Applications now closed for 2026 MinistryFOCUS grants

Church Worker Grants

On January 15, 2026, MinistryFOCUS announced that it is awarding grants to 81 Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod church workers from 29 districts, including 55 pastors, 13 teachers, 6 deaconesses, 6 directors of Christian education and 1 director of Christian ministry.  Of these 81 grants, 59 are through a partnership with LCEF and 27 districts that are a part of LCEF, and another 7 are through a partnership with the Michigan District.  Through these partnerships, 62 grant recipients will receive not only financial assistance, but also financial education through an online financial education course developed by the Concordia University Wisconsin Batterman School of Business.  Since 2015, MinistryFOCUS has awarded nearly $1.5 million in 472 grants. 

MinistryFocus exists to help strengthen the faith  of believers and bring more people to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  It endeavors to accomplish this goal by providing financial assistance and education to LCMS church workers in need, so that these workers focus less on money and more on ministry.  The provision of financial assistance and education helps workers, their families and their ministries.

Thank you!

Who We Are

MinistryFOCUS is a volunteer non-profit Recognized Service Organization (RSO) of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod that believes that the realities of educational debt negatively and irreparably harm ministries and congregations. So, we raise money and award grants to help reduce and eliminate financial burden, allowing ministry leaders to … well, focus on ministry.

View our Mission