Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has given the Synod a $1.1 churchwide grant for Synod projects, programs, or events.
Two representatives from Thrivent’s Heartland Regional Office in St. Louis were at the LCMS International Center Dec. 16 to present a check for the 2009-10 
fiscal year to Synod President Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick.
Amounts allocated for this year’s grant range from $5,000 for the Board for Black Ministry Services “Mercy Project” to $200,000 for the development of stewardship resources in DVD and online formats.
The other major projects receiving funds from the churchwide grant are:
- $200,000 to provide 10 initial grants to support planting of new ethnic and cross-cultural communities as part of the Ablaze! Covenant Congregation mission planting strategy.
- $200,000 to fund a model theological conference on worship, music, liturgy, hymnody, and song that will be organized by the LCMS Commission on Worship and the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations as requested by a 2007 LCMS convention resolution.
- $100,000 to fund a “Congregational Transformation Process” that seeks to revitalize congregations that have a stagnant or declining church attendance through consultations, coaching, and learning communities.
- $75,000 for building on the “What A Way” initiative that seeks to recruit, nurture, and retain LCMS professional church workers.
- $52,500 to train district leaders to conduct stewardship workshops in congregations as part of the “Faith Aflame: 360-Degree Stewardship” project.
“On behalf of our entire Synod, especially those who work here at the International Center, I express my sincere appreciation for this wonderful gift of the Thrivent Churchwide Grant for 2009,” said Kieschnick.
The annual grant, he said, “provides funding for special projects of mission and ministry throughout our country and in many parts of the world that otherwise simply would not be possible.
“May God bless Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and may God bless The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod in the years ahead.”
Posted Jan. 6, 2010
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