YOUNGSTOWN Valley's Lutheran churches will extend a hand to the city

A social service agency plans to start small and then grow.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- Area Lutheran churches plan to increase their ministries in Youngstown.
A new private, nonprofit agency, Lutheran Social Services of Mahoning Valley, plans to elect its leaders Tuesday and hire a social worker by Jan. 1.
The goal is for the churches to become more involved in helping the city.
The Rev. Dr. Wayne L. Sherman, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Warren, is one of the local pastors spearheading the new group.
His is one of about 30 churches in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Only two -- Martin Luther Lutheran Church and Bethlehem Lutheran Church -- are in Youngstown.
"The impetus behind it is that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has done an excellent job of ringing the city," said the Rev. Mr. Sherman.
If the city isn't healthy, its problems will eventually spread to the suburbs, the pastor said.
The thinking of the Lutheran churches can be summed up with a slogan St. Mark's has used, said the pastor: "We're in the Neighborhood for Good."
Support from Columbus
Mr. Sherman point out that many of the local Lutheran churches already have city ministries. A group of local Lutheran churches approached the Columbus-based Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio asking for help in meeting local needs.
The Rev. Nelson Meyer, president of LSSCO, said his agency will provide support and guidance for the Mahoning Valley agency.
But the new agency will start small. "We do envision it will grow," said the Rev. Mr. Meyer.
The social worker will have an office at Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Agency's Rockford Village on the city's East Side, which formerly was the Kimmel Brook housing project.
Rockford Village was selected because of a friendship between Mr. Sherman and the Rev. Willie F. Peterson, pastor of Gospel Temple Baptist Church. Gospel Temple has a contract through its social service arm to provide services at Rockford's community center. The new Lutheran agency has an agreement with Gospel Temple.
At first, the social worker will offer referrals to Valley programs. The idea is to avoid duplicating services, said Mr. Meyer.
Eventually, the Lutheran Social Services of Mahoning Valley will probably apply for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds for low-income or senior citizen housing in the city.
Mr. Sherman added that the social worker will also help area Lutherans who want help within the Lutheran church, such as with adoption.
But the agency will provide services to anyone regardless of their age, race, gender or religion, said the ministers.
The Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio has ties to the ELCA and the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod.
There are 52 congregations of Lutheran denominations in the tri-county area, according Mr. Meyer. Mr. Sherman guessed that those churches represent more than 20,000 people.