Atlantic District News

The Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Awards $323,300 in Ablaze! Covenant Grants for Growth in Ministry

(Click here to view photos of all recipients)

Bronxville, New York—July 2, 2010—President David H. Benke presented checks representing the first phase of the Atlantic District’s

2010-2011 Ablaze! Covenant Grant program at a service and celebration on June 29^th at Concordia College, Bronxville. The grants will provide funding for mission outreach and revitalization projects in 30 churches and schools.

Each ministry that was awarded a grant was represented among the more than 100 people who attended the service. At the close of his homily, entitled ‘Making the Partnership Personal’, Dr. Benke asked those assembled, “Can and should we not be here together today to celebrate your Spirit-driven plans and dreams? Can and should we not multiply our human, financial and ministry resources by being here in person?’

The District’s first cycle of Ablaze! Grants in 2008-2009 provided $300,000 to 15 congregations and ministries. This spring, when the second grant cycle was announced, the District again had approximately $300,000 to award. However, when the applications were in, requests had amounted to well over $650,000. Since it is unable to fully fund all of the projects, the District has encouraged congregations to seek the resources they need through other sources and has offered staff assistance for grant research and loan advice. The balance of the grant award will be distributed in January upon the receipt of a satisfactory six-month project report.

“This is a major financial commitment on the part of the Atlantic District to growth in ministry excellence. I’m pleased at the great requests we have received,” said President Benke as he made public the following list of 2010-2011 Ablaze! Covenant Grant recipients and the purpose for which they are receiving funds:

(Above: True Light: Eliza Ko, President of the Board of Trustees of True Light Church in New York, receives a check from Dr. Benke to revitalize ministry to Chinatown and lower Manhattan.)

• Christ, Woodside, ($10,000) In support of community mission outreach projects in Woodside, Jackson Heights and Corona
• Christ Assembly, SI, ($12,500) For compensation for part-time evangelists to lead the outreach program
• Church for All Nations, NYC, ($20,000) For ‘Music Forum,’ CFAN’s concert music outreach program that presents high-quality musicians who share their God-given talents and engage in meaningful discussions and fellowship with audiences
• Emanuel, Corona, ($10,000) To assist in the reactivation of the congregation, which includes providing services that meet the needs of the community such as ESL and a food pantry
• Emanuel LC & School, Patchogue, ($11,300) To the School, in support of recruitment and enrollment enhancement projects
• Family of Faith, Middletown, ($3,800) For communication and technology upgrades to assist with outreach
• Grace LC & School, Queens Village, ($12,500) To establish community-based outreach projects
• Good Shepherd, Laurelton, ($5,000) For two-site outreach and revitalization in cooperation with the neighboring congregation of Our Saviour, Valley Stream
• Great Commission Christian School, St. Matthew, Brooklyn, ($12,000) To help strengthen and beautify the building and surrounding area in order to revitalize the ministry
• Immanuel, Niskayuna, ($11,700) To support relationship building and outreach programs.
• Immanuel, Whitestone, ($12,500) Seed money in support of a Daughter Church Plant in Richmond Hill/Jamaica area
• Long Island Lutheran Middle & High School, Brookville, $12,000) Seed money towards the start up of LuDay in East Northport, a new model for Lutheran Elementary Schools
• Lutheran School of Flushing & Bayside, Bayside, ($10,000) In support of a variety of marketing and outreach programs
• Mt. Zion, NYC, ($18,000) To continue a 2008 Ablaze! Grant-funded program for community youth that nurtures leadership, team-building skills and spiritual growth
• Our Savior L C & School, Bronx, ($12,500) To hire a liaison to the Latino population of the Bronx to recruit on behalf of the School
• Queens Tri-Parish Association, ($12,500) To support the revitalization and community outreach missions of the Association
• Redeemer, Bronx, ($25,000) For mission staff and materials
• Redeemer, Glendale, ($5,500) In support of community hospitality programs
• Resurrection, Garden City, ($12,500) Continuation of support for THE LIFE church plant in Old Westbury
• St. John, Holbrook, ($12,500) For outreach and fellowship events and the revitalization of the youth program.
• St. John, Glendale, ($2,500) To assist with outreach to individuals with special needs and their families
• St. Luke Lutheran Church, Dix Hills, ($6,500) For worship and coffee house outreach ministries to the community to help attract new members
• St. Mark LC & School, Yonkers, ($10,000) To assist with the implementation of ‘Arts in Mission’, an after-school music program for Pre K through middle school children from the community around St. Mark
• St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Brooklyn, ($10,000) In support of St. Paul’s Urdu language mission
• St. Paul, Saratoga Springs, ($3,000) In support of the St. Paul’s Divine Love and Human Care Ministry Community Food Pantry
• The Chapel School, The Blue Ribbon Foundation, Bronxville, ($10,000) For the development of marketing and branding material.
• Trinity, Islip, ($7,500) To provide training to revitalize evangelism and stewardship ministries
• Trinity, Walden, ($2,000) To help grow Thursday Night Community Outreach Programs, which provide basic Christian information, marriage revitalization and parenting skills
• True Light Lutheran Church, NYC, ($15,000) To revitalize True Light’s mission outreach to Chinatown and lower Manhattan
• United Bengali Lutheran Church, Queens, ($15,000) To support of part-time evangelists working in the Bronx and Queens