wfn.org | LCMS: 158 LCMS parishes to get Schwann Grants for Outreach

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
Board for Communication Services

LCMSNews -- No. 34
June 17, 2002

158 LCMS parishes to get
Schwan grants for outreach

Last month, 158 Synod congregations got word that they are receiving a 
total $993,621 in Evangelism Outreach through Congregations (EOC) grants 
this year from the Marvin M. Schwan Charitable Foundation.

The EOC program supports the church's "Tell the Good News About Jesus" 
evangelism emphasis.

"A preference was given to multi-year projects that would assist 
particularly smaller congregations in making their planned project ... a 
part of the total ongoing ministry of the congregation," said Rev. Alger 
Tormoehlen, EOC grants coordinator for the Synod.

He indicated that among the congregation projects receiving the grants are 
evangelism training for laity, developing brochures and other outreach 
materials to share with people in congregations' communities, advertising 
and public relations "to increase church visibility," member involvement, 
"side-door" evangelism events, and using Harvesters for Christ teams.

A total of 372 congregations applied for EOC grants for 2002.  The 158 
congregations that were not chosen for the grants also were notified in May.

Tormoehlen said that over the past three years of the program, the Schwan 
foundation has given $3,113,563 in outreach grants to 489 LCMS 
congregations. However, he said that the Schwan foundation has indicated 
that it will provide only up to $500,000 for EOC grants in 2003, primarily 
"due to the fluctuating money market in today's economy."

Synod congregations are to receive information this summer about the EOC 
grant process and how to apply.

"Congregations that have not received a grant in the three previous years 
are encouraged to already begin their planning for a specific outreach 
oriented project that will help them to reach the lost in their local 
ministry area," Tormoehlen added.

****************************************

LCMSNews is published by the News and Information Division, Board for 
Communication Services, of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.  Please 
note that subscribers to LCMSNews will not be able to reach anyone by 
hitting the "Reply" button when viewing an LCMSNews release. Such replies 
will be deleted. However, if you have questions or comments about this 
LCMSNews release, contact Joe Isenhower via e-mail at 
joe.isenhower@lcms.org, or by phone at (314) 996-1231.

To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your e-mail address for LCMSNews, 
go to the following Web address: 
http://lists.lcms.org/mailman/listinfo/lcmsnews.

****************************************