BIENNIUM MITE UPDATE
2006-2008 Biennium goal is $250,000.
At convention in 2006 projects were selected to cover the biennium 9/1/2006 8/31/2008. To meet this goal we need to receive each month of the biennium $10,416.66.
Based on the total biennium goal – for the 21 months (9/1/2006 thru 5/31/2008) so far we have received $184,583.76 in mites. We needed to receive $218,749.86 for this same period making us BEHIND by a total of $34,166.10..
Please remember that of the total mission goal of $250,000.00, 25% ($62.500.00) goes to national and $43,545.00 goes to in-reach leaving $143,955.00 for grants.
Please promote the mission projects/grants you selected at convention. Tell everyone you know about how these grants help us to spread the Gospel to all peoples- here in the NID and around the world.
Please remember to send all monies for Mites, Quarterlies, Memorials and other donations to the NID/FINANCIAL SECRETARY at PO BOX 7565, Algonquin, IL 60102.
Below are the Grants for 2006-2008.
1. Concordia Theological Seminary Food & Clothing Co-op, Fort Wayne- $4762 funded
The Food and Clothing Co-op on the campus of Concordia Seminary plays a key role in helping students feed and clothe their families. Nearly 70% of the students are married, second career men with families. The Food Co-op is able to supply between 65% and 75% of all families' food and household needs at no cost to the student due to the support of individual donors, churches and other organizations. It operates as an actual cooperative with each family working a certain amount of time to earn points which they spend in the Co-op. A grant of $12,000 would purchase two months worth of food for the Co-op and assist in the support of a seminary family.
2. Bibles for International students $12,000 funded
Currently, there are 77 LCMS ministries at colleges and universities where Bible study is essential in bringing Christ to international students. Bible classes are usually conducted in English, and they are greatly enhanced when students can use bi-lingual Bibles. This enables the students to more fully comprehend an account by looking at a Bible passage in their native language. It also enables international students to read the Bible outside of class. One international scholar said it in these words: "I learned much information about Jesus and the Bible in English, but I learned to love Him when I read about Him in Chinese. ISM Inc. is an LCMS mission society that works in partnership with LCMS World Mission to enable, assist, and fund volunteer ministries among international students. A $12,000 grant from NID would provide Bibles for international students.
3. St. Philip Food Pantry Chicago
$12,000 funded
Since August of 2004, over 200 families have been served monthly by the St. Philip food pantry on South Eberhart in Chicago. The program provides a one-on-one lay ministry as well as nutrition counseling by LaRabida dieticians. The clients of the food pantry include a large proportion of single-parent families, as well as low-income families, senior citizens, and homeless people. Food donations are received from the Chicagoland Food depository. St. Philips has the potential for greater outreach and service if a suitable room for storage and sharing would be available. The present room needs structural repair, new electrical system and flooring as well as shelving and storage bins for food. A grant of $12,000 would permit the sharing of necessary food as well as the necessary word of the Gospel.
4. LCMS World Relief HIV/AIDS Medical & Biblical Care-Kenya $7,750 funded
The Lutheran World Relief and Human Care grant proposal addresses the tragic HIV/Aids pandemic in Kenya. The aid to the affected persons stresses a faith based HIV/AIDS medical intervention for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya that advocates a God-pleasing lifestyle with respect to the sanctity of marriage and life while applying the healing balm of the Gospel and the healing balm of the God-given gifts of the medical arts and sciences. The request for $7,750 will assist in training HIV/AIDS counselors within the ELCK in southern Kenya. It will also provide counseling, education/advocacy, blood tests and access to antiretroviral therapy as required by each patient.
5. Zion Summer Stars $12,000 funded
The residents of the Beverly Community in Chicago have been concerned about the drugs and violence gaining ground in their neighborhood. A group of community leaders met at Zion Lutheran Church to discuss the problems and formed a plan to offer a two-day per week program in the months of June, July and August in 2007. Through the year, the program will provide academic tutoring, and Arts/Crafts classes free to families. Zion will use this program as a springboard to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the children and their parents. They will recruit young people for the youth group and choirs. Zion plans to offer a healthy lunch and snacks to the participants and will use the $12,000 grant for this purpose.
6. Lutheran Blind Mission $10,000 funded
More than 55 million people in the world are blind. 12 million of those
reside in the United States and 95% are unchurched. In 1923 Lutheran Blind
Mission was formed and began supplying Luther's Small Catechism and two
magazines in Braille. LBM has been operating 34 outreach centers for the
past six years and has observed that most of these people are either
under the age of 65 or have lost their sight when they were under the age of 55. The goal of this program is to test, try, and develop ways a congregation can minister to and support seniors with vision loss. A grant of $10,000 would assist in implementing this project in developing materials, brochures, training and to form a new understanding and new ways of reaching people with vision loss with the Good news of the Gospel.
7. LCFS - Lutherbrook Spiritual Care Program $10,000 funded
Lutheran Child and Family Services has initiated a Spiritual Care Program to proclaim the Gospel to the children and staff of Lutherbrook Child and Adolescent Center and Collins group Home. The program seeks to incorporate spiritual growth in its therapeutic treatment. Individual Bibles, curriculum and study texts for participants are needed along with funds for outside Christian speakers to present their faith. These speakers would also function as critical, Christian role models for Lutherbrook residents. Adequate training resources for program volunteers are necessary to provide training on the issues that face residents, including severe abuse and neglect. A $10,000 grant would provide these services.
8. New Urban Teacher Series $9,550 funded
Today 50% of all first year teachers in inner-city schools leave their classrooms within five years. The New Urban Teacher Series will provide orientation and training for first year teachers entering NID inner-city schools to better equip them for the urban teaching ministry. Three intensive all-day workshops will be held prior to the start of each school year. Five additional workshops will be held after school throughout the year to reinforce principles and practical applications of the curriculum. The series was developed and partially funded by Concordia University River Forest and Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation. LWML is requested to partner in funding in the form of a grant for $9,550.
9. The Dhimba New Testament Translation Project in Namibia, S Africa $ 8,500 funded
Lutheran Bible Translators is the only Lutheran organization whose primary focus is Bible translation, literacy work and Scripture use. The Dhimba project will extend the mission of the Word by bringing God's Word, the message of love, hope and eternal life to those who do not yet have it in their own heart language. The books of Mark, Luke John and Acts have been printed and checked by Mother-tongue speakers The 30,000 Dhimba people will no longer have to rely on an interpreter. Many of these people live in Angola where restrictions exist and such a translation project cannot be carried out. They would also be served by the $8,500 grant from LWML.
10. Lutheran Ministries Media, Inc. of Fort Wayne, In $12,000
The Gospel message is shared, especially to the aged, in thousands of homes in the NID through the weekly, 30 minute television program "Worship for Shut-Ins". Each program is closed captioned so as to reach the hearing impaired as well as enabling viewers to sing along with the choirs. Volunteer LCMS ministers and choirs provide the sermons and music. Weekly cost of air time for three television outlets in the Northern Illinois District is $885. A grant of $12,000 from NID LWML will support the air time for broadcasting "Worship" for Shut-Ins for 13 weeks.
11. English as a Second Language San Pablo, Aurora, IL$12,000
Chartered by the LCMS in 2005, Iglesia Evangelica Luterana San Pablo ministers in the near east side of Aurora, Il, an area which is low income, over 40% unaffiliated with a church, and 70% Hispanic. In order to meet a critical need in the neighborhood, San Pablo provides English as a second language (ESL) classes for adults, and childcare/recreation using a bible school model for their children. Funding is needed to continue this ministry which brings Jesus Christ to the community by meeting the basic human need for communication. San Pablo was recently awarded the prestigious Fred E. Lietz Mission Project Award which recognizes outstanding efforts of a mission project associated with the Missouri Synod. A grant for $12,000 from LWML would provide curriculum materials, childcare, public relations supplies, and visual equipment.
12. Arabic Ministry Dr. Naeem$10,000
Dr. Naeem, a Lutheran pastor, was born in Egypt and worked for many years as a medical physician. He grew up among Muslins and understands Islam. The center of his mission is to bring Jesus Christ to the Muslim world. He is spreading the Gospel through radio messages, the internet, lectures, and mailings and is supported by the Rocky Mountain District of the LCMS. Dr. Naeem has formed an international seminary, teaching Lutheran doctrine with a faculty of 5 volunteer professors and a current enrollment of 100 applicants. The internet broadcasting and the costs for computers, software and expenses are not funded by his salary. A grant of $10,000 would support the outreach to Arab-speaking persons for the Biblical Orthodox Lutheran Mission
13. DuPage Asian Indian Gospel Outreach $10,000 Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, IL seeks to ignite the start of new Asian Indian mission stations in Chicagoland, together with CAME and the NID LCMS. Over 90% of the 200,000 Asian Indian people living in the NID are unchurched. A strategy of identifying, recruiting, mentoring and assessing Indian missionaries (lay and clergy) will be employed. An Asian Indian missionary will be recruited to lead this mission effort. CAME will also work with other congregations in the Chicago area to coordinate outreach and encourage them to open their doors to host and support Indian outreach. A grant of $10,000 will support this mission.
14. Luther East Bus/Mini Coach$6,000
Luther East High School, Lansing, IL has provided quality Christian education for 27 years to students from the south side of Chicago and suburbs. The school began in an old public school building and has required much repair to keep it in good condition. Land has been donated and a campaign is underway to build a new school. Luther East has struggled to maintain a well-rounded, extra-curricular program so important to attracting students. The school finds it cost prohibitive to charter a bus to transport students to school academic and athletic activities. A grant of $6,000 would be used to maintain a used bus/mini-coach to continue these important activities.
15. Planting New Congregation Salta City, Argentina$7,393
Funds for this project will go toward planting a new Lutheran congregation in Salta City. The sixth largest city in Argentina, it has a population of 600,000 and 90% are Roman Catholic. There are few Protestant churches in the country. A group of 15 people are meeting regularly and are preparing a constitution to start a new Lutheran congregation. It is estimated that between July 2006 and June 2007 the congregation membership should reach 70. Rev. Claudio Herber, the shepherd of this new congregation estimates an additional 4,000 contacts can come from sharing Christ with the parents of two nearby schools and through men and women who respond to Christ for all Nations radio spots. With limited income from local families, this congregation would have difficulty starting. LCMS feels this project is of high priority and requests a grant of $10,000 towards establishing a new congregation in Salta City, Argentina. .
