This month we are highlighting the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) grant of $100,000 for Educational Loan Repayment Assistance.

Did you know that three of five trained and called LCMS workers have considered leaving the ministry during their first years of service for financial reasons? Those preparing for full time church work are assuming increasing levels of educational debt in order to prepare for ministry. Concern for this burdensome debt might discourage some young people from entering full time church work.

Preparing our church workers educationally is vital to LCMS, but personal economic challenges can create barriers that will affect the service and commitment of our workers. Statistically, one in four new pastors takes $80,000 in educational debt to his first call. The Educational Loan Repayment Assistance Grant will reduce their educational debt while encouraging and equipping these LCMS full time church workers to continue their service to God.

The Educational Loan Repayment Assistance Grant helps full time church workers pursue their calling even in settings where their income is low by providing aid with loan repayments. This grant of $100,000 will provide $2,500 toward educational debt loans for each qualified worker. Twenty called workers of the LCMS throughout the world will benefit from this grant each year of the biennium.

Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) is the official women’s auxiliary of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Since 1942, the LWML has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and by supporting global missions. For more information on each month’s mission focus, visit LWML.org. Saint John’s Mission Guild (LWML) meets the first Tuesday of each month at 10:30 AM in Room 301. All ladies of the congregation are invited to attend.