RELEASE DATE:  April 26, 2005

CONTACT PERSON:   Anne Schoenherr  --  800.762.6748

Wheat Ridge Ministries Grants $357,000 to Seed 12 New Ministry Projects

Itasca, IL – Wheat Ridge Ministries, an independent Lutheran non-profit organization, recently approved 12 grants totaling $357,000 to assist new ministries of health and hope throughout the world.  

“We are extremely grateful to the Lord for providing the opportunity and resources to partner with these exciting new ministries,” said Dr. Richard Bimler, president of Wheat Ridge Ministries.  “Wheat Ridge strives to seek and to seed unique and ‘cutting edge’ types of health and hope endeavors, and this list is of exceptional quality!  We thank our donors and friends for their prayers and financial support which enable these new ministries to be seeded and to grow as the Spirit gives them life.  Thanks to all of God's people who continue to share and celebrate health and hope in the name of the healing Christ!”

Wheat Ridge Ministries is recognized throughout the world as an independent Lutheran charitable organization that seeds new ministries of health and hope in the name of the healing Christ.  Over 100 ministries are currently receiving assistance through Wheat Ridge funding.  In addition to its granting ministries, Wheat Ridge also connects and equips people, congregations and organizations with health and hope ministries. 

For information regarding grant proposals, contact Dr. Richard Herman (rick@wheatridge.org), vice president and chief operating office of Wheat Ridge Ministries, or visit the website at www.wheatridge.org. 

The latest grant recipients include:

• Ammerman House: Adult Ministry Initiative, Mineola, NY ($25,000): The Lutheran Counseling Center, Lutheran Church of Our Saviour and Wartburg Lutheran Services will develop and implement a pilot project that celebrates, educates and advocates for elders in the faith communities and promotes a creative aging process.

• Eliezer Project, Porto Alegre, Brazil ($20,000): This project will provide spiritual care and support to patients with terminal illness and their family members at the Hospital Nossa Senhora da Conceicao using the pastoral care services of The Cross Lutheran Church, located near the hospital.

• Faith and Health Curricula Development and Dissemination Program, Memphis, TN ($20,000): The Church Health Center is developing educational and motivational resources to assist and encourage congregations in the greater Memphis community and beyond to effectively serve as centers of health and healing ministry.

• Finding Health and Healing Through Christian Mentoring, Detroit, MI ($40,000): Detroit Urban Lutheran School will involve all students of this “inner city” Lutheran school in an educational and mentor/mentee process to promote healthy lifestyle choices and to provide support and healing for students and their families where loss has occurred.

• Gloria Dei Cottages, Sauk Rapids, MN ($22,000): Good Shepherd Lutheran Home and Good Shepherd Foundation will establish a senior adult foster care home using a parsonage in partnership with the local congregation.  The congregation and agency will work together to provide comprehensive care and service to the residents.  This effort will serve as a pilot for the establishment of similar partnerships with other congregations in Minnesota.

• Healthcare Worker Training in China for Management of Children with Cerebral Palsy, Tacoma, WA ($25,000): Through a partnership among Pacific Lutheran University, Good Samaritan Hospital and local Lutheran congregations, model training centers will be established in China to teach healthcare workers to better manage the challenges of children with cerebral palsy and other crippling diseases.

• Health Matters: Wellness for Pastors and Partners in PLI, Santa Ana, CA ($25,000): The Pastoral Leadership Institute plans to incorporate personal wellness, assessment and counseling as a regular component of the PLI training process for clergy and their spouses.

• Liberian Refugee Assistance Program, Houston, TX ($35,000): The Lutheran Inter-City Network Coalition of Houston will serve the practical and spiritual needs of the Liberian refugee population in the Houston area by creating a new ministry to help address refugee transition issues and empower Liberian leaders to build their own network of help and support for others.

• Metabolic Clinic, Bethlehem, Palestine ($25,000): Through Bright Stars of Bethlehem, the clinic at the Dar al-Kalima Health and Wellness Center will provide screening, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation for various health issues common among residents of the Bethlehem community, including diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

• Senior Mobile Outreach Program, Kansas City, MO ($40,000): Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry plans to provide health and social services to low-income elderly to enable them to remain independent and in their homes as long as possible using a mobile case management process.

• The Welcome Place and Health Ministry, Camden, NJ ($40,000): Bridge of Peace Community Lutheran Church is developing “The Welcome Place,” a whole-person focused drop-in center for people in the central city of Camden who are in crisis.

• Youth Emergency Assistance Hostels Case Managers, Berkeley, CA ($40,000): Lutheran Church of the Cross will be providing case managers in order to help connect homeless youth who frequent the youth emergency assistance hostel drop-in center with appropriate health and social services.