around the world.

Baptist General Convention of Texas
Our gifts to the BGCT through the Cooperative Program contribute to the work of 6 hospitals, 8 universities, 4 children's homes, Texas Christian Life Commission, River Ministries, ethnic missions, student work,  Sunday School and missions education, and other ministries within the state of Texas. 

Amnesty International Works to free all prisoners of conscience detained anywhere for their beliefs or because of their ethnic origin, sex, color or language; ensure fair trials for political prisoners; and abolish death penalty, torture and other cruel treatments of prisoners.

Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs   
Based in Washington, D.C., the Baptist Joint Committee is a group representing many Baptist bodies which works toward legislation that honors historical Baptist principles in light of current issues.

Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America 
An inter-Baptist network of individuals and ad hoc peace groups committed to waging peace and justice through education, public policy, and dialogue within a multi-racial community.

Bread for the World An nonpartisan international organization created in 1972 to promote individual and collective action to alleviate world hunger.

God's Love We Deliver A ministry to improve the health and well-being of men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS in New York City.  GLWD staff and volunteers prepare and deliver more than 2,000 meals each day. They also provide nutrition education and client advocacy. Lake Shore has taken three mission trips to GLWD, most recently in May 2002.

Habitat for Humanity International A nondenominational Christian housing organization that builds simple, decent, affordable, houses in partnership with those in need of adequate shelter. Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 100,000 houses in more than 80 countries.

     
Hope Baptist Association, Ghana
Support of the Shalom Children's Center, Twifo-Heman Clinic, the sheep-goat project in Gyaman, and the Revival Baptist Church at Patapum.

Seeds of Hope Worship helps that grow out of its supporters'  common burden for the poor and hungry of God's world and their strong belief that biblical mandates to feed the poor are not optional; offers a variety of ministries to participate in hunger relief and empower responses to poverty.

World Hunger Farm
The farm in Elm Mott where food is grown for countries experiencing famine and where food production methods are taught so countries can help sustain themselves.

                                                                                           
Community Missions

Waco Habitat for Humanity An international organization with the goal of eliminating inadequate and poverty housing.  Lake Shore is considered a covenant church. From March 23 to May 11, 2002, several of our members will be involved in the "Women Build" project. Our own David Tatum is the building supervisor and Ellen Brown is serving on the Habitat board.

Lake Shore Children's Center Scholarship
Scholarship funds distributed to parents in crisis on the basis of need.

Family Abuse Center
A shelter where women and children who have suffered physical abuse or the threat of physical abuse from a member of their household can stay up to two weeks.

Caritas An ecumenical interfaith agency providing emergency assistance for food, utilities, rent, prescriptions, and transportation; clothing, shoes, and household goods with referral. Originally started as a small food pantry, Caritas has grown in its more than thirty years to be a major Food Bank, supplying food to the needy through its own pantry and more than 40 social service agencies around Waco.

Central Texas Senior Ministry  An agency ministering to residents of Falls and McLennan Counties through Meals on Wheels - the only home delivered nutrition program for senior citizens in the area - nursing home chaplains, and transportation services.

Waco Baptist Association Organizes cooperation between churches in our local association. Also supports a Crisis Center for the poor, a Counseling Center,  Health Care Equipment Loan Ministry, a Jail Ministry, and others

Advocacy Center for Crime Victims & Children
Provides counseling for victims of sexual assault and other crimes; operates court appointed advocate program; creating children's advocacy center.

Greater Waco Interfaith Council
Organization to promote interfaith awareness (funds annual banquet, Tour of Understanding, Holocaust Remembrance Service, etc.)

Family Self-Sufficiency Support Group
A monthly meeting at Lake Shore for families in a program helping them to move from welfare to self-sustaining jobs.  The program provides counseling, mentoring, medicaid, childcare, education, and housing.  LSBC offers a meal and childcare for program participants.

Compassion Ministries
Homeless outreach, shelter and advocacy for individuals and families in Waco; also maintains work program called Homeless Improvement.

Mission Waco The intercity ministry that ministers to the poor and unchurched; mobilizes Christians to compassionate involvement in the world.  Target areas include homelessness, substance abuse, women and poverty, economic development, and work programs for the unemployed.

Talitha Koum Nurture Center
A ministry of CrossTies Ecumenical Church for children, youth, and adults in the Kate Ross neighborhood.
     
Friends for Life
A ministry helping older adults to live independently as long as possible by offering
friendship and services.  They also operate an adult day care center. 

Freeman Center
Provides treatment of drug and alcohol related problems of adults and children, including residential services for 110 clients and outpatient services for more than 300 clients.

Mary Ruth Duncan Women's Health Center
Operated by Planned Parenthood of Central Texas, the clinic provides medical services to more than 8,000 women and teens. About 98% of these are living at or below the federal poverty line, and therefore are not charged for the health exams or pharmaceuticals  they receive. In 2004, the center celebrated 65 years of service to the Waco community.