Our Missions

UPDATE ON HANDS OF LOVE—NAMADHI CAMPUS

Wellspring Family Church is more committed than ever to come alongside our Ugandan friends in our mission to the children of Hands of Love. The pandemic has created chaos in many African countries and disproportionately affects the poor. The closure of borders, a strictly imposed curfew, restricted travel in country, and severe flooding around Lake Victoria have largely cut off access to the Namadhi campus which usually houses more than 1,300 orphan children and staff.

The campus, like all schools in Uganda, has been closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the children and staff have been temporarily housed in the surrounding villages. The pandemic restrictions are extremely devastating to those without access to food, water, and electricity.

Thankfully, the Hands of Love sponsorship program, which many in Wellspring are a part, provides monthly support for about half of the children and staff at the Namadhi campus. These monthly gifts are a lifeline now more than ever, not only to the sponsored child or staff member, but also to the entire household with whom they are staying.

The pandemic has real implications on those without electricity or access to the internet. Video communications, online learning, telemedicine, recorded and live-streamed worship services, purchasing supplies, and access to family and friends in a pandemic all requires electricity and the internet.

This year, we envision using part of the donations for our trip to create the Wellspring Communications Center at Namadhi. It will feature solar-powered computer stations and charging ports with access to high-speed satellite internet. The room can be a hotspot and virtual classroom, doctor’s office, place of worship, or video conference room, or maybe even a place where your sponsored child can go and see you singing to them happy birthday for the first time. We also envision using part of your donations to provide food to those who need it most.

Finally, when the borders open and it is once again safe to travel, we hope to use some of the money to send a small team loaded with formula, gifts to sponsored kids from their Wellspring families, T-shirt dresses, and other supplies. We continue to ask for your support and praise God that we are in a position to be of help in a time of great need.

If you want to help with any of these projects, please contact Dan Rauch at 314-239-1965 or danamyrauch@gmail.com.

At Hands of Love Uganda, we rescue abandoned babies and children left to fend for themselves in the streets and bush of Uganda. Through our child sponsorship program, we meet basic needs, educate through graduation, and share the love of God. Within our two orphanages, more than 2,500 children are being nurtured and encouraged in a safe environment. These children are the hope of the future as they grow into the men and women God created them to be, with the potential to effect real change in their families, businesses, communities, and nation.

We also support a team of partners that equip Ugandan individuals through a variety of programs, enabling them to advance Christ’s kingdom. We join our partners by extending their reach with shared visions of providing relief, hope, and a future for some of the most vulnerable children on earth as well as educating and empowering Ugandans to cause transformation.

If you are interested in giving, visit our homepage “GIVE UGANDA” or click here to give.

Bringing the Good News
to all nations

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20

The call to missions is everywhere in scripture. God clearly states His people are to go out and bring people into worship of the one true God. We want to serve, aid the poor and love our neighbor. Wellspring Family Church has many missional opportunities to share the gospel and help the poor here locally in St. Louis and overseas.

Why Missions Matter at Wellspring Family Church

There is a phrase in Uganda where many foreigners are called “mzungu,” which means “someone who wanders without a purpose.” Scripture calls us all to the purpose of mission and living out a fulfilled life of obedience and serving others as Jesus did.

The best way to learn about missions is to go! New relationships with those we serve, and with others on mission, are often life-changing and humbling. If you aren’t able to go yourself, partner with us at Wellspring. We have incredibly Good News to share!

 

Uganda Orphan Care

Can you think of anyone more in need of a hand of love than a homeless orphan child in Uganda? If you have a heart for children without families, our Orphan Care Ministry connects you to a child who needs a family, provides resources to those without love and support, and offers hope in Jesus’ name. Dan Rauch is the contact.

India—Happy Bar Nutrition
With a vision of a world where no one is undernourished, Happy Bar Nutrition is sharing the love of Jesus one nutrition bar at a time. Donations make it possible to provide 25,000 nutrition bars per month to children living in leprosy colonies and rehab centers, hospice, slums, orphanages for HIV+, and cancer wards. Jack Kennedy is the contact. 
St. Louis—Life Team
God created us in his own image and rescued us through Jesus Christ when we were defenseless in our sin. Because we have been given a new life, out of gratitude, the Life Team coordinates local, national and international efforts to dignify human life at every stage. Denise B. coordinates our efforts at Wellspring.
Reach Global

This effort by the EFCA seeks to glorify God by multiplying transformational churches among all people throughout the world, in their own native context. Wellspring Family Church supports the work of Reach Global through the full-time ministry Rick and Donna Burke. 

St. Louis—Cup of Nations
A movement that began in Houston and St. Louis uses soccer as a way to connect with immigrants and refugees. The goal is to make friends, and ultimately disciples, through the summer soccer tournament and festival, as well as the winter Futsal League. Charlie Johnson and John Ritland are the contacts.
Veszprém, Hungary—Ádám Szabados
Dr. Ádám Szabados has been the Pastor at Evangelical Christian Church, Veszprém, Hungary since 1999. He helped start the Hungarian Evangelical Forum and is the leader of its Steering Committee. He is married to Dóra, and they have two boys. Cheryl H. is a local contact for Ádám.
St. Louis—Rise Together Ministries
Pastor Worku Geremew, an Ethiopian immigrant himself, founded Rise Together Ministries to provide an after-school tutoring program, a communal mentoring program, a furniture and clothing ministry, a counseling program, and a job development program to connect the poor and immigrants in
St. Louis to the Gospel.
Homeless Relief St. Louis

Wellspring supports two ministries to bring aid, comfort, and the message of Jesus Christ to those who are unhoused in St. Louis.

Wings of Hope—The Michael D. Oppenheim Memorial Fund—100% of your gifts are used to aid and assist the unhoused. Your donations of socks, gloves and hats, and gently used coats provide warmth in cold weather months. Personal care kits with toiletries and sanitary items provide dignity. Food cards and expressions of love through Jesus Christ provide hope. 

Wellspring is also a partner with inExcelsis, and offers immediate relief to those who are homeless in St. Louis. There are many weekly volunteer opportunities for helping provide meals; leading worship and Bible study through Street Sanctuary; and showing the love of Christ through your presence, your time, listening, bringing joy, and befriending those who have so little.

Brad Wos, Multicultural Director, Central District EFCA
Brad serves as the Multicultural Director for the Central District of the EFCA His ministries cover 4 states and serve 13 million people. Brad mobilizes and multiplies disciple-makers and church planters among all peoples. Brad also utilizes sports and campus activities and outreach in his ministry.
St. Louis—Oasis International

The mission of Oasis International is to love and care for those who seek refuge from war-torn countries. Oasis helps connect individuals, churches and civic organizations with community outreach to meet the needs of new refugees settling in St. Louis. Mark and Joanie Akers are contacts.

Interim Pastors Ministries—Pastor Terry Schoenfeld

Interim Pastor Ministries provide temporary pastors to strengthen churches during pastoral transition. Pastor Terry Schoenfeld helps hurting churches by providing strong Bible teaching and encouraging them to continue in their mission. Terry has been a senior pastor at Wellspring Family Church and participated in 15 foreign mission trips including mission trips to Russia, Uganda, Sri Lanka, Togo, inner cities in the US, and Navajo reservations.

St. Louis—Camp Motion
A community outreach event designed to provide a low-cost camp option for working parents, Camp Motion offers a one-week, all-day camp in the summer. Campers choose from art or sports options and enjoy live entertainers, games and activities, all while learning the saving truth of the Gospel. Jenny Wescoat is the contact.
St. Louis—Dutchtown Outreach
Ryan and Dana Irwin lead tutoring /mentoring programs, neighborhood bible studies, community groups, and weekly Kid’s Club that create connection to  parents. They bring love, reconciliation, identity and dignity to the Dutchtown community of St. Louis by living out and sharing the restoring love of Jesus Christ.