A Grant Story
At the Virginia United Methodist Foundation, our Grant program focuses on unifying mission, ministry and impact to better assist and equip ministries in their projects as well as help them to build a future. In 2016, the need for the grant program became more evident upon application review. Many ministries told stories of community need and shared a vision of what could happen with a Foundation Grant. However, grant requests were 84% higher than allocated funds for 2016. This number created a pause. How can we discern need and growth prior to the next grant application process?
In August 2017, the Foundation reached out to several 2016 Grant recipients with the desire to tell their story and learn more about the impact of the Foundation Grant initiative. Why did the ministry apply for a grant and has it made a difference? Many wonderful testimonies have been given, including, but not limited to, efforts to combat childhood hunger and action taken towards educating the impoverished children in El Salvador.
THE STORY
Most recently, the United Methodist Community Outreach Program of Roanoke, VA, told us about its mission of decreasing reading deficiencies in young children. The ministry explained that one simple way of aiding a child’s learning is by providing quality summer programs that keep them engaged in learning, reading, and activity while school is not in session. The results of the 2016 Summer Literacy Program was overwhelmingly positive with consistent attendance and parent involvement, both of which operate as protective factors when studying reading proficiency. The ultimate success factor will be in the results after the first nine week school period to see if the participating children maintained reading levels.
“However, the future mission of this project is to transform the lives of children and their families to become stable self-sufficient members of society with Christ centered hearts. The award we received will impact the future significantly, planting seeds of fruitful discipleship for tomorrow; raising up skilled parents to lead their children through each stage of life; and well-educated children who think critically, read proficiently, and engage in their community.”
Next summer, the need for a summer literacy program will rise again. Like so many of our grant recipients, their is a continual need for growth and to provide more ministry in the community. Ministry does not end when the grant is over. The Community Outreach Program does not face this reality alone.
WHY A FOUNDATION GRANT?
In 2016, like many other ministries, the United Methodist Community Outreach Program decided to apply for a Virginia UM Foundation Grant. Why? They answered, “We decided to apply to the Virginia United Methodist Foundation because they are a constant ally for ministries doing good in the world. Our project sprang from the heart of members of a small United Methodist congregation in Roanoke, VA and God’s mercy and love has continued to follow the children we serve for almost 30 years. We are blessed to see the gifts of the Foundation multiply in disciples being cared for as children here at the Community Outreach Program.”
Through our grant research and the testimonials that have been shared with us, we have discovered that we must expand and grow to help churches, districts and ministries across the Conference obtain their ministry goals while also meeting our goal to steward potential to build God’s kingdom.