Redeemer’s Green Team: Putting Faith into Action Through Stewardship

Written by Jim Heater, a Lutheran Green Team member and friend of GIPL. Photos by Jim Heater.

At the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Savannah, Georgia, caring for God’s creations are an important part of our mission and ministry. Throughout 2026, Redeemer’s Green Team has been actively promoting environmental stewardship through education, recycling initiatives, and community partnerships that encourage responsible care of the resources God has entrusted to us.

Our Earth Day celebration was a wonderful example of these efforts in action. One of the highlights was an Electric Vehicle (EV) Car Show, where members and community guests learned about alternative transportation options and ways to reduce their environmental footprint.

The event sparked conversations about conservation and practical steps we can take to be better stewards of creation.

The Green Team also worked with Church Council to implement several sustainability initiatives on our campus. This year, Council approved recommendations to reduce the use of Styrofoam products and encourage the use of compostable plates, bowls, and cups at church events. We also began recycling plastic beverage cups and continue to maintain a community aluminum can recycling bin. In addition, collection bins remain available for alkaline batteries, printer cartridges, and eyeglasses, providing easy opportunities for members to recycle items that might otherwise end up in landfills.

To better understand local recycling efforts, Green Team members took a field trip to Tybee Island’s Hard2Recycle Center. During the visit, participants learned how sixteen categories of hard-to-recycle materials are collected and processed. They also saw firsthand how #5 plastics are transformed into new products that are sold to help fund environmental initiatives on Tybee Island.

The experience provided valuable insight into the importance of recycling and how innovative programs can support sustainability efforts in our community.

A major accomplishment this spring was Redeemer’s Community Recycling Event on June 13. Partnering with Tybee Island’s Hard2Recycle Center, the event collected sixteen categories of materials not typically accepted through curbside recycling programs. Community members embraced the opportunity to recycle responsibly while helping reduce waste sent to local landfills.

Boy Scout Troop 876 joined the event by collecting worn and damaged American flags

for honorable retirement. Their participation offered a respectful way for community

members to retire flags that had served their purpose.

The event also featured educational information from Savannah Bee Company about

the importance of pollinators and healthy ecosystems. Redeemer further supported

pollinator awareness through a partnership with Oelschig Nursery, which generously

donated twenty-five pollinator-friendly plants. These plants were raffled off during the

event, allowing participants to take home native plants that support bees, butterflies,

and other beneficial pollinators.

The success of these programs demonstrates how faith and stewardship can work hand in hand. Every item recycled, every can collected, every pollinator plant distributed, and every sustainable choice made helps protect God’s creation for future generations.

As Redeemer continues its REDEEM vision of Restoring Environments, Deepening Engagement, and Expanding Mission, the Green Team remains committed to creating opportunities for members and neighbors to care for creation together.

“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.” — Psalm 24:1