RELEASE DATE: October 30, 2007

CONTACT PERSON: Anne Schoenherr
 anne@wheatridge.org

Wheat Ridge Ministries Grants $210,407 to Seed Seven New Ministry Projects

Itasca, IL - Wheat Ridge Ministries recently approved seven grants totaling $210,407 to assist new ministries of health and hope.

"We are so grateful for the support we receive from the thousands of supporters of Wheat Ridge Ministries around the world that makes it possible for us to provide seed money grants for these outstanding new ministries," said Dr. Richard Herman, president of Wheat Ridge Ministries.  "Each of these efforts is a great example of God's people responding to the Good News of Jesus Christ through service to people in their congregation, neighborhood and community."

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 Brian Becker (brian@wheatridge.org), Wheat Ridge Ministries' Vice President for Ministry Programs, or visit the website at www.wheatridge.org.

The latest grant recipients include:

• ASPIRE After School Project, Tucson, Arizona ($45,407): Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, in collaboration with Lutheran congregations, will address the lack of quality after-school programs for youth at high risk by initiating a tutoring and counseling program.

• DuPage County Refugee and Immigrant Senior Services Initiative, Chicago, Illinois ($45,000): The Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Ministries (IRIM) will provide crucial services to refugee and immigrant seniors through a unique collaboration with a Lutheran congregation so they may attain independence by providing vital social services and citizenship education.

• Family Care: Single Mothers Educational and Network Program, Nashville, Tennessee ($30,000): All Nations Lutheran Church will address the needs of single mothers of all ethnic backgrounds by providing counseling, education and life skills.

• A Ray of Hope: Domestic Violence Ministry, River Forest, Illinois ($10,000): A consortium of six Lutheran churches, including Grace Lutheran Church, will address domestic violence issues by establishing "first responder" ministries.  This project will equip trained volunteers, provide emergency overnight housing and money for emergency expenses as well as community awareness seminars.

• The Shepherd's Shelf/Penn Foundation Collaborative, Kulpsville, Pennsylvania ($25,000): The Shepherd's Shelf Emergency Food Pantry plans to offer community-based assessment, case management and life skills coaching to families demonstrating financial health, mental health and/or social challenges that prevent them from achieving self-sufficiency.

• Church Worker Vocational Wellness Pilot, New Orleans, Louisiana ($20,000): The Southern District of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod plans to enhance vocational development and personal well-being services to professional church workers and their families through training and self-directed teams.

• The Generations Project, Seward, Nebraska ($35,000): Concordia University Nebraska will establish 40 new long-term senior ministry projects through congregations and communities through a new, action-based gerontology curriculum.  This program promises to deepen the understanding of lay leaders, pastors, DCE's, parish nurses, teachers and other volunteers as they seek to engage in deliberate ministry/service to older adults.