Seven Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod churches are among 29 Lutheran congregations that received a total of $48,318 in the latest round of Wheat Ridge Ministries’ Congregation Health and Hope Grants.
Open to all Lutheran congregations — individually or in partnerships — the grants are meant “to facilitate the initial development of congregation-based heath and hope ministries,” said Brian Becker, Wheat Ridge vice president for ministry programs. “It’s our vision that someday all congregations would see themselves as places where healing is offered -– [for] mind, body, and spirit. We’re seeing amazing things happen through these grants.”
The seven LCMS congregations receiving the Health and Hope Grants are:
- Immanuel Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, Mich.;
- Messiah Lutheran Church and School, Grand Junction, Colo.;
- Marco Lutheran Church, Marco Island, Fla.;
- Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Decatur, Ga.;
- Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Carrollton, Texas;
- Zion Lutheran Church, Morris, Minn.; and
- Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Kearney, Neb.
“The focus of the Health and Hope Grant is on new congregation-based health ministries developed under the auspices of a congregation health committee or cabinet,” according to a Wheat Ridge news release, which adds that each grant of up to $2,000 must be matched by the congregation that receives it.
The release indicates that Congregation Health and Hope Grants are to be used only for health-related events and leadership development, staff training, planning, materials, resources or equipment directly related to program development; or contract services or new staff essential for developing programs.
Wheat Ridge Ministries, based in Itasca, Ill., is an independent Lutheran non-profit charitable organization that seeds new Christ-centered ministries of health and hope, and connects and equips individuals and organizations with such ministries.
Posted Nov. 15, 2006
