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Thrivent vote nets $304,437 for LCMS work

The LCMS

Two Synod ministries –- LCMS World Relief and Human Care (WR-HC) and LCMS World Mission — are receiving a total $304,437 in funds resulting from the vote of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members on where to distribute $1 million for charity.

The vote on distributing the Thrivent funds among 10 national organizations was through its new Thrivent ChoiceSM program. The amount given to each organization was based on the percentage of votes it received.  An 11th option allowed a vote for Thrivent Financial to distribute the funds among all 10 organizations.

In the April 19-May 21 voting, 150,199 members cast ballots, according to a Thrivent news release that lists the resulting fund distribution as follows:

  • LCMS World Relief and Human Care — $192,122;
  • Lutheran Disaster Response — $147,242;
  • ELCA World Hunger — $145,345;
  • Habitat for Humanity International — $114,212;
  • LCMS World Mission — $112,315;
  • Feed My Starving Children — $99,465;
  • American Heart Association — $67,854;
  • WELS Committee on Relief — $57,281;
  • WELS Humanitarian Aid Committee — $32,987; and
  • Lutheran Malaria Initiative — $31,176.

“Wow. To be the top organization recognized by Thrivent members is stunning and humbling,” said Rev. Matthew Harrison, LCMS WR-HC executive director. “It’s tangible affirmation of this sacred ministry of mercy, from the folks who make all our work happen — donors. Thank you, Thrivent!”

“LCMS World Mission gives thanks to God and, further, is so thankful for the support of Thrivent and its members who participated in this voting event,” said Dr. Thomas R. Zehnder, LCMS World Mission executive director. “The support provided will further our ability to share the saving message of Christ.”

LCMS World Relief and Human Care is the Synod’s mercy arm, and LCMS World Mission is the church body’s global Gospel outreach ministry.

“We are grateful to every Thrivent Financial member who participated in this voting event,” said Brad Hewitt, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans president and CEO. “Thrivent Choice gives members a voice in how the dollars they help generate are shared with the causes they care about.”

Later this summer, Thrivent Financial plans to launch Choice DollarsSM, a second aspect of the Thrivent Choice program. For that initiative, the news release indicates, “eligible benefit members will be able to help direct funds to thousands of Lutheran nonprofit organizations including Lutheran congregations. Eligibility for this program will be based on benefit members’ involvement in Thrivent Financial through their fraternal benefit society product ownership and/or Thrivent Financial volunteer leadership.”

Posted June 2, 2010

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