Conference for Cooperative Ministry Grants

Rev. Mark Anderson
Synod Ministries Specialist

Examples of cooperative ministries and how conference funds could be expended to finance:

YOUTH MINISTRY

Sponsor A Concert
 Sponsor a Christian rock concert hosting the event either for conference youth groups, area churches or for the general community.  Host the event in a local church or a community center.  Conference funds could be used for advertising, or to reduce the cost of tickets or both.  For “how to” advice contact Mr. Dan Cline at Saint James – Mason City.

Conference Lock-In
Use conference funds to rent a facility, like a YMCA, and to provide snacks for a conference lock-in.  In addition to “open gym” the program may include: a team from one of the campus ministries, “Stand With Africa” materials, a speaker on youth and sexuality, vocations, etc.  For a model, contact the Bethany Conference.

Purchase a Bus
Conference funds could be used to purchase and maintain a used school bus for the congregations to share for youth events, senior citizen trips, etc.  For information on purchasing, insuring and maintaining a church bus call Pr. Dennis Neizwaag at St. John, Charles City.

Youth Worker
A youth worker could be employed part time by a conference to program youth ministry at conference level.  This would be ideal for several congregations within close proximity who have a small number of youth individually but a large number jointly.

DVD/CD Library
Establish a conference Christian music and Christian music video library that youth groups or individuals may borrow from.

Bible on CD
Use conference funds to purchase a copy of the Bible on CD Rom (with a browser) for youth in the conference.  Recent advances in this technology have made good translations available for a reasonable price.  This would make an excellent gift for all youth, all confirmation students or all graduating seniors.

Confirmation Class
Use conference funds to provide a one day event for confirmation students.  A presenter(s) may be acquired from the seminaries, colleges, or synod staff.  Combine the instruction with snacks and a band or multi-media presentation to offer all the confirmation students a single day of instruction on one unit in your confirmation curriculum (i.e. Lutheran church history, the Creed, Christian Living, etc.)  This intense time of instruction may allow congregations to not hold class during Lent.

Sunday School
A Conference could sponsor a workshop or appreciation event with information on recruiting and/or equipping Sunday school teachers.  Conference funds could be used to secure education specialists from the colleges or church wide staff.  The Lutheran Resource Center (see appendix) could also be invited to demonstrate curriculum and other resources.  Conference funds could also be used to provide snacks or to purchase curriculum samples.  For a good model contact Pr. Bill Straka.

Mission Trip
A conference wide youth or multi-generational mission trip to Chicago or beyond can provide an opportunity to do mission work, to see the wider church in mission and great Christian Fellowship.  Conference funds may be used to provide transportation, provide building materials or simply subsidize the cost.  For help in logistical arrangements for national or international mission trips contact Pr. Diane R. Dardón.

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