Parish linchpin rolls up sleeves

“It’s not me. I just find a place for everybody to serve.”

But Patricia Minchin, parish ministry coordinator at St. John Lutheran Church, 633 Willow Ave. in Council Bluffs, leads multiple areas in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregation.

Minchin is an equipper and small-group leader for Christ Care, which provides a framework to help members help one another. Christ Care focuses on four areas — mission, biblical equipping, praise and worship and community building — “and that is where we get to know and care for each other,” she said.

Besides leading a group, she trains others. Last year, St. John’s three equippers even trained people from another church, she said.

Minchin is co-teacher of the seventh-grade confirmation class, with the Rev. John Strackbein, associate pastor. The Rev. Jon Benson, senior pastor, teaches eighth-grade confirmation.

“Right now, we’re working on the Ten Commandments,” she said.

Last year, Minchin paid a three-week visit to the church’s sister congregation, Ukalawa Parish, in Tanzania.

“The purpose was to acquaint myself with the needs of the people there and to see in what ways we can assist each other’s ministry,” she said.

After her return, St. John started a fund drive for a motorbike for the Ukalawa pastor so he can visit outlying areas, Minchin said.

“The terrain there is horrendous,” she said.

Once a month, she supervises the set-up and operation of an “equal exchange” market in a fellowship area at the church. Merchandise includes 12 kinds of coffee, six kinds of tea, cocoa, candy bars, almonds and pecans

“These are from small farmers in Third World countries,” Minchin said. “We sell them for exactly what we pay for them, but each farmer realizes a profit from it. We have Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Guatemala … ”

She is also a Bible study leader, assists with special events and recently took on a new ministry.

“We’re in our infancy, but I’m establishing a prayer shawl ministry here,” she said.

“That’s the fun part: seeing the talent of people in the congregation and finding a place to use it,” she said. “Because most people like to do something that helps someone.”