Synod Endowments
“A Sower went out to sow. . .and some produced abundantly . . .” –Mark 4
God’s Abundance . . .
In one tiny seed. God has stored the miracle of abundance. Planted in good soil, nourished by water and sunlight one seed can produce hundreds. God provides miracles of abundance.
Recognizing that the Western North Dakota Synod has been blessed with a living endowment of faithful members with rich gifts and varied talents, the three Endowments described here were established to enable the further growth and strengthening of ministry and stewardship opportunities in our synod and on behalf of the larger Church.
Making a Gift:
As you learn about the Endowments, please consider giving to the Accompaniment Endowment to help it grow. The principal is invested to provide lasting support. If you are making a gift in honor or in memory, simply include the details and the address as we are happy to send an acknowledgement.
You may benefit from the 30% North Dakota tax credit on gifts of $5,000 or more. Checks made out to Western ND Synod can be mailed to: 1000 Tacoma Ave, #300, Bismarck, ND 58504. Contact Matthew for further details: matthew@wndsynod.org.
Ministry Endowment – supporting leaders in ministry
We sow the Good News of Jesus Christ through the worship services, outreach in Jesus’ name, and by serving our neighbor. To maintain healthy congregations, we need pastors and other leaders willing to serve. Some seminarians may need scholarships, help with debt, or growth as they are in ministry. Grant funds are specifically for those serving or intending to serve in the WND Synod.
Applications:
- Scholarship applications for theological education will be sent out to current candidates for ministry from WND.
- Debt Reduction support, emailed out to WND Rostered Leaders in Dec: Student Loan Grant Application
Mission Endowment - loving our neighbor and sharing the Gospel
Do you have an idea for a new ministry? Maybe you want to expand existing outreach in your congregation, better carrying out God’s mission for the sake of the Gospel. Apply for a Breakthrough Mission Endowment Grant to help you get started. Applications by WND congregations or ministries are considered quarterly by the Endowment Committee, excited to further mission in Jesus name and to reach new people.
Past examples of this include starting support groups, a community garden, needed equipment, or a summer block party. Similar to the Thrivent team action funds for smaller tasks, you may need a larger grant for a new initiative distributing kits, meals, or Bibles.
Accompaniment Endowment – raising up new leaders
Raising up new leaders, teaching stewardship, assisting congregations in the midst of the call process and congregational renewal are high priorities within this synod. These efforts take financial resources for staffing, travel, face to face conversations and workshops. The Accompaniment Fund was established in 2017 to provide for the increasing costs of human resources and physical assets necessary to work one-on-one with people discerning their calls and congregations in need of assistance.
Ministry is all about relationships, conversation, walking side by side in deep Christ-centered conversation. This is where together we discern God’s Call – both for leaders and for congregational direction. This fund will directly benefit congregations by ensuring these relationships are tended to by individuals who care deeply about congregations across Western North Dakota.