CRITERIA FOR MISSION PROJECT GRANT PROPOSALS

Purpose Statement of LWML-Canada

The women of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League-Canada are called to grow in and reach out with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our Lord Jesus Christ commanded us to "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation." (Mark 16:15 NIV) His last words to His disciples were "and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8b NIV)

Through our grants to mission projects we, the members of LWML-Canada, support the mission outreach of Lutheran Church-Canada, its Districts and Partner Churches.

Choosing A Mission Project for a Grant Proposal

With such a variety of needs and requests - what makes a project clearly MISSION in emphasis?

The project proposed should be:

• one that extends the ministry of the WORD and extends God's Kingdom;
• one that will communicate the Word of the Gospel, providing the opportunity for non-believers to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ;
• one that is in harmony with and in support of the mission plans and objectives of Lutheran Church - Canada or its partner Churches;
• one that is approved by the national or partner Church body;
• one that is current and ready for implementation in the biennium in which it is chosen;
• one that is "ready to go" not just a "good idea";
• one that cannot be funded in some other way (i.e. by Church Extension Fund, Synod, District, Listed Service Organization).

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Project Proposals Fall Into Four Categories

1. "People" Projects

• Missionaries for Lutheran Church-Canada
• Students - school, university, college, seminary if directed toward mission outreach
• Native Canadians
• Minority groups - deaf, blind, ethnic (Chinese, Hispanic, Korean, etc.)
• Handicapped - blind, mentally or physically challenged
• Underprivileged, prisoners, elderly, youth, women, families

2. "Program" Projects

• Vicarage experiences with ethnic or mission emphasis
• Director of Parish Services Internship if it has a mission outreach emphasis
• Workshops - i.e. Evangelism Training
• Programs for special training for church workers, pastors, missionaries, lay people - i.e. "Living the Mission"
• Media - radio and television programs and other modern methods of communicating the Gospel
• Seminars for the spiritual and personal growth of the women of Lutheran Church-Canada, to help them grow in and reach out with the Gospel of Jesus Christ

3. "Christian Materials" Projects

• Produce or provide Bible studies - i.e. "LIFELIGHT Bible Study"
• Produce or provide other devotional materials for outreach
• Provide Bibles, Bible studies, tracts, hymnals, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School materials
• Christian video tapes, foreign language Bibles, and studies for use in outreach to unbelievers

4. "Bricks and Mortar" Projects

• Buildings - literacy centers, churches, chapels, and schools in foreign lands
• Libraries of Christian books and materials
• Transportation for Missionaries in foreign countries - i.e. bicycles, vehicles

Remember to ask yourself:

Is this project enabling non-believers to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

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Where do I get ideas for projects?

• Contact the Mission Department, Lutheran Church-Canada in Winnipeg or partner Churches.
• Contact the Mission Department of Lutheran Church-Canada District Offices.
• Contact the Lutheran seminaries in Edmonton and St. Catharines as well as Concordia University College of Alberta in Edmonton.
• Contact your own pastor for the yearly catalogue of missionaries.
• Contact missionaries in the mission field.
• Contact LWML-Canada Mission Projects Chairman for the Mission Projects Bank - a list of projects from previous conventions not selected by delegates. It is up to the individual or group submitting the project to find out if the project is still valid.
• In your own area do you know of special needs? Is there a facility for handicapped or an outreach program for minorities, elderly, youth or underprivileged where the Church is working?

Remember when approaching any of the above sources for project ideas:

Make it very clear to them that our criteria for a mission project is "communicating the Word of the Gospel to non-believers.

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What Specific Criteria Must be Considered?

1. Mission Projects should:

• be "mission" in emphasis, extending the ministry of the Word;
• provide the opportunity for non-believers to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ;
• be in harmony with the plans and projects of Lutheran Church-Canada;
• be current and ready for implementation in the biennium in which they are chosen;
• be well documented and researched.

2. Mission Projects situated in a synodical district should be approved by the synodical district.

3. Mission Projects that involve a national or partner church should be approved by that body.

4. Continued maintenance of the project must be assured.

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Points to Ponder

1. What are Listed Service Organizations or LSO's?

These are worthy service and outreach groups who have received the privilege of soliciting support and funds from all Lutheran Church - Canada congregations and members. They are listed in the Lutheran Church-Canada Handbook under "Auxiliaries and Listed Service Organizations." They also can seek funding from other Synods. A few examples are Lutheran Bible Translators, Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots, Lutheran Braille Workers, Haiti Mission Society, and numerous others.

These organizations do great work in areas of specialized ministry. They are indeed worthy and deserve the support of each of us - as individuals, congregations and societies. In the past Lutheran Women's Missionary League has supported many of these agencies with mission grants before these organizations moved on to become Listed Service Organizations.

Lutheran Women's Missionary League-Canada is an Auxiliary of Lutheran Church-Canada and its three districts. As such, we have a responsibility and a commitment to raise funds, by our mite giving, to support mission outreach programs of Lutheran Church-Canada and its districts. These mission programs are not under the umbrella of LSO and cannot solicit funds from sources other than our Lutheran Church-Canada mission budget and Lutheran Women's Missionary League. So we hope that the mission outreach of Lutheran Church-Canada will become a priority in your heart.

2. Lutheran Women's Missionary League-Canada supports the development of Lutheran Elementary and High Schools. However, it is recommended that project proposals for such schools be directed to the Lutheran Women's Missionary League District in which the school is located. Project proposals for schools should have direct MISSION impact (the project should be one that provides training for or actual reaching out to non-believers with the Good News). i.e. Religious curriculum or library books that support the Christian education system can be used as outreach to unchurched students and parents.

3. Can this proposed project need be met in some other way? Can funds be obtained from Church Extension Fund, Synod, Districts or by the people themselves? Can equipment be borrowed, leased, substituted or purchased second hand? Is it a necessity or a luxury? Obvious exceptions would be equipment or capital costs for foreign missions.

4. When researching the project proposals, ask these questions:

• Is it just a "good idea" or "dream" or will it be ready to be carried out in this biennium?
• If it requires ongoing financial support to maintain it in the future, where will this support come from after Lutheran Women's Missionary League project money is gone?

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To find more innovative and exciting project proposals requires time and effort. It requires creativity and initiative and a heart for missions to seek out new concepts for Mission. It also requires RESEARCH! Please, please, research project proposals thoroughly. Find answers to the above questions and concerns.

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