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Mission Grant Information for 2012 - 2014
1. Internet Worship for the Deaf in Montana (and beyond) $2700
With only a few LCMS pastors skilled in American Sign Language (ASL), a new model of ministry to reach the vast number of unchurched souls had to be found.
The grant money would provide the initial investment of a computer, with camera, and other necessary equipment. The project would rely on volunteer labor and a free streaming service so there would be virtually no other funding required to keep this project going in the future. It will be available to members of the Northwest Region of the International Deaf Association, which includes Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. With the equipment, worship services and Bible classes can be “live-streamed” over the internet and can be viewed by anyone with an internet connection. This grant will allow for any deaf person to be able to hear and study the Word of God in the language of their heart ad the ministry of Christ Lutheran Church for the Deaf (Great Falls – the only church for the Deaf in the Northwest Region) could be multiplied greatly.
2. Veterans of the cross $2000
Veterans of the Cross (VOTC) provides small periodic stipends and pastoral care for church work retirees (or their surviving spouse) who struggle to pay for basic living expenses, such as medicine or utility bills. Administered by Concordia Plan Services, the fund relies on donations raised by the church worker grants unit of the LCMS National Mission. Among church work families, stories of making pennies stretch are both legendary and endless. A surprising number of Veterans of the Cross live in poverty. LCMS church workers who retired prior to 1965 often receive pensions so small that even with social security, it is impossible to make ends meet. Even though, in 1965, the LCMS established a new retirement plan, funds from Districts have diminished over the last 20 years, reducing the amount available for destitute retirees to the point that Synod no longer provides income to help those called workers who may be struggling. This grant would extend that mercy care to those who have been faithful to the Lord.
3. Native American Outreach Montana – Gospel Minute Radio Program $3120
The Gospel Minute Devotions are heard Monday – Friday prior to the 8 am news in the Ft. Peck area. The program was started by Rev. George Draper in 2007. Rev. Dan Jacobs then took over until funding ended in 2009. During the 2010 – 2012 biennium the Mt. District LWML was able to fund through a grant for one more year of the program. That funding ended in January of 2012.
Rev. John Vallie will continue the outreach through this grant and, right now, the LWML is the only source of funds for this mission outreach. Since some of the Native Americans in the Fort Peck area are unchurched this could be their only exposure to the Gospel. The program reaches 4 of the counties in NE Montana. The cost of this radio minute has remained consistent since it was begun by Rev. Draper. This grant will fund this project for another two years.
4. Orphan Grain Train North Dakota Division $3000
The Orphan Grain Train (OGT), North Dakota Division was established in 1992 and receives donations of food, clothing, quilts, domestic supplies, school kits, health kits, layettes, Bibles, devotional materials and other supplies at its warehouse in Bottineau, N.D. a group of volunteers meets each week to sort and pack supplies the N. Dakota OGT has responded to disasters in foreign countries as well as the US and N. Dakota. OGT is in need of financial help for warehouse bills, fuel, and vehicle maintenance and, of course, the BIG one, shipping costs. It costs about $9000 to send a container from ND to Africa or about $10 a box. This grant will help to support this ongoing mission.
5. Concordia St. Louis Food Bank $2000
The leadership of Concordia St. Louis (CSL) implemented a wonderful blessing to benefit all students and those with families in 1980. The Food Bank offers staples, produce, baked goods and bread, personal care and baby items. The Food Bank is visited by nearly 500 people. Two shopping days per month meet the bulk of their monthly grocery and personal care item needs. On average each seminary family of four saves $400 a month due to the benefit of the Food Bank. Monetary donations are used to stock the shelves. As an agency of the St. Louis Area Food Bank, the Seminary Food Bank is able to purchase items at a mere fraction of the cost. Additional stock items are bought through other discount retail stores. The anticipation is that most of the support for this ministry will come from LCMS Mission organizations, congregations, individuals and agencies. A $2000 grant will feed approximately 6 men, women and children per month and the budget goal for this year is $180,000.
6. Concordia Ft. Wayne Co-op Medicine cabinet $2000
One area of the co-op, the medicine shelf, is severely lacking in items to be shared with the students these funds will be used to purchase analgesics such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, robitussin, dayquil and nyquil, antihistamines, first aid wound care, diaper ointments, throat lozenges and adult and children’s vitamins. A separate cabinet will be set up and will be available during normal hours. No points or vouchers or money would be needed but a sign out form will be maintained to track students. This cabinet would be located in the co-op but would be labeled the LWML medicine cabinet. At this time, there are no other funding sources for this project.
7. Handicap Institutional Reform – Kazakhstan $2500
Disabled and handicapped persons in Kazakhstan are often restricted by lack of opportunities available for education, therapy and employment. LCMS International Mission seeks to assist is developing programs for this disadvantaged sub-community and, by assisting, display Jesus’ love for all. As a result of work already begun, six handicapped have been baptized and two Muslim workers have professed their faith in Jesus Christ. In Kazakhstan it is common practice to place children with disabilities in orphanages, which tend to be closed facilities where children have little access to their community. In Nov. 2010, LCMS sponsored a trip for 3 individuals to visit America to discover how they can better serve the disabled in Kazakhstan. The trip was a phenomenal success. Since their return the local government officials began to organize a city-wide campaign on behalf of the disabled, advocating for deeper community involvement. There has been marked improvement in the morale at the residential facility. On April 8, 2011, disabled adult residents gathered for the first Bible study/prayer group using a “Proclaimer” device that reads the Bible aloud since over half are illiterate. Funding of this grant will be used for supplies for camps for the disabled, public outreach and education seminars and travel to and from the sites where volunteers are working with them.
8. Lutheran Children’s Books Latvia $96 Note: # 8 and # 9 tied
Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF), founded in 1992, has taken advantage of political and cultural doors opening in countries around the world where Christianity, in general and Lutheranism in particular, are not well established. LHF’s work began in 1992 with translation projects in former soviet bloc countries such as Russia and Latvia. When the wall fell and doors opened, LHF was reads to supply textbooks and other educational materials in the languages of the people. LHF usually begins by translating Luther’s Small Catechism and then continues with children’s books, devotionals, hymnals as well as texts for seminaries and pastors. By the grace of God, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia today has 40,000 members, 118 pastors and a seminary. The ELCL is currently working on 3 different books in the “God comes to me” series. “God Comes to Me in the Lord’s Supper” is already completed. “God Comes to Me in the Creed” and “God Comes to Me in Absolution” will be completed in August 2012 and printing will take place soon after. This grant will provide for half of the cost to print one book in the series.
9. Christian Welfare Center Hospital Addition – Malappuram, India $96
The CWC was founded in 1956 by several Indian Christians and by Dr. Roland and Mary Heler Miller as part of an LCMS mission outreach in the Malabar region to do evangelistic work together with medical work. Two Lutheran “Mother Theresas,” Dr Sophia John and Dr. Victoria Matthews provide maternity, child welfare, TB, leprosy and general treatment and community health services such as sanitation and protected water supply. Since they have outgrown their current facility, the clinic has decided to build a new five story addition with 44 single rooms, six consultation rooms, a larger waiting area, a neonatal ICU, a medical ICU, a lab and a pharmacy. The CWC continues to be a place to practice evangelism by sharing the Gospel in word and deed and with a daily prayer meeting for the staff held in the main lobby with many patients and by-standers attending. Construction of the lower floors has already been initiated but will not be able to be completed without additional help. The CWC is raising funds from local sources in India as they did when they began construction. This proposal was selected for the Peoria Convention ballot but did not receive enough votes.
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