2015–2017 Mission Grant: Clean Water and Evangelism Ministry — MOST Ministries, $50,000 fully paid

A grant of $50,000 was awarded to Mission Opportunities Short Term (MOST) Ministries at the 2015 LWML Convention. As of now, $25,000 has been disbursed making it possible for them to send out teams to help others with their physical need of receiving clean water.

In response to the great need for clean water in the third world countries, MOST Ministries purchased 250 water filters that were used in Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Africa. The Clean Water and Evangelism Grant enabled them to provide:

• sustainable clean drinking water for 400 people (50 filters),

• health, hygiene, and nutrition education workshops for entire communities,

• A Nicaraguan family very thankful for their clean water.

  Oral Rehydration Spoons for 50 families, which allow mothers to follow simple Spanish instructions on the double-sided measuring spoon and create a hydrating drink from ingredients they already have,

• water filters for 95 hosts in these countries to keep them healthy so they can continue to evangelize to their communities. These filters are also shared with local families,

• Bible-based curriculum to share the Gospel for entire communities,

• increased credibility as the church is seen as truly caring for both the physical needs in addition to preaching the Gospel, and

Pictured is Sandy Hardies, former LWML EC member, in Nicaragua working with MOST Ministries.

• 105 Sawyer Water Filters to be used for the first quarter of 2017.

The grant money has allowed the mission team to work with several local pastors who live and work in the La Cartonera and Maranonal communities. Sharing the love of Jesus is always the end goal and remains the reason for MOST Ministries to do what they do. MOST Ministries is thankful for the LWML’s support and prayers.

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For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.

2015–2017 Mission Grants: LCMS Young Adult Corps (formerly LCMS Youth Corps) — Scholarships for Lutheran Mercy Young Adult Corps, $25,000 fully paid and Renovation of JEM Seminary Buildings — Nigeria, $120,000 fully paid

President Patti and VP of Gospel Outreach Shelley attended chapel at the LCMS International Center and presented checks for Young Adult Corps and Renovation of JEM Seminary Buildings — Nigeria,  fully funding grants #17 and #4.

For more information about this mission grant,
view the individual mission grant page here.

For more information about this mission grant,
view the individual mission grant page here.

2015–2017 Mission Grant: Redeeming Life Maternity Home — Sanford, Florida, $100,000 fully paid

The LWML grant made it possible for us …

… to provide safe shelter to at risk pregnant women and their babies. Our residents also received life skills classes and mental health counseling to improve their ability to care for their children.

The  grant was used to cover housing expenses including mortgage costs, food, utilities, resident counseling, and supplies for mothers and babies.

Danielle's Story

Danielle came to Redeeming Life completely homeless and abandoned by her boyfriend. While here, she was able to get employment, save enough money to purchase a small car, and begin putting her life back together. Danielle was confirmed in the faith and her dear baby was baptized.

Sharing the Good News!

Many of our residents feel unlovable and rejected. We minister to them and help them see how very valuable they are to God. By helping us meet their physical needs, we have an opportunity to share the lifesaving Gospel, and whenever possible, witness the Holy Baptism of their children.

— Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries

For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.

2015–2017 Mission Grant: Redeeming Life Maternity Home — Sanford, Florida, $100,000 fully paid

Watch this video from Redeeming Life Maternity Home, and hear one resident's story.

For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.

2015–2017 Mission Grant: Disaster Response Trailers — LCMS Disaster Response, $80,000 fully paid

LCMS Disaster Response on the scene with volunteers in Perryville, MO, making use of a Disaster Response Trailer that was made possible through an LWML Mission Grant.

For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.

2015–2017 Mission Grant: Hope and Healing to the Navajo People — Rocky Mountain District, $75,000 fully paid

Much has transpired at Navajo this year. There have been baptisms and growth at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Navajo, New Mexico. Joyfully we report that Native people have been instructed and confessed their faith in Jesus Christ. Volunteer teams have served the community helping with Vacation Bible School where over 71 children attended. Many of these were new families to the church. Weekly cultural art classes for children in the community were started, and a cultural exchange week took place when Alaskan Native brothers and sisters traveled to Navajo to share food, dance, and story. Two of the individuals are trained facilitators in the “Beauty for Ashes” program, which is a faith-based conference designed to educate and train individuals on how to interact with, work with, and respond to those whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence, abuse, and neglect. This event opened the door for individuals to gather and share their stories of hurt and pain in order to begin a journey of restoration to wholeness.

As Vicar Tim Norton continues his seminary training in the Cross Cultural Ministry Program at Concordia University — Irvine, he is applying what he learns to those who come to Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Navajo. After meeting with a father, mother, and four children, all were baptized on Christmas Day. What joy they experienced! Sadly, less than a month later, while attending the annual Lutheran Indian Ministries’ staff gathering, Vicar Tim received a text message: The cousin of the mom was killed in a car accident on the mountain roads in Arizona. How many young Native lives are cut short — in one way or another. The need to proclaim Christ is urgent! We, as Lutheran Women in Mission, are helping, with our mite offerings, to make that proclamation.

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For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.

2015–2017 Mission Grant: LCMS Global Seminary Initiative — International Student Scholarships, $100,000 fully paid

WOW! What an awesome God we have! The Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) was provided a $100,000 grant from the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) which was matched by a separate challenge grant making the total $200,000 for scholarships. With the help of the Holy Spirit that could mean twice as many pastors!

The Global Seminary Initiative was started in 2013 by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod at convention and has only begun to return graduates to their native countries. The end result of these scholarships can take many years to develop but already students are anxious to finish schooling and return home to share the Gospel. One student from Madagascar speaks of men he knows from India and Saudi Arabia who also want to become pastors. In Madagascar, the Lutheran Church has about 4.5 million members and is opening at least one new church a week. Can you imagine — one new church a week? With this kind of growth the need for pastors is tremendous. This student, with his training in our seminaries, will definitely be a candidate to train others who also want to be pastors.

Another scholarship recipient, Sergi Maschewski, trained at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 2000 and returned to his native Ukraine where he has now been elected bishop of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ukraine and is seeking altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCMS. It is difficult to imagine how many lives these two men will change and bring to Jesus. As women of the LWML we are blessed through their accomplishments.

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For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.