Lilly Endowment Inc. awards grant to help LCMS pastors

The Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF), Concordia University Wisconsin’s Batterman School of Business, and MinistryFocus are partnering to create the Pastoral Excellence Fund (PEF). Supported by a $1.25 million Lilly Endowment Inc. grant, the PEF will offer educational debt relief and financial education to pastors. The program aims to alleviate financial burdens for pastors, enabling them to focus on ministry. Applications for loan repayment assistance grants of up to $5,000 will be available starting November 2024.