What is Trinity Greenhouse?
Bunch of questions, 12 kinds of people that might be interested, and some ways to help
The Mission of Trinity Greenhouse is to plant, cultivate, and produce leaders grounded in the grace of Jesus Christ.
Since 2018, Trinity has hosted 28 year-long residential interns. We also have a great slate of candidates for this coming year! The ‘alumni’ are all involved in local congregations, many of them in various kinds of leadership. Our greenhouse has a unique formation recipe for this intentional year.
Pr. Drew (Concordia), Pr. Matt (Concordia/ILT), Pr. Scott (Fuller/Master’s Institute Seminary), Pr. Per (Master’s Institute Seminary) have all been ordained after their time in the greenhouse environment here, and completion of their seminary education. Ben, Gage, Emma, Donald, Kierra, and Mike have all been enrolled in various seminary programs and are actively serving in various capacities.
Around 30 individuals—two retired pastors, a few active pastors, and quite a few exploring a ministry vocation have participated in the weekly Pastoral Leadership Seminar for the last few years. The following books along with our own lives and contexts have provided ample material for mutual conversation and consolation:
The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction by Eugene Peterson
30 Years the Changed the World: A Fresh Look at the Book of Acts by Michael Green
The Vulnerable Pastor: How Human Limitations Empower Our Ministry by Mandy Smith
The Pastor: A Reader for Ordained Ministry by Will Willimon
Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration of Vocational Holiness by Eugene Peterson
Building Benedict—Benedict Builds: Benedictine Wisdom in Building Leaders who Build Communities in a Seismic Age by Nathan Hoff
The Hammer of God three novellas by Bo Giertz
Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work by Eugene Peterson
Our Greenhouse leadership team also supports this planting/cultivating/producing mission beyond Trinity’s parish bounds. We host two weekly podcasts in partnership with The Eugene Peterson Center in Holland MI and with Ground Up Grace Ministries. We provide Rule of Life orientation courses for kindred ministries, and external teaching at Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute, Master’s Institute Seminary, Mount Carmel Ministries, The Alliance of Renewal Churches, Roots & Embers, and The Awaken Project. We also provide support to the LCMC Pastoral Shortage Think Tank through participation, projects, and writing.
How much does it cost to run Trinity Greenhouse?
If you added up costs including housing, staffing, orientation, retreats, spiritual direction, it would amount to $85,000 a year. But, we would spend $25,000 if we paid interns minimum wage and other staffing expenses. Free housing in exchange for intern ministry hours leaves us needing to raise around $60,000 annually or $5,000 monthly.
Where does Trinity Greenhouse funding come from?
We have some faithful and regular givers, for example Jim and Dorothy who have been with us from the beginning. We also have had some one-time or occasional givers. Every little bit helps, but a few like Bill or like Paul and Rita have given extravagantly, and sustained Trinity Greenhouse up to this point. After long-time LBI Seattle supporter, Verona passed away, her family gave a portion of the inheritance she left behind to Trinity Greenhouse. Some of Nathan’s outside teaching renumeration is also returned to Trinity Greenhouse. We have also been the recipients of a generous grant from a kindred congregation in the Twin Cities, Calvary in Golden Valley fully funded our first “Finkenwalde Fellow” this year, allowing us to hire Mike Holland (PT) to provide working funds while he is in his first year at Fuller Seminary.
How is Trinity Greenhouse doing financially now?
Regular and occasional giving has sustained us without lag, but without an inflow of financial resources, we will come to the end of our savings in the next month or two.
Who cares? Who might be interested in participating in Trinity Greenhouse?
The Greenhouse image is important to us, because we imagine those who are planted and cultivated here, will not stay here forever. They will be like a harvest sent out to bear fruit beyond the parish bounds of Trinity. Trinity is already deeply invested, so we are wondering if other partners might include:
Former participants? Alumni, are you in the place to participate in the next round? Parents, grandparents, and extended family of former participants?
Congregations currently benefiting from former intern involvement or employment?
Missions/Benevolence Committees in congregations that believe in this mission to plant/cultivate/produce leaders grounded in the grace of Jesus Christ.
Endowment funds in local congregations that are looking for a proven, efficient, focused, and deeply grateful recipient.
Donors who used to give to an LBI—Lutheran Bible Institute, because you believed in scriptural discipleship, formational community, and a well-trained church and mission leadership?
Donors who used to give to seminaries, or who want to give to seminaries, but wonder the best way to do so. Why not give directly to a ministry that resources seminarians. I think the best way to support seminaries is through seminarians.
Donors who are wondering from where the next generation of church leaders will come?
Donors who know (along with the pastoral epistles) that competency and character in leaders is not an either/or choice, but a both/and necessity!
Folks who feel a tinge of hope in the future of Christ’s church. Visit us and your tinge will grow into full-blown expectation.
Listeners to Low in the Water or Ground Up Grace podcasts.
Grant writers who can help us apply for appropriate partnership.
Readers of this free Substack :) ?
How can I help? How can I give?
PRAY. You can pray! Really, pray something like this, “Lord of the harvest, you called your people to pray that you would raise up workers to help harvest the fruit that you produce. We see and hear that you are doing this through Trinity Greenhouse. Raise up sustaining provision for them as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
SHARE. You can share this post with your favorite quote in it on your preferred social media site. You can share this with your pastor. You can share this with your mission committee. You can share this with a friend that you know beats with the same heart.
GIVE. You can give by sending a check or enrolling in bill pay through your own bank, made out to Trinity San Pedro and putting "Greenhouse" in the memo. Send to 1450 W 7th St, San Pedro, CA 90732
You can give online right HERE: Choose "Greenhouse" in the pull-down fund menu.
Would you like to chat before committing to give? I’d love nothing more. Please don’t hesitate to message me and we can set up a time.
