Proclaim the Gospel of Peace

"As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace." Ephesians 6:15 (NRSV)

Wheat Ridge Ministries is launching a grant initiative, in cooperation with the Northern Illinois District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Lutherans Against Violence Grant Program will assist congregations interested in starting projects or programs to address violence in their communities and to assist congregations already engaged in projects of this nature. Congregations are encouraged to submit proposals covering any aspect of violence including, but not limited to, domestic abuse, violence in schools, gang violence, and suicide.

We Live in a Violent Society

The statistics are bleak. The numbers are unimaginable. Even more discouraging is that the numbers represent real people – individuals, families, entire communities.

• In 2005, 5,686 young people ages 10 to 24 were murdered - an average of 16 each day.
• People under the age of 25 accounted for 50 percent of those arrested for murder and 65 percent of those arrested for robbery in 2006.
• About 1 in 3 high school students say they have been in a physical fight in the past year, and about 1 in 8 of those students required medical attention for their injuries.
• Domestic violence is the single greatest cause of injury to women.
• Handguns are used in 80 percent of homicides, nearly 70 percent of suicides and nearly all accidental shootings.

(These and more statistics are available online at http://www.thepeacealliance.org)

Read the recent CBS Evening News story about violence in Chicago.

Read the recent Chicago Tribune article that examines dating violence among teens.

Hope Offered - Our Lutheran Response

Despite such desolate numbers, Christians respond with hope knowing that, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2 NIV) It is this peace - peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ - that Lutherans proclaim to the world, knowing that with God all things are possible.

General Guidelines

Grants will be available to member congregations of the Northern Illinois District and the Metropolitan Chicago Synod for either individual congregations or collaborative efforts involving two or more churches. Grant proposals will also be accepted from Northern Illinois District or Metro Chicago Synod congregations partnering with local agencies. Grant recipients will be expected to match one-fourth of the grant amount awarded.

The deadline for grant proposals is October 15. Grant recipients will be notified by December 15.

Guidelines

Grant Proposal Format

Printable Brochure