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LIRS and Wheat Ridge Ministries
Award Grants to Lutheran Congregations
for Refugee and Immigrant Ministries
BALTIMORE, July 2, 2008—St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Brooklyn will reach out to the Bengali immigrant community by teaching English language skills. At Grace Lutheran Church in New York, congregants will do the same for that church’s new Pakistani community. Bethel Lutheran Church in St. Paul plans a mentoring program for West Africans attending financial literacy classes.
These are just a few of the initiatives planned by Lutheran congregations that received Good Samaritan Fund grants in 2008. The Good Samaritan Fund, a joint effort of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) and Wheat Ridge Ministries, Itasca, Ill., offers seed grants of up to $5,000 to Lutheran congregations seeking to develop new services for immigrants, asylum seekers or refugees. Applicants must be congregations in one of LIRS’s sponsoring church bodies: the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
In 2008 Good Samaritan grants totaling $46,364 went to 11 congregations in eight states. Individual grant amounts of $1900–5,000 fund such things as, English as a second language (ESL) programs, tutoring classes, health care workshops and skills training for thriving in a new culture.
“LIRS envisions a world where all communities welcome refugees and migrants. It’s a special blessing to partner with Wheat Ridge and with Lutheran congregations to welcome the stranger in ways unique to their communities. Through these local ministries, the church identifies needs and works hand in hand with immigrant communities to address them,” said LIRS President Ralston Deffenbaugh Jr.
“We are pleased to be able to partner with these Lutheran congregations that have a heart for refugees and immigrants,” said Brian Becker, vice president for Ministry Programs at Wheat Ridge Ministries. “It is exciting to see the results of the many positive seeds sown through the Good Samaritan grant program. There is real hope and healing taking place in these congregations.”
More information about the Good Samaritan grant program and application process is available at www.lirs.org. Official 2008 application forms will be posted online in the fall.
About Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), the U.S. Lutheran expression of service to refugees and migrants in America, works with affiliates and partners to resettle refugees, protect unaccompanied refugee children, advocate for just treatment of asylum seekers, and seek alternatives to detention for those who are incarcerated during their immigration proceedings.
2008 Good Samaritan Grant Fund Recipients
ELCA=Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
LCMS=Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
California
Lutheran Community Church (ELCA/LCMS Partnership), Watsonville
Contact: The Reverend Susan Birkelo & Reverend Stan Abraham, 831/724-3460
Award: $4,000
Project: Neighborhood Immigration Information Center
Maryland
Cristo Senor de la Vida Lutheran Mission (LCMS), Rockville
Contact: The Reverend Aurelio Magarino, 240/603-3371
Award: $5,000
Project: Support system for Hispanic immigrant families
Minnesota
Bethel Lutheran Church (LCMS), St. Paul
Contact: The Reverend David Seabaugh, 651/ 488-6681
Award: $4,474
Project: Mentoring program for West Africans attending financial literacy classes
Missouri
Concordia Lutheran Church (LCMS), Kirkwood
Contact: The Rev. Dr. Scott Seidler, 314/822-7772
Award: $1,900
Project: Monthly opportunity for immigrant and refugee women to learn about health care and healthy family living from certified health care professionals
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer (LCMS), Kansas City
Contact: The Reverend Brad Zerkel, 816/241-2334
Award: $5,000
Project: Tutoring program for Latino and Liberan families |
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Nebraska
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church (LCMS), LaVista
Contact: The Reverend Keith Grimm, 402/331-7376
Award: $5,000
Project: ESL, computer and citizenship classes
New Mexico
Mission Lutheran Church (LCMS ), Las Cruces
Contact: The Reverend Robert Carabotta. 505/522-0465
Award: $3,000
Project: ESL
New York
Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA), Tonawanda
Contact: The Reverend Troy Mulvaine, 716/832-5720
Award: $5,000
Project: Driver’s License support
Grace Lutheran Church (LCMS), Mastic Beach
Contact: The Reverend Richard Jones, 631/281-8196
Award: $5,000
Project: Cultural interaction and assimilation
St. Peter Lutheran Church (LCMS), Brooklyn
Contact: The Rev. Dr. David Benke, 718/647-1007
Award: $5,000
Project: ESL for the Bengali community
Ohio
Trinity Lutheran Church (LCMS), Cleveland
Contact: The Reverend Jeff Johnson, 216/281-1700
Award: $3,000
Project: Relocation, ESL and other holistic programs for the Arabic community |
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