wfn.org | LCMS - LIRS offers immigrant and refugee grants to

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

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
Board for Communication Services

LCMSNews -- No. 11, February 10, 2003

LIRS offers grants to congregations

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), in partnership with Wheat
Ridge Ministries, is offering financial assistance to Lutheran congregations
to encourage the development of support services for immigrants and
refugees.

For the fifth year, grants are being made available through the Good
Samaritan Fund established in honor of Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
pastor Dr. August Bernthal.  Before his retirement, Bernthal guided his
congregation, Grace Lutheran Church in Winter Haven, Fla., in its
resettlement of more than 300 immigrants and refugees over 25 years.

The seed grants are intended to help congregations develop support services
for immigrants and refugees beyond the initial stages of resettlement.

Last year, the Good Samaritan Fund awarded grants totaling $85,500 to 19
congregations across the country to help implement a variety of projects and
services, including computer training, childcare for children whose parents
are enrolled in English-language classes, immigration assistance and
citizenship classes.

Congregations may download application information from http://www.lirs.org
or contact Denise Peterson at dpeterson@lirs.org.  The deadline for 2003
grant applications is Feb. 28, and grants will be awarded in May.

The Good Samaritan Fund is made up of donations from congregations and
individuals.  Gifts to the fund may be made by phone or online: LIRS --
(410) 230-2786 or http://www.lirs.org; Wheat Ridge -- (800) 762-6748 or
http://www.wheatridge.org.

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