Saving Grace: Local church awards latest grants

The Grace Foundation of Destin is spreading its blessings — not only to help those in our community, but also to aid people around the world.

Mike Wind, executive director of ministries at Grace Lutheran Church in Destin and vice president of The Grace Foundation, told The Log four organizations received a total of $20,000 in the latest round of awarded grants.

When Grace Lutheran Church received a $1 million gift from an anonymous church member in July 2006, the donor requested it be used for under-funded mission work, local or global. Earnings from the principal are distributed through the grant process twice a year, in May and November.

The mission is to extend the healing and hope of Jesus through Grace Lutheran Church to this community and beyond, helping those in need wherever they may be found.

The Board of Trustees recently met and, after reviewing 11 applications, awarded the following grants: Mission Love Seeds, $5,500; Heart of the Bride, $6,500; Generous Heart Ministries, $5,000 and Economic Support Ministry, $3,000.

“Each of the applicants were considered worthy organizations which made the decisions and ranking very difficult for the board,” Wind said. “In the final analysis, these four organizations ranked highest due to the direct, observable impact of the proposed projects, the alignment with the mission of the Foundation and the sustainability or long-term impact these projects and organizations have had and will have.”

Two of the organizations address local needs, Generous Heart and Economic Support, and two are global in their impact, Mission Love Seeds and Heart of the Bride.

“While the Board felt that all of the applications were worthy of review, tough economic policy had to be followed and some were not able to be granted during this cycle,” Wind said.

In the last cycle, Grace awarded $30,000 in grants as opposed to the $20,000 this time.

Two of the Destin-based organizations, Mission Love Seeds and Generous Heart, are repeat recipients.

“Both of these organizations have demonstrated to us the real impact that our grants have had on their ministries,” Wind said. “They are both doing tremendous work and have kept us completely involved and informed along the way. We have been made to feel as partners in their endeavors, and not just issuers of checks. Through this process, we have come to know their leadership and have found them to be passionate, honest, hard-working and truly devoted to their mission.”

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Mission Love Seeds will use its grant to install a water purification system in the village of Galilee, added in March as one of the villages MLS helps in the Philippines. They will also build three medical/dental clinics to serve the areas of Pantay/Galilee, Admiral/Dumpsite and Binayuyo.

“Currently the only water supply available to the village of Galilee is more than four miles away and is contaminated with E. coli bacteria,” Barbi Carroll, president of Mission Love Seeds, told The Log. “Children are most affected by the contaminated water which causes malaria and diarrhea that can result in death within four to five days.”

Carroll estimates that at least 150 people will be treated every day is the medical/dental clinic.

“It is anticipated there will be immediate results from both projects with reduced sickness, disease and lower death rate, especially among children,” Carroll said. “MLS will use the water purification and medical/dental clinics as a visual lesson of what Jesus provides and that He satisfies.”

The vision of Generous Heart began in 2003 and was established to help the homeless, especially mothers and their children, and individuals in need in the Destin area. The all-volunteer organization has helped many mothers and their children in the greater Destin area stay in their homes or find a home if they were homeless.

“We are an emergency organization helping with job search, electric bills, gas for car to get to work, child care, phone minutes, food, clothing and housing, if needed,” Jane Carron, president of the board of directors, told The Log.

“One way we are unique is that we establish a relationship with each individual. We come alongside each woman to mentor her until her situation is better and then we follow up with them on a regular basis. It is a one on one opportunity to help a mother and her children stay together.”

Generous Heart has also given scholarships to orphans in other countries to further their higher education.
The Economic Support Ministry works out of Grace Lutheran Church through the Foundation to assist members who may have a problem due to the economic downturn.

“We want to assist them in any way we can,” Norm Tice, president of Grace Foundation, told The Log. “Sometimes it’s getting them the right advice, sometimes monetary. To date, problems have been solved through discussions with some experts in specific areas in the congregation.

This is just another piece of the net for social service in the community.”
Niceville’s Heart of the Bride, established in 1998, is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping provide for the needs of orphans around the world.

Through prayer and partnering with pastors and Christian leaders in underprivileged countries, HOB has established ongoing relationships with local orphan ministries in several nations — Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Kenya, Uganda, Ukraine and Zambia.
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Applications for The Grace Foundation grants are accepted for those who impact an underserved and disadvantaged group of people; programs with clearly defined objectives, qualified and committed leadership and measurable outcomes; programs that connect service-recipients to Grace faith values; and capital projects that support programs and goals as defined above.

There will be another review cycle in the fall of 2008 and applications will be accepted through Oct. 31, 2008. To receive an application or for further information, contact Mike Wind at (850) 654-1679 or mike@gracedestin.com