Wheat Ridge Ministries, in partnership with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), is offering financial assistance to Lutheran churches to encourage the development of new programs and services for immigrants and refugees.

Wheat Ridge Ministries recently elected four new members to its Board of Directors to replace outgoing members Mr. John Bouman, Dr. LuJuana Butts, Rev. Dr. William Diekelman and Dr. Ronald Pfeiffer.  The new members are: Rev. Kelly Chatman, Maplewood, Minnesota; Dr. Roderick McCallum, College Station, Texas; Mrs. Lois Peacock, San Francisco, California; and Rev. Russell Sommerfeld, Seward, Nebraska.

Mrs. Josselyn Bennett, Mr. Kenneth Black and The Rev. Dr. Charles D. Infelt will each be recognized with a Wheat Ridge Ministries’ 2007 “Seeds of Hope” Award at the Eighth Annual Benefit Dinner on February 3, 2007 at the European Crystal Banquet and Conference Center, Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Itasca, IL – Wheat Ridge Ministries, an independent Lutheran non-profit organization, recently awarded $48,318 in Congregation Health and Hope Grants to 29 Lutheran congregations across the country.

Wheat Ridge Ministries recently approved eight grants totaling $225,000 to assist new ministries of health and hope throughout the world. 

Wheat Ridge Ministries, through its Center for Urban Education Ministries, is sponsoring a special gathering for a select group of outstanding Lutheran urban elementary school administrators.

Wheat Ridge Ministries is pleased to announce that Staff Associate Dr. Melvin M. Kieschnick is being honored with two outstanding awards for his work in the field of Lutheran education.

Wheat Ridge Ministries, along Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, is pleased to host a Wellness Day for Pastors in Chicago on Wednesday, November 1, 2006.    

Wheat Ridge Ministries, along Siebert Lutheran Foundation, is pleased to host a Wellness Day for Professional Church Workers in Milwaukee on Friday, November 10, 2006.

The Good Samaritan Fund grants committee – consisting of representatives from Wheat Ridge Ministries and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) – is pleased to announce $74,800 in grants will go to 20 churches in 16 states for 2006.  Individual grant amounts are $1,000 to $5,000 to fund such things as English as a Second Language (ESL), citizenship and job training classes, immigrant youth activities, and skills to thrive in a new culture.