2027 Mission Grant Application

Instructions to Applicants:

Please answer the following questions and provide the requested information. Grant requests may be fully funded, partially funded, or denied, based on information available on the grant application as well as availability of funding, which is limited. Traditionally, the Board of Missions has not awarded grants to fund salaries, construction of buildings, or other capital improvements. However, short-term exceptions have been made on occasion.

If you are awarded a mission grant, a Quarterly Mission Grant Report will be required. Failure to submit a Quarterly Mission Grant Report in a timely manner will be factored into any future mission grant money being awarded.

If you have questions about your project or application, please contact Marvin Schulteis, Chair of the Board of Missions, at 785-231-7953 or email: mhschulteis2020@gmail.com. Any form issues and questions can be directed to Tami Lierz at 785-357-4441, ext. 5003 or email: tami@kslcms.org.  

Board of Missions statement:

As you apply, please keep this definition of outreach in mind: “Outreach is our congregation’s efforts to make disciples by engaging the non-churched in our community through our ministries and activities in order to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” (Rev. Mark Wood, Meaningful Outreach) Applications will be reviewed for alignment with this understanding of outreach.

The Board of Missions will not fund meals, salaries or other compensation, mission trips, construction costs, or other capital improvements. Food connected to broader outreach projects—such as food pantries, campus ministries, neighborhood canvassing, or Jesus Door-to-Door—will not be considered “meals” for this purpose.

The Board of Missions has earmarked grant funds for the following categories:

$500 SEO Microgrants: These grants help up to twelve LCMS congregations in Kansas work with Rev. Dr. Christopher Jackson of churchseo.io so they can “be found” online. More information is available at https://kslcms.org/missions/mission-fund/.

Expanding the Spanish Footprint: This program through LCMS International Mission equips LCMS pastors for Hispanic outreach through six weeks of Spanish language immersion and Latin American cultural and theological training in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The Board of Missions is offering $3,500 grants for two congregations whose pastors want this training for outreach in Kansas. More information is available at https://kslcms.org/missions/mission-fund/.

Because 2027 in the LCMS is the year of the “Circuit Convocation,” the Board of Missions will offer Circuit Convocation Witness & Outreach Grants. Up to eight Kansas District circuits may receive grants of up to $2,500 for convocations that gather congregations for witness and outreach or equip them for that work. Circuit visitors should discuss this opportunity at September winkel meetings. One congregation should apply on behalf of the circuit, receive the funds, and complete the required reporting.

Project Goals and Plan Particulars:

Identify up to 3 SPECIFIC goals that you have for this project. What do you hope to accomplish? How will you get there? List SPECIFIC action steps, including timelines (e.g., “We plan to make door-to-door visits to everyone in a five-block radius by the end of December.”)