Congregations supported in mission

Ten congregations from around Australia will be supported in their outreach endeavours through the inaugural grants from the LCANZ’s Local Mission Fund.

This new approach to local mission is designed to support congregations, districts and agencies of the church as they seek new ways of reaching their neighbours and local communities with the gospel through collaboration and partnerships. The General Church Board authorised the fund’s establishment to enhance a mission culture across the church.

Under the fund, two tiers of grants were available for approved applicants – Seed Fund or minor grants of up to $10,000 each and major grants of up to $100,000, all to a total of $400,000.

LCANZ Local Mission Coordinator Jodi Brook said successful projects have broad churchwide applications, which will then provide examples for future projects across the church.

‘As well as enhancing and building a missional culture, this fund will equip people and congregations for mission’, she said.

Seed fund recipients for the inaugural grants are St James Lutheran Church, Hervey Bay, Queensland, for its Community Connection and Growth Project; Zion Lutheran Church, Glynde, South Australia, for its project entitled ‘The Future is Youth: Growing faith and love in a multicultural community’; St Paul Lutheran Church, Blair Athol, SA, for a word and music-focused ministry building connections with school and playgroup families of the local community; Victor Harbor Lutheran Church, SA, for a Combined Church Welcome Pack; and Kadina Lutheran Church, SA, for hosting mission outreach events to provide a space for non-Christians to hear the witness of the life-changing power of the gospel.

Major Local Mission Fund grants have been awarded to Trinity Lutheran Church, Ashmore, Queensland, for a congregation and college ministry partnership; Grace Lutheran Chinese Church, Perth, Western Australia, to support it as a sending church for a church plant to Mandarin speakers in the northern regions of Perth; St Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Brisbane, for a Korean-language ministry in the Queensland capital; St Petri Lutheran Church Nuriootpa, SA, for a regional learning hub to grow the missional workforce in the Barossa Valley; and Wodonga Lutheran Church, Victoria, for a community and college outreach.

After representatives of the grant recipient congregations were presented to General Synod yesterday at Concordia College, Adelaide, Andy Enever, from Wodonga Lutheran Church thanked the LCANZ for supporting local mission.

‘I would like to share with you the Bible passage Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”’, he said. ‘The LCA’s heart is definitely tied to what they value most. I thank the church for their financial generosity and support towards local mission.’

Local Mission Fund grants will open again in 2025. For more information about the annual fund, see www.lca.org.au/local-mission-fund