God’s grace be with you,
Sometimes we wonder if the good works we do on God’s behalf actually do make a difference. We trust that as we “let our light shine before others” and allow ourselves to be “Christ’s hands and feet” in the world that peoples’ lives are receiving good news, that good change is happening for them, and that even some hope fills their hearts and minds even if for a day or two. In another article in this newsletter, Gwen shares how since 2011, the people of our congregations have engaged in 325 mission projects, many of which are one time while others are ongoing. One can only imagine the hundreds and even thousands of peoples’ lives we have touched as God’s loving servants since 2011.
Well over 1,500-2,000 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes a year for the last 10 years have been either donated or processed by our church members to land in the hands of children and villages around the world, giving them the opportunity to hear the Gospel probably for the first time. For the longest time, empty pill bottles by the hundreds (thousands!) were sent to remote medical clinics in wilderness regions of the world so people could carry life-saving medicines back to their homes, having walked many miles to and from the clinics for help. Boxes upon boxes of aluminum pull tabs have been donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities for care and support to children and families. There are sailors who have a warm hat and some books or puzzle books and games to keep them occupied during long days at sea. There is a village somewhere that enjoys fresh drinking water as the result of Penn-Zion’s raising money for Lutheran World Relief during its 125th anniversary almost 12 years ago to purchase a complete well and irrigation system. And the list goes on and on and on…for both congregations. Amen to that! Thanks be to God who has blessed us richly that we may be a blessing to others!
You may not know the many people Gwen and I have met along the way since 2011 as connections are made and projects are delivered. However, we can tell you that your participation and support in our mission projects ministry have made positive impacts in communities and villages locally, nationally, and internationally. There are those who have sent thank you letters and those who have not, knowing that we do not do it for our own glory, we do it for the Glory of God and the care of our “neighbor.” This is our advocacy to overcome the pain and suffering in the world in very real and direct ways. This is our advocacy as Easter people for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords helping His Kingdom take root in peoples’ lives around the world. Well done, good and faithful servants! Keep up your good works so that others may see and glorify our Father in heaven. Always remember that God does not need our good works, but other people do…and know that what we do does not go unnoticed. We are making a difference, and from time to time, God lets us know.
Here is one way that God has spoken to our congregations: Even though this makes my article a little longer, I have copied and pasted an email Gwen received on March 31, 2026, which we feel everyone in our Penn-Zion’s & Brush Creek Lutheran Cooperative Ministry should read and cherish:
From: "payton@styleherempowered.org" <payton@styleherempowered.org>
To: "projecthopepz@verizon.net" <projecthopepz@verizon.net>
Sent: Tue, Mar 31, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Subject: Good news you helped make possible
Hi Gwendolyn S,
I hope this finds you so well!
We just completed our 2025 Annual Review at SHE (which is Style Her Empowered), and as I was putting it together, I kept thinking about the people who helped us build the foundation for everything you'll see in this report—and that includes you.
Your early support helped set so much of our progress in motion, and I'd love to share a few highlights of what you helped make possible last year:
3,374 more children received the opportunity to go to school this year, bringing the total number of children in our programs to 5,374 across rural Togo and Uganda — up from just 56 girls when we started
11 new partner villages in central Togo welcomed SHE for the first time, with 3,200 children receiving a Uniform That Grows thanks to our new partners, Kapes Uniforms
Girls in rural Uganda wore SHE uniforms for the first time (marking our first expansion beyond Togo)
43 women earned a stable income, access to adult education, and long-term benefits through dignified employment in our Togo factories
I also wanted to share one moment from the year that I keep returning to: during a visit to Tchoide, one of our new partner villages, we spoke to a mother whose young daughter had previously dropped out of school because her family couldn't afford a uniform. During our discussion, she bravely stood and shared one of the most powerful descriptions of what a school uniform represents. She said, "A school uniform is more than clothing, it's permission for a child whose parents have never been able to provide it to pursue their dreams."
Thanks to supporters like you who helped build the foundation for this work, her daughter is now back in school, pursuing her dreams alongside more than 5,300 children in our programs.
I hope you'll take a few minutes to glance through the report and see how much you've helped our mission grow to serve thousands more girls and women in Togo and Uganda.
If you'd ever like to reconnect or hear more about the next stages of our journey, I'd love that. Please don't hesitate to reach out at any time!
With gratitude,
Payton
Payton McGriff
Founder | S H E
W: www.StyleHerEmpowered.org
T: 208-569-7445
E: Payton@StyleHerEmpowered.org
"Style Her Empowered is knocking down barriers so hope can rise in its place" - Oprah Winfrey
This was a project that Gwen found many years ago as SHE was just starting up. We were one of the first groups/congregations who sent uniforms. We helped plant a seed and God has seen fit to water and prosper it to help thousands. As we have always said, we do not have to do big things to make a big difference. All of our projects seem small and we may ask what kind of impact we are making. But, we have done our mission projects knowing God will use whatever we give in faith and with a cheerful heart, even if we do not see lots of outcomes or receive thank you letters. But, thanks be to God who does let us know from time to time.
Gwen and I thank all of you for your ongoing support and volunteer work and donations as part of our vital and thriving ministry here and abroad. May God bless you and all whose lives we touch through our ministry, today, during this Easter season, and throughout our lives of discipleship until the Great and Glorious day of our own Resurrection to eternal life in the Kingdom. Amen.
In Christ’s peace,
Pastor & Gwen
Here are a few more excerpts from thank yous received recently:
Hello –
I am overwhelmed with love and gratitude over this extraordinary donation of (212!!) beautifully crafted sacks and (76) bars of soap! You are all so kind!
A huge thanks to each and every one of you for supporting the SACK mission in such a big and heartwarming way! I am appreciative beyond words! Stacy Weirer – Founder of SACK
Dear Roger,
On behalf of Global Health Ministries, we thank you for your generous donation of scrubs and misc. medical supplies in support of our mission to help the hands that heal throughout the world. Each day, our global medical partners provide lifesaving procedures and vital health & wellness initiatives to those who need it most.
Because of your support in 2025, GHM has sent sixteen 40’ containers overseas to country partners like Tanzania, Madagascar, Liberia and Zimbabwe. Each container is filled to the brim with donated medical items specifically requested by the local staff. All in all, 168 hospitals and mission clinics around the globe have received medical supplies and equipment from Global Health Ministries…
Sincerely, Sarah Fisher – Global Health Ministries March 12, 2026
Dear Rev. Roger Steiner,
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank you for your generous in-kind donation made on 11/25/2025.
The goal of Soldier’ Angels is to continually bring care and comfort to our Heroes in uniform who sacrifice so much for our freedom. Contributions such as yours are a critical part of our success. In our work, we see so many heartwarming expressions of appreciation from the soldiers we serve – your gift will mean a great deal to them…
Thank you again for heartfelt generosity!
With warmest regards, Amy Palmer President & CEO January 2, 2026
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!