This October, we’re partnering with the Michigan District for a day that opens eyes, connects communities, and deepens our shared calling to serve.
On October 30, Gifts For All God’s Children will join the Michigan District in hosting an Urban Ministry Bus Tour—a day that transforms how we see both need and hope in metro Detroit.
Patti Jacques, our Co-Founder and Executive Director, will be among those boarding the bus at 8:00 AM for visits to nine ministries across the region. We will be visiting Good News Gang, Camp Restore Detroit, POBLO, Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, LifeBUILDERS, Family of God, CKC Tutoring at East Bethlehem and more! Each stop reveals a different facet of God’s work through willing hands.
This spring, Patti had the privilege of co-hosting a similar tour that began right here at our Rochester workshop. Participants witnessed firsthand how Gifts ministers to children in our community before continuing to homeless shelters, food pantries, and congregations actively sharing Christ’s love through service.
The power of these tours lies not in what we accomplish in a single day, but in what participants carry forward. When we see ministries in action, we understand more clearly how individual callings weave together into something larger than any one organization could achieve alone.
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37). Tours like this don’t just show us the harvest—they help us recognize the workers already in the field and discover where our own gifts might take root.
Nancy Goins, a past tour participant shared, “Patti nudged and pushed until I went (over 10 years ago) and that day changed my life. Honestly, completely transformed me as a servant and follower of Christ.”
The bus departs from Faith Lutheran Church in Troy at 8:00 AM and returns by 4:30 PM. For $25, participants receive transportation and lunch, but more importantly, they gain perspective that can reshape how they approach ministry in their own communities.
Whether you’re exploring new ways to serve or seeking to understand the broader landscape of urban ministry, this tour offers both inspiration and practical insight into how faith moves from Sunday morning into everyday action. https://michigandistrict.org/event/urban-ministry-tour/
Watch for registration details in the coming weeks. Some journeys change not just where we go, but how we see where we’re called to serve.