More Ministry. More Smiles. | St. Johannes Lutheran Church, Charleston, SC

Our congregation, St. Johannes Lutheran Church, has partnered with Next Steps of South Carolina and The Navigation Center to support a vital ministry in the Charleston area. The Navigation Center is a non-profit that began by serving military veterans and has since expanded to help anyone in crisis. The Center's mission is to empower our most vulnerable neighbors by helping them navigate the complex system of services needed to rebuild sustainable, independent lives.

By providing a volunteer counselor and financial assistance from St. Johannes and Next Steps of South Carolina, we join a powerful, collaborative network of over 70 organizations dedicated to this work. It is through this partnership that we can be part of true, lasting life change. Here are a few more stories of our neighbors who have been helped by this shared work.

Terry Finds a Home and a Fresh Start

Terry (with dreadlocks) is a young man who was recently discharged from the hospital with nowhere to go. He had no support system, no place to sleep, and no money. He ended up on the streets of Charleston.

Then he found The Navigation Center. Over the course of several days, the staff worked tirelessly to find him a good place to live with a real support system around him. Marie Elena took a personal interest in Terry and came in to discuss his situation with Next Steps directly. That kind of personal investment is what makes this ministry so special.

Terry wants to work. He has a solid educational background, but he lacks the personal identification documents needed to get started. That is the next step. In the meantime, he needed help with his rent. St. Johannes and Next Steps made a substantial payment toward it, and another program stepped in to cover the rest. Terry has a home now. That is no small thing.

Terry's Tearful, Joyful New Beginning

Terry (wearing a bonnet) left her husband and got out with her three children. It took real courage. Thankfully, she found a nice home and a decent job. She was rebuilding her life.

Then her car was repossessed, and getting to work became a serious struggle. She fell behind in her rent and received an eviction notice. She could almost cover what she owed, but not quite. St. Johannes and Next Steps paid the remainder.

As we do with all the people we see, we asked her permission and said a prayer together before she left. She cried a little. Happy tears. Those are the moments that remind us exactly why we do this work.

Jackie and the Daycare Puzzle

Jackie (hair across her face) is 38 years old and has four children between the ages of 2 and 7. She wants to work. She is pleasant, has a high school diploma, and would have no trouble finding a job. The problem is daycare. Without reliable childcare, she simply cannot work.

Her mother has helped when she can, but her mother is now hospitalized. The Navigation Center is actively working to connect Jackie with daycare support so she can get back into the workforce. In the meantime, her electric bill had fallen behind. We agreed to help keep the electricity on for another month while that solution comes together.

Jackie was very thankful. We are hopeful. The pieces are moving in the right direction for her and her kids.

A Hug on the Way Out the Door

Debbie (wearing glasses) is 65 years old, lives alone, and has just started a new job in the laundry department of a local hotel. She receives Social Security retirement and has a warm, friendly personality that makes you feel good just being around her.

She just needed a little help with her electric bill to get over a small bump in the road. St. Johannes and Next Steps were glad to provide that help. When she left, she gave us a hug. That says it all.

Relief for Mitch and His Wife

Mitch (wearing a bucket hat) is an elderly disabled man who came in visibly anxious about his electric bill. He and his wife had recently been hit with two major unexpected expenses at the same time: a major HVAC breakdown and the cost of dentures. Together, those bills had thrown their budget completely off track.

His wife is looking for work to help supplement their income going forward. In the meantime, St. Johannes and Next Steps agreed to pay the electric bill. When we told Mitch it was taken care of, the relief on his face was unmistakable. That is what this ministry looks like in real life.

Marie Gets a Lead on a Job and a Lift for Her Rent

Marie (not pictured) is a mother of three boys who receives no child support and lives well outside of Charleston. She had a job in Mount Pleasant, but the commute was simply too far and she had to quit. She came to The Navigation Center for help finding work closer to home and for assistance with her rent.

Here is where this ministry gets really special. Another person we had seen that same day mentioned a good job opening in Marie's neighborhood. We passed that information along to her. That kind of connection, neighbor helping neighbor through a shared network of care, is exactly what The Navigation Center makes possible.

Her landlord had been understanding, but she had fallen behind. She was able to pay a large portion of what she owed, and St. Johannes and Next Steps covered the rest. She left with a big smile and a hug. We could not ask for a better ending to the day.

If you would like to know more about this ministry or how you can help, please let Tom or Pastor Aaron know.