Home mission congregations are not always blessed with a pipe organ or even a piano. They often use portable equipment such as electronic keyboards or computer-generated music with large speakers. WELS Home Missions offers additional grants of up to $2,000 to home mission churches that are looking to purchase keyboards and other instruments, sound equipment, software, etc., to enhance their worship services. Here are a couple examples of how these grants have been used in the past:
- CrossView Church in Windsor, Colo., began holding public worship services on March 3, 2024. Every Sunday, they set up and take down their worship space at a local elementary school. The worship team had been using their own instruments, which led to significant wear and tear due to the frequent setup, takedown, and weekly practice sessions. To address this issue, CrossView received a $2,000 musical assistance grant. This grant allowed them to purchase a new keyboard, drum set, and transportation cases, which are stored in their portable church trailer. This has helped reduce the wear and tear on the members’ personal instruments.
- After investing in landscaping and exterior improvements, Prince of Peace in Thousand Oaks, Calif., is preparing to host community and outreach events this summer and fall, including the relaunch of its outdoor worship services. These services were vital during COVID, welcoming neighbors and bringing in new members. A $2,000 musical assistance grant is allowing Prince of Peace to purchase a new electric piano for use at these outdoor services.
- Cross of Christ in Las Cruces, N.M., is striving to enrich their member’s worship experiences through music. With a $2,000 musical assistance grant, alongside $1,250 of their own local support, they were able to replace their old digital piano and purchase some additional percussion instruments and music stands.
Your financial support of musical assistance grants helps WELS home mission congregations enhance their worship services and outreach efforts. Please consider partnering in this grant program to help home mission churches create meaningful worship experiences that welcome and inspire their members and communities.