Mission Endowment Fund

Fall Grants totaling $42,629 is the LARGEST Amount Ever Awarded in MEF's 13 year history!

The Fall Grant Recipients were:

• Seminary Scholarships - $15,000
• New Congregations - $5,129
• Campus Ministry - $7,500
• New Ministry Projects - 
• Lutherhill Ministries: $5,000 for Zion Retreat Center
• Zion Lutheran: $2,000 for Heights Community Children's Choir
• Peace Lutheran: $3,000 for Installation of Ropes Course
• Bethlehem: $5,000 for Sophia's Children in New Orleans

New Ministries Supported at St. James in Houston and St. Paul in Freeport

The Rev. Pedro Suarez, Director for Evangelical Outreach, announced grants for St. James – Houston and for St. Paul – Freeport. 

St. James - Houston

Members of St. James Lutheran Church recently voted to redevelop their ministry in hope of doing outreach to the community.  The redevelopment began October 1, 2011.  A redevelopment team consisting of Rev. Raymond LeBlanc, an ordained pastor serving basically only on Sundays, and Aura Suarez, a lay minister, that would begin at 30 hours per week, to do outreach development to the immediate multicultural community, with a specific outreach to Latinos. 

Together, they are developing a missional plan that will invigorate the existing congregation and will create a new worship experience in Spanish as well. This plan will have a focus on children and families.

Saint Paul - Freeport                                                                                         

Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Freeport, Texas for many years has seen the migration of its members out of their town and the growth of a lively Latino population.  St. Paul’s council is interested in reaching out to the Latinos under the guidance of our synod.  Pastor Preston Weatherly is currently helping there on a regular basis on Sundays supported by Pastor Pedro (Pete) Lopez from St. John's in Angleton, and Rosy Delgado from the Latino community in Freeport.

 In spite of having a pastor come only once a week, they began youth activities to reach out to the young population around them. They recently asked the local schools if they might know of a musician that could come and help. Now they have a great keyboardist that livens up their worship.

Rosy Delgado used to live in Wisconsin a few years ago and was instrumental in getting a Latino ministry satellite going there.  Rosy who now lives in the Freeport area is a very gregarious person and knows what to do to get a Prayer Circle/Bible Study going.  Although she is limited in her English, that has never stopped her. Her testimony on how she went from being homeless with her 4 children and how the Lord helped her through the Lutheran church to overcome a multitude of obstacles, continues to be her motivation.

$16,700 in Seminary Scholarships Enabled by Mission Endowment Fund

Fall 2012 seminary scholarships were awarded by the synod’s Candidacy Committee to four Master of Divinity Candidates, Adrienne Merritt a middler taking on-line classes, and three juniors:  Eyeul Bedane at Lutheran School of Theology – Chicago, Ashley Dellagiacoma and Jennifer Kindsvatter both at Luther Seminary – St. Paul.

These four scholarships totaling $16,700 were made possible by the Park Place Fund of the Mission Endowment Fund.  They are intended to help students graduate with minimum seminary debt.

The Park Place Fund is the result of a gift of over $1,000,000 given to the Mission Endowment Fund by Park Place Lutheran Church on its closing.  This fund is to be used primarily for seminary scholarships.