Newly Approved Grants for the 2008-2010 Biennium

1 - Emmanuel Lutheran Church for a Federal Tax Exemption Certificate for the Operation of a Child Development Center
Submitted by Women of Redeemer, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Newton NJ - $2,500.
   

Emmanuel Lutheran Church is an outgrowth of Tri-State Lutheran Fellowship, a mission outreach of Redeemer Lutheran. They will incorporate in 2008 and become part of the NJ District. Part of their ministry will be a day care center that could draw up to 217 children. Emmanuel has met with Open Arms Institute, an organization of the LCMS and has developed a business and ministry plan for a Child Development Center. This grant will go toward their startup costs for this center.

2 - NJ District Youth Camp
Submitted by Grace Lutheran Church Ladies Guild, Livingston, NJ - $3,000.00

   

The NJ District youth camp is a ministry to the youth of the NJ District LCMS, their friends and all youth who want to be part of the camp experience. All leaders, including Pastor Stephen Gewecke are volunteers. This is a week long - sleepover experience. Activities include Bible Study, chapel, Faith Talk, Bible memorization, prayer and interaction with Christian leaders. The cost is about 300.00 per camper and scholarships are offered to youth from inner cities. The largest source of support in the last several years has informed the camp that support will be minimal, if at all for the next season. The camp is in the process of seeking other grants. This grant would provide scholarships for 2 years.

3 – Trinity Hope to Feed Children Who Attend Lutheran Schools in Haiti
Submitted by the LWML of Trinity Lutheran Church, Gallatin, TN - $3,000.   

Most poor families in Haiti do not eat 3 meals a day but only when food is available. The children enrolled in the Lutheran schools there receive a hot lunch every day. This helps them to have more energy and more attentiveness to the daily lessons, which include Christian teaching. The directors of these schools are Lutheran pastors. Many of the children, most raised in homes that practice Voodoo, which states that God does not care about the Haitians become believers and then go home and teach the love of Jesus to their families. All monies go the feeding program. Through this grant the NJ District would be assigned to 1 specific school and the feeding of approximately 125 children.

4 - Fortress Grant Fund
Submitted by Office of Church Relations, Concordia College - New York - $2,000.00

Concordia College - New York is the LCMS synodical institute of higher learning in our district and the only one on the east coast. Located in Bronxville NY, Concordia offers many areas of study for all students, but LCMS in particular. The Fortress Grant provides scholarships in the amount of 50% of tuition to LCMS students with top grades and great financial need. In fact, all Lutheran freshmen and transfer students qualify for at least a 5.000.00 grant. Training students in our Lutheran college gives not only a fine education, but prepares them for a Christ-centered life of worship and outreach and eternal life through the grace of Jesus. The grant would help with the scholarships of the Fortress Grant.