Thanks to the support of congregations and individuals from congregations throughout this synod and the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation, the first disbursement of funds from the Crossing Bridges mission appeal will be awarded, pending synod council approval at its January 17 meeting:

Bridges to Future Leaders

• $15K to three senior seminarians who have made themselves available to call throughout the church

Bridges to New Missions

• $63.5K to two mission starts in Dakota County and to support Latino ministry in St. Paul.

Bridges to Ending Poverty

The recommendation table approved the disbursement of $60K for five grants requests.

• Family Resource Center, Mount Calvary, Eagan, to expand its afterschool outreach program;
• St. Phillip's, Hastings, for start-up costs for a community meal program;
• Daily Work, St. Paul, to expand its employment ministry;
• VIBE, St. Paul, to offer a holistic program which combines leadership development, community service, financial management education, and hands-on vocational internships, giving senior high urban youth some critical tools for success;
• Pueblo de Fe, St. Paul, to initiate an intentional ministry directed toward Latino young adults, ages 16-22, who live in the context of poverty by providing meaningful, challenging, and healthy activities.

Bridges to Iringa

• $30K to be distributed equally among the Ilula Lutheran Health Care Center, the Agricultural Institute, Tumaini University-Iringa, and for scholarships for students and teachers in Iringa.

For more information

All of these efforts are made possible by the generosity of individuals and congregations as well as by a grant from the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation. Gifts and pledges now total $1.3 million toward the $2 million goal. If you have questions about how you and your congregation might participate in this appeal, contact the Rev. Gary Anderson, director of Crossing Bridges.