Paul and Rachel Lareau on welcome, service, and living faith with their hands and feet
When Paul and Rachel Lareau began searching for a new church a few years ago, they weren’t just looking for a place to attend on Sundays. They were looking for a community — somewhere they could belong, build relationships, and live out their faith in meaningful ways.
They found that at St. Andrew Lutheran Church.
“We felt welcomed right off the bat — and you can tell when that welcome is really meant.”
A Warm Welcome from the Start
Paul and Rachel started attending St. Andrew about three years ago and became members soon after. From their first visit, they noticed something different. The welcome they received wasn’t just polite or routine — it felt genuine.
From friendly faces at the front doors to words spoken during worship, the message was consistent: all are welcome here. Over time, Paul and Rachel came to trust that this wasn’t just something said — it was something lived.
Faith That Moves Beyond Words
As they settled into the community, Paul and Rachel felt drawn not just to participate, but to serve. A recent volunteering opportunity connected them with Messiah Lutheran Church, assembling Christmas and Easter baskets for community members in need.
What began as a single sign‑up turned into something much more.
Paul, who had flexibility in his schedule, went early in the week to help — and quickly realized more support was needed. He stayed, helped organize food pickups, delivered supplies, and returned day after day. Rachel joined after work, and together they found themselves deeply connected to the effort.
“It wasn’t just a volunteer experience — it became a real connection to the community.”
Inspired by Faith in Action
One moment stood out strongly for Paul. During a volunteer orientation, he listened as a leader from Messiah Lutheran spoke honestly about funding challenges — and then calmly shared her confidence that they would get through it, just as they had before.
Her faith, expressed not through anxiety but through persistence and action, left a lasting impression.
“You can say a lot with your hands and feet — sometimes you don’t need as many words.”
When Service Becomes Relationship
Their involvement didn’t stop with the holiday baskets. In the weeks that followed, Paul and Rachel began delivering groceries to individuals in the city. What surprised them most wasn’t just the need — it was the relationships that formed.
On one delivery, Rachel decided to bake something extra to bring along without mentioning it ahead of time. When they arrived, the recipients had prepared baked goods for them as well — a quiet, mutual gesture neither side had planned.
It was a small moment, but one filled with shared humanity.
“It wasn’t just us helping someone else — it was something we both received.”
Showing Up Again and Again
Through these experiences, Paul and Rachel came to see how ongoing the need is — not just at Christmas or Easter, but every week. They’ve continued making deliveries together, sometimes once a week, sometimes more, partnering with others so no one serves alone.
They’ve also found creative ways to extend their impact, connecting church service with volunteer opportunities through work and collaborating with other congregations and nonprofits across the metro area.
For them, faith has grown less about opinions or words, and more about presence, action, and care.