35 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
The purpose of The Matthew 25 Fund is to honor Christ as he spoke in Matthew 25:35-40. Jerry and Lynda Engelhardt established the fund through a strong desire to help people as in the verse. The primary criteria for making awards shall be Matthew 25:35-40. A secondary criterion shall be to evaluate if the proposed project will help establish or maintain congregational outreach and unity as in the spirit of the verse.
We want to prioritize new partnerships so that we can expand the reach of these funds. Congregations that have never applied for these grants are strongly encouraged to do so.
The fund is intended for ELCA Pacifica Synod congregations. However, awards may be given to other well-managed organizations not in the Pacifica Synod that meet the spirit of the verse. The annual application period is August 15 to October 15. Funds are distributed by the end of December.
The application period for the 2023 grants is now open through October 15, 2023. You may download a fillable application form HERE. Please be sure to read through and include ALL requested items before submitting your application. Grant applicants will be notified of the outcome of your request in early December 2023, with distributions made by December 31, 2023.
If you are a 2022 grant recipient and wish to submit the required report, you may download a fillable report form here. Please note: you will not be considered for future grants unless this report is filed by October 15, 2023.
Questions about this fund may be directed to Terri Robertson at 714-692-2791 (Ext. 732) or at terrirobertson@pacificasynod.org.
