Shepherd's Heart 07/24/26
As we've been looking ahead to our upcoming Sent to Serve series in August, I've found myself reflecting on something beautiful.
Being "sent" isn't just something we'll begin talking about next month. It's already who we are.
Our church is already living out that calling in remarkable ways.
This summer, as we prepared for the next phase of our building project, we found ourselves with chairs, bookshelves, books, and other resources that had faithfully served our congregation for decades. Rather than simply moving them out, we asked a simple question:
"God, who could be blessed by these?"
The response from our ministry partners was overwhelming.
Today, 150 chairs are providing comfortable seating in the chapel at Wayside Cross Ministries. One hundred chairs are on their way to Honduras, where they will fill a brand-new church and ministry center at El Ayudante. Forty chairs found a new home with an under-resourced Spanish-speaking congregation in Elmwood Park. Thirty more are now serving Lutheran Social Services, blessing foster families and those waiting for care.
Perhaps most meaningful to me, every single book and bookshelf from our library found a new purpose—serving people through prison ministry, battered women's shelters, Cherish Watoto Kenya, Hearts in Motion, and other ministry partners.
What once served us is now serving God's Kingdom in new places.
I love that picture.
It reminds me that God never wastes what has been faithfully offered to Him. Whether it's chairs, books, or willing hearts, He delights in sending what has been placed in His hands so it can continue to make an impact.
And that's exactly what He does with us.
Join Us Around the Table
One of my favorite opportunities this August is Sent to Serve Beyond Our Borders: Taco Thursday with Our Missionaries on Thursday, August 13, from 5:00–6:30 PM in Room 5.
We'll enjoy a Taco buffet together while hearing firsthand from Pete & Angie Raineri, serving in Honduras, and Erick & Karlee Mendoza and their family, serving in Mexico. Come hear stories of God's faithfulness, the joys and challenges of cross-cultural ministry, and discover how your prayers and support are making an eternal difference.
Whether you've supported missions for years or are simply curious to learn more, I'd love to invite you to join us.
Register for Taco Thursday here
Discover Your Next "Yes"
Then, on Sunday, August 23, I hope you'll stop by after worship to meet our Mission Leadership Team. If God has been stirring something in your heart, we'd love to help you discover where your unique gifts, passions, and experiences intersect with God's mission. Whether serving across the street or across the world, there is a place for everyone to live Sent.
Live Sent in Our Community
Living Sent doesn't always require a passport. Sometimes it simply means showing up for our neighbors.
One of those opportunities is serving at Naperville's Last Fling on Labor Day weekend. Grab your family, invite your Life Group, bring a friend, and choose a shift that fits your schedule. Together, we have the privilege of showing our community that Good Shepherd is a church that doesn't just gather—we go.
Sign up directly with the Naperville Jaycees here
As we prepare for Sent to Serve, my prayer is that we would each ask one simple question—not just this August, but every day:
"Lord, where are You sending me?"
Perhaps it's across the street.
Perhaps it's across the office.
Perhaps it's across the dinner table.
Perhaps it's across the world.
Whatever the place, every faithful "yes" becomes part of God's Kingdom story.
May we continue to be a church that joyfully says,
"Here I am, Lord. Send me."
I'm grateful to be on this journey with you.
Grace and peace,
Jeannine Allen
Missional Engagement Executive Minister
Being "sent" isn't just something we'll begin talking about next month. It's already who we are.
Our church is already living out that calling in remarkable ways.
This summer, as we prepared for the next phase of our building project, we found ourselves with chairs, bookshelves, books, and other resources that had faithfully served our congregation for decades. Rather than simply moving them out, we asked a simple question:
"God, who could be blessed by these?"
The response from our ministry partners was overwhelming.
Today, 150 chairs are providing comfortable seating in the chapel at Wayside Cross Ministries. One hundred chairs are on their way to Honduras, where they will fill a brand-new church and ministry center at El Ayudante. Forty chairs found a new home with an under-resourced Spanish-speaking congregation in Elmwood Park. Thirty more are now serving Lutheran Social Services, blessing foster families and those waiting for care.
Perhaps most meaningful to me, every single book and bookshelf from our library found a new purpose—serving people through prison ministry, battered women's shelters, Cherish Watoto Kenya, Hearts in Motion, and other ministry partners.
What once served us is now serving God's Kingdom in new places.
I love that picture.
It reminds me that God never wastes what has been faithfully offered to Him. Whether it's chairs, books, or willing hearts, He delights in sending what has been placed in His hands so it can continue to make an impact.
And that's exactly what He does with us.
Join Us Around the Table
One of my favorite opportunities this August is Sent to Serve Beyond Our Borders: Taco Thursday with Our Missionaries on Thursday, August 13, from 5:00–6:30 PM in Room 5.
We'll enjoy a Taco buffet together while hearing firsthand from Pete & Angie Raineri, serving in Honduras, and Erick & Karlee Mendoza and their family, serving in Mexico. Come hear stories of God's faithfulness, the joys and challenges of cross-cultural ministry, and discover how your prayers and support are making an eternal difference.
Whether you've supported missions for years or are simply curious to learn more, I'd love to invite you to join us.
Register for Taco Thursday here
Discover Your Next "Yes"
Then, on Sunday, August 23, I hope you'll stop by after worship to meet our Mission Leadership Team. If God has been stirring something in your heart, we'd love to help you discover where your unique gifts, passions, and experiences intersect with God's mission. Whether serving across the street or across the world, there is a place for everyone to live Sent.
Live Sent in Our Community
Living Sent doesn't always require a passport. Sometimes it simply means showing up for our neighbors.
One of those opportunities is serving at Naperville's Last Fling on Labor Day weekend. Grab your family, invite your Life Group, bring a friend, and choose a shift that fits your schedule. Together, we have the privilege of showing our community that Good Shepherd is a church that doesn't just gather—we go.
Sign up directly with the Naperville Jaycees here
As we prepare for Sent to Serve, my prayer is that we would each ask one simple question—not just this August, but every day:
"Lord, where are You sending me?"
Perhaps it's across the street.
Perhaps it's across the office.
Perhaps it's across the dinner table.
Perhaps it's across the world.
Whatever the place, every faithful "yes" becomes part of God's Kingdom story.
May we continue to be a church that joyfully says,
"Here I am, Lord. Send me."
I'm grateful to be on this journey with you.
Grace and peace,
Jeannine Allen
Missional Engagement Executive Minister