We Are Church Together: COVID Relief Grants

In 2020, all aspects of congregational life were upended by COVID-19. Worship, education, fellowship, and outreach all had to be hastily adapted and sometimes greatly restricted, for the safety of members, staff, and neighbors. And as unemployment increased and families struggled financially, so did many of our churches. In an effort to help those congregations with the greatest need who also provide vital services to their surrounding communities, the ELCA created the COVID-19 Response Fund.

Advent Lutheran Church in Cleveland serves a community with high unemployment and high infant mortality rates. Advent’s Pastor Leonard Killings reports that, thanks to the COVID-19 Relief Fund, the congregation was able to continue operating its Lee Miles Hunger Center, fill holiday food baskets the congregation provides annually to needy families, and purchase winter coats for needy children. The congregation incurred both financial losses and additional expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this support from the wider church helps Advent continue its life-saving ministries. The people of Advent are grateful to receive the ELCA COVID 19 Response funds.

The ELCA COVID-19 Response Fund provides grants to congregations and local ministries serving communities with the highest health risks or economic impacts from the pandemic. The grants allow these churches and ministries to continue paying staff, and providing food, water, shelter, or health care to people in need. And they’re only possible because of YOUR mission support. Thank you for sharing your gifts to provide life-changing opportunities across our Church.

Going forward, we’ll be sharing more stories like these: examples of how your mission support funds vital synodical and churchwide ministries. If you have a story of how Mission Support funds have benefited a ministry near or far, please share it with us at [email protected].

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