I served an inner city parish for nine years as a worker priest in retirement full time. I asked for $12,000 per year to keep the church open. No one in synod reponded. The church had to be closed. Now about forty Af/Am families are looking around the city for a church. Even though we have 25 LCMS in the area, few are seeking a new church home in their synod, but other vibrant urban churches...none very welcoming to AF/Am folk. A simple grant of $12,000 per year could begin new ministry with a house church with these people. Is anyone out there listening in the LCMS? I love the website, housechurchplanter.com and would model that style for the restart of LCMS poor urban ministry in Grand Rapids, if we just had a small grant to begin. What do you think?