Additional Information for New Ministries

History

A task force to compile information and possible options for church planting, to aid in fulfilling Christ's Great Commission, was begun at the LCMC 2008 Convention.

We held our first New Ministry Workshop in October, 2011, following the 11th Annual Gathering in Des Moines, IA. Notes from the first New Ministry Workshop are published to our website and can be obtained here.

Networking

Interested in connecting with an already existing mission congregation? Click here to find contact information and get in touch with a mission congregation near you.

The LCMC Forum is another place to network. Here, you can actively get involved in discussions with others looking to start New Ministries.

For further information and networking opportunities, contact the Ministry Board Liaison for Church Plants see (LCMC Board & Staff).

Funding

The Mission Loan Fund is organized by the LCMC- Lutheran Men and is a fund from which mission and small congregations can receive interest free loans for building purposes.

Funds are collected from individuals in congregations primarily during March emphasis. Currently we call this emphasis joining the "Buck a Month Club." Every man in an LCMC congregation is urged to join and to give $12 a year (preferably at one time) to the Mission Loan Fund. Why $12? There were 12 Disciples. The $12 is to remind us that Jesus called us to be his disciples in the world today. There were 12 Tribes of Israel. They were called to be God's People, even as today the Gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to be God's People. There are 12 months in a year, and $1 a month is an achievable goal for just about everyone. If there are 100 congregations in LCMC, and there were an average of 100 men per congregation, then that would mean over $100,000 per year. The Mission Loan Fund would quickly grow, and since funds loaned out keep coming back, many mission congregations could be helped in a relatively short period of time.

Loan requests are first handled by the LCMC-LM Grant Request Committee. Referrals may come from the LCMC-LM Executive Committee, the LCMC Board or National Service Coordinator, districts, or a sponsoring congregation of a mission congregation. After the Grant Request Committee makes a recommendation, the loan must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the LCMC-LM Executive Committee.

Upon distribution of funds, the National Service Coordinator and appropriate district and sponsoring congregation will be notified.