The LCMS Northern Illinois District (NID) recently awarded Endowment Fund Grants to six of its congregations. These grants are awarded to requests that are consistent with the goals of the Northern Illinois District, for benefit of a community/group based in the LCMS Northern Illinois District., incorporating one or more of the following attributes:
- Innovative projects that are designed to connect and engage with people in the surrounding community so that relationships can be developed and the potential for ministry exists.
- Specialized training for groups or individuals that will equip them to better serve in the NID and the Synod, as well as designed to connect and engage with people in the surrounding community
- Ministry initiatives which will lead, God willing, to new ways of seeing the Gospel in action, which will help people be the hands and feet of Jesus to all people.
Please join in prayer that these congregations’ visions may be blessed by the Holy Spirit, and that they reach their communities with the Word of God, as well as being the hands and feet of Jesus to all people!
The six new grant recipients are:
St. Peter Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights
St. Peter’s vision is to start an early childhood program at Trinity Lutheran Church on the northwest side of Chicago in the Belmont-Cragin neighborhood. Trinity’s facility will be turned over to St. Peter, along with any remaining assets.
This site includes a facility formerly used as a school and through the development of relationships they build, their vision is to eventually develop a worshipping community. The early childhood center program will serve to meet a need of families in the community with ultimately the goal to bring the Good News of Jesus to a community that needs it.
Iglesia Luterana Vida y Fe, Elgin
Vida y Fe’s Living Well Together project was created for their community with an emphasis on enriching and promoting the Hispanic culture while integrating into the American culture with a focus on showing Jesus’ love, forgiveness, and salvation to all.
Living Well Together is about going beyond their doors and as a ministry, serving their community with the intent of being disciples that make disciples.
The goal is to ensure that Vida y Fe is actively serving others as instructing through God in His Holy Word and to share Jesus’ love, hope and joy to everyone as they create lasting relationships being the hands and feet of Jesus in His ministry.
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Chicago (Dorchester)
St. Paul’s Making Connections NOT Corrections program has as its objective a series of outreach projects designed to help the Grand Crossing community establish a deeper relationship to Christ, reconnect to their faith, and increase St. Paul’s presence as a resource in the community.
St. Paul will be intentional in combining projects under the Making Connections NOT Corrections ministry to offer a broad selection of outreach activities that will engage and encourage the community to seek a deeper meaningful commitment to God and participation in Church activities.
It is a significant project for the Grand Crossing Community because, as Christians, we need to be more visible. We need to leave the comfortable confines of the church walls and go out and speak the Word of God.
New Song Community Lutheran Church, Aurora
As an extension of ministerial work through New Song Community Lutheran Church, New Song Academy Parents’ Day Out Program will serve the community through the physical and spiritual care of children ages 3 and 4. This Lutheran, church-exempt, childcare program is designed to encourage the learning of life skills, the growing in knowledge, and the building of godly character.
With a vision to create a classroom compliant with DCFS standards and regulations, New Song Academy Parents’ Day Out will provide a Lutheran environment where children will grow in their faith with Jesus.
New Song Academy is a ministerial arm of new Song Community Lutheran Church focused strictly on the sharing of God’s love and promises through the service of childcare.
St. John Lutheran Church, Wheaton
This grant is to expand and enhance the Franklin Middle School Fellowship Christian Athletes (FMSFCA) at St. John Lutheran Church through greater visibility, quality resources and delicious food. The FMSFCA is a local FCA huddle which meets before school once a month during the school year.
From no larger than eight children in spring 2018, to approximately forth to fifty children by November 2018, they expect the group to grown to as large as one hundred. While they planned for funding, because their budget need has grown, they need additional financial support for the immediate future because of the rapid growth.
Both Christian and non-Christian students will benefit from the FMSFCA at St. John because it will provide an opportunity for Christian children to connect and support each other in their Christian witness. It will also give non-Christian students a chance to participate in something fun while hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Iglesia Evangelica Luterana San Pablo
San Pablo’s goal is to provide supplemental support to Family Focus’ (a non-profit tenant of San Pablo) immigration programs already established activities.
In addition to supporting in-house activities, they look to support Family Focus alongside sister congregations which may identify an immigration need in their neighborhoods. They want to be the bridge of relationships between our churches and Family Focus services sharing the love of God ever time there is an opportunity.
Because the neighborhood lacks an after school activity, they would like to provide a youth area and create a place where students can receive tutoring, sports activities and a biblical message. This would create a safe place for the youth to find the love of Jesus Christ.
Each grant recipient has provided a plan consistent with the district vision of seeing the Gospel in Action in the hearts and lives of the people serving and those served. They have outlined specific objectives of the proposed projects as well as the short-term outcomes and measurable objectives.
Endowment Grant applications are available to congregations and any of the corporations, associations and recognized service organizations that are listed in the current Lutheran Annual, and for benefit of a community/group based in the LCMS Northern Illinois District and must be made by April 15 of the year awarded and the application may be found at www.nidlcms.org/resources. 
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