Grants help two Valley congregations

MAT-SU -Two Valley churches each received grants from the Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) to conduct media and telephone campaigns to share the word of Jesus.

St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer and Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Wasilla will use $13,000 to help reach out to those who don't attend church.

"We will make specific, targeted contacts with area residents to share the good news of Jesus and give them information about our congregations," said the Rev. Jonathon Rockey, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, in a press release.

The money is part of an AAL grant, which was provided initially to the Northwest District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod through AAL's Openings program.

AAL is a Fortune 500 organization with its home base in Appleton, Wis.

It is a fraternal benefit society of 1.8 million members who support educational and volunteer activities, as well as Lutheran church bodies and organizations.

Projects, such as those at the two Valley churches, are selected for an Openings grant to provide information about congregations to those who do not know or have a church home.

Not every grant project resembles that of the two Valley churches.

Other congregations may opt to provide leadership training, congregation assessments or even cross-culture and cross-ethnic outreach programs. Public-relations programs are also among the list of projects supported by the Openings program.