Backside Ministry at Churchill Downs

Outreach Summary:

 Along with roughly 40 other churches in this area, assist Rev. Ken Boehm, chaplain at Churchill Downs.  Ken is a Lutheran pastor, ministering to people working at this track or otherwise involved in the racing industry.  He provides spiritual direction, weekly leadership in worship, food, clothing, English classes and help getting legal status to work in the U. S.  Most of Ken’s parishioners work for horse owners or trainers, cleaning stalls, grooming horses, and walking them.  Many of these folks know little English; they live in small rooms, with few furnishings or normal sources of comfort and convenience.

This is truly an outreach to “the least, the last and the lost,” but it may also bring jockeys, veterinarians, trainers, very wealthy owners of horses, and others to know our Lord Jesus.

Outreach Specifics:

Periodically collect the following, which are taken to Churchill Downs and distributed by Chaplain Ken to needy members of his parish:

1.                New or gently used sox, jeans, shorts, shoes, boots, sweaters, sweatshirts, coats and other outerwear. 2.                New underwear.
3.                Sleeping bags, pillows, single-bed mattresses, pillow cases, blankets.
4.                Toilet articles.
5.                Small TV sets.
6.                Room air conditioners.
7.                Furniture & house wares.

Once each year, prepare a dinner and serve it to Ken’s parish, following their Monday-evening worship.  We’re scheduled to do this on Dec. 19, 2005.

How Can YOU Help??

1.                  Keep this outreach and those helped by it in your prayers.
2.                  Bring needed items to our periodic collections.
3.                  Help take donated items to Churchill Downs and assist distributing them.
4.                  Help preparing and serving the annual dinner at Churchill Downs.
5.                  Financial contributions to this outreach may be made to St. Francis in the Fields and designated for this ministry.