Foreign Mission Partners

Grace has a long and distinguished history of missions support in foreign fields. In the late 1800's the congregation supported missionary efforts in India. In 1892 it decided to sponsor on its own the first of two Lutheran missionaries to Japan. Rufus Benton Peery was fully supported by the congregation for several years as missionary to Japan. For over one hundred years the congregation has given continuous support to Lutheran missionary efforts in Japan. The congregation has received special guests and visitors for Japan on numerous occasions. To this day the congregation provides support to Jim and Carol Sack who serve in educational and pastoral care ministry in Tokyo, Japan.

In the 1950's and 60's the congregation offered support to educational and medical missionaries in Africa, especially in the West African nation of Liberia. In 1987, the congregation began supporting Dennis and Meredith Murnyak who have served as aquaculturists and community organizers in the East African nation of Tanzania. Dennis and Meredith have helped villages to build fish ponds and develop community based economic development programs. Presently they are serving with the Heffer International Project in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.The congregation has also been very supportive of the Virginia Synod's Companion Synod relationship with the Islands District of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Papua, New Guinea and the synod's many Youth to Youth projects for addressing needs in third world countries.

Tanzania Mission Projects

For the past five years, the congregation has supported numerous "mission projects" in the Northern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania.  The congregation has helped to build churches, kindergartens, and vocational centers.  Grace has also supported hospitals and clinics in Tanzania, and the salaries of church servants--pastors and teachers--working in some of the most remote areas of the diocese.  Many members of Grace provide for the educational support of many students in Tanzania through the American God Parent Program.  Click here if you would like to know more about the American God Parent Program.

Missionaries of Grace
These members of Grace participated in the Lutheran Safari program to visit Tanzania in 2004.  During their 2 week long trek they visited villages and congregations in the the Northern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania.  Grace supported the missionaries by sending along medical supplies and school supplies for the children.  To keep our brothers and sisters in Tanzania in our thoughts the Missionaries of Grace sponsored a Tanzanian Christmas Tree and The Fair Exchange Coffee program.  Another "Missionaries of Grace" trip to the Northern Diocese of the ELCT is being palnned for June 2007.  Click here if you would like to know more about Lutheran Safaris.

Bethania's Angel Children Home

Folowing the devastation of the tsunami in Southern Asia in December 2004, the Congregation Council challenged the congregation to provide the annual living support--shelter, food, clothing, education--of ten children in the area hit hardest in India through the ministries of Bethania Kids, a Christian ministry to children in India providing orphanages, schools, child support and other needed services to the"poorest of the poor."  Members of Grace serve on the Board of Advisors for Bethania Kids.  Click here if you would like to know more about Bethania Kids and its ministry.