Outreach support for congregations

Seven congregations from around Australia will be supported in their outreach endeavours through grants from the LCANZ’s Local Mission Fund from 2026. In addition, a churchwide mission project will receive backing from the fund.

Now in its second year, the fund has been 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 in 2024 to enhance a mission culture across the church.

As in its inaugural year, the fund offered two tiers of grants to approved applicants – Seed Fund or minor grants of up to $10,000 each and major grants of up to $100,000, all to a maximum total of $400,000.

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

Seed fund recipients this year are St Peter’s Lutheran Church, Loxton, in South Australia, for its ‘Community Connections’ project involving employing a part-time project facilitator for regular outreach activities and St Stephen’s Lutheran Church Adelaide’s Chinese Ministry, for its ‘Chinese Translation and Gospel Resources’ project. The latter will enable the translation and cultural adaptation of LCA resources. A third seed grant will back a churchwide project, which will enable the holding of an LCANZ Chinese Ministry Summit.

Five major fund grants have also been awarded. St James Lutheran Church, Hervey Bay in Queensland, will receive support for its ‘Community Connection and Growth’ project, which will build on existing ministries and develop further engagement with parents of the co-located Lutheran college. The fund will also further support Zion Lutheran Church Glynde, South Australia, which is looking to establish a cross-cultural ministry centre. Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Rochedale in Queensland, will receive backing for the continuation of a ‘Community Connections Facilitator’ role, shared between the church and Redeemer Lutheran College, where it worships. Greater Geelong’s Living Faith Lutheran congregation in Victoria is receiving funding towards its youth ministry project. Finally, Our Saviour Lutheran Church at Aberfoyle Park, South Australia, which is adjacent to a Foundation to Year 6 Lutheran school, is receiving a grant for its ‘Building a Missional Engagement Team’ project.

Local Mission Fund grants will open again in 2026. For more information about the annual fund, see www.lca.org.au/local-mission-fund