Got a bright idea for mission?

Does your congregation, school or agency have a bright idea for local mission that needs financial support to become a reality? The LCANZ’s Local Mission Fund may be able to help.

The fund, which launched last year, is now open for expressions of interest for the 2026 allocation of grants. A total of $400,000 will be made available through the fund, with several seed funding grants of up to $10,000 each and major project grants of up to $100,000 each. The fund aims to support church entities seeking new ways to reach their local communities with the gospel.

Through the Local Mission Fund, the LCANZ wants to support the mission needs of our church. Our hope is to share the unchanging gospel of Jesus Christ through local community engagement in an ever-changing environment.

Funds will be allocated to successful applicants to resource and equip people for mission and to support projects that will have a flow-on impact for the wider church. The mission fund is administered by the LCANZ Churchwide Office, in collaboration with the districts. It is hoped this collaboration will help identify the support and resources most needed by the church.

Successful projects will need to align with selection criteria, including that the project enhances the missional culture of the LCANZ and supports the fostering of a missional community within the church; that it will help to equip people for mission and that it reflects foundational Lutheran theological principles. Your ability to financially sustain your project beyond the funding period is also important and will need to be outlined in your application.

Support, coaching, and project monitoring will be provided to all approved applications.

The Immanuel congregation, from Kadina, in South Australia, received a Seed Fund grant for outreach events in their area with guest speaker Ian McCormack. These events were held in May.

Project Coordinator John Meier says, ‘This mission outreach so far has been a very positive venture.’

‘But this has only been part 1 of our outreach,’ he says. ‘Part 2 has commenced with our series of Alpha course meetings now taking place – an important follow-up for those who heard Ian’s testimony. Part 3 and beyond will continue as we use what we have learnt and continue to take up the task of being witnesses to those around us in our community.’

The congregation of St Petri at Nuriootpa in South Australia received a major project grant for the development of a regional learning hub.

The first six months of the project have involved laying the groundwork for the hub. Pastor Adrian Kitson says the congregation’s priority was ‘to set up a good foundation’ by preparing a local steering group, website and project officer position description.

‘This has been important in making sure we have local support,’ he says. ‘Following consultation with local Lutheran churches and community leaders about the needs and desires for learning in our region, our first-year program was designed to support mission and ministry learning in the areas of biblical studies, worship and child, youth and family.’

The community of Trinity Lutheran College at Ashmore in Queensland also received major project funding for a church plant. Senior College Chaplain Tala Aufai says their journey so far has not been easy, and they have experienced setbacks and slower growth than they hoped. However, he says, God has been faithful and continues to provide great support from the college and congregation leadership. With a strong youth leadership team, they continue their journey in prayer, assured of God’s faithfulness.

Grants from the fund are not available to provide support for ministries that are part of the normal budget process of a congregation, district or entity, or expenses such as office equipment and building projects or maintenance.

For more information about the Local Mission Fund, including its guidelines and full selection criteria and expression of interest forms, visit the dedicated webpage at www.staging.lca.org.au/local-mission-fund or contact Jodi directly at jodi.brook@staging.lca.org.au

Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the Local Mission Fund 2026 allocation close on Monday 29 August 2025. Church entities whose EOIs are successful will be invited to submit a formal application.

READ MORE STORIES ABOUT fund, grants, Local Mission, Local Mission Fund