“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:4-6)
Missions in the SELC District
When the SELC became a non-geographic district of the LC-MS in 1968, it made the commitment to continue to exist as a mission-focused district. The primary goal would be to start new churches and to reach ethnic groups within the urban areas.
Today we continue to reach out into new areas as a “District Without Borders.” More than half of our budget is spent in the expansion of God’s kingdom. We have even added international work as we have a missionary in India and a missionary in Honduras working with the SELC District.
Evangelism Grants in the SELC
Our district wants all of our congregations to be involved in outreach to the communities where they live. In order to help stimulate that outreach, we offer for Evangalism.
These grants support projects that specifically connect the congregation to the unchurched in the community.
- General Evangelism Grants are not to exceed $2,000.00 and should be matched with an equal or greater amount from the congregation.
- Easter Outreach Grants, up to $500, may be requested to support congregational efforts to invite the community to Holy Week and Easter Worship Services and activities.
Application Form
The outreach application for both grant types may be downloaded here
Church Planting History of SELC District
Over the past 40 years the SELC District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod has planted 15
churches that have been officially placed on the roster of the LCMS. One of those churches has
since closed. We have also begun ethnic ministries in urban areas that are worshipping groups
(congregations) within the existing Anglo congregations and the two function as one official
church in the LCMS. In recent years “Church Planting” has also taken the form of “satellite”
churches that are separate but still functioning off of one budget, and one board of directors and
are therefore considered one church by the Synod. Here is a rough timeline.
Rostered Churches
1980 – Christ the King Lutheran Church, Lodi, Ohio
1984 – Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Lake Mary, FL.
1986 – Redeemer Lutheran Church of Manchester, NJ.
1987 – Concordia Lutheran Church of Macungie, PA.
1992 – Peace Lutheran Church of Galloway Township, NJ.
1996 – Faith Viera Lutheran Church of Rockledge, FL.
1999 – Family of Christ Lutheran Church of Tampa, FL.
1999 – Saint Athanasius Lutheran Church of Vienna, VA.
2002 – Grace Lutheran Church of Lakewood, OH.
2005 – Hope Viera Lutheran Church of Melbourne, FL.
2011 – Resurrection Lutheran Church of Malvern, OH.
2013 – Jacob’s Well Lutheran Church of St. Louis, MO.
2013 – Christ Lutheran Church of Portland, ME.
2017 – theCross Mount Dora, Mount Dora, FL.
2020 – Faith Wesley Chapel, Wesley Chapel, Fl.
Satellites
2005 – Chulaota, St. Lukes Oviedo (discontinued 2012)
2010 – theCross Orlando, Holy Cross Lake Mary
2012 – North Hampton, Concordia Lutheran Bethlehem, PA.
2012 – New City Church, Holy Cross Lake Mary
2014 – Family of Christ West, Family of Christ, Tampa
2015 – Wellspring Church, Holy Cross Lake Mary
2019 – theCross Apopka, theCross Mount Dora
Ethnic Ministries
Chinese Ministry – Ascension Lutheran Church, Montreal CA.
Hispanic Ministry – St. Paul Lutheran Church, Whiting, IN.
Hispanic Ministry – Dr. Martin Luther Church, Chicago, IL
Hispanic Ministry – Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Tampa FL.
Tamil Ministry – Family of Christ, Tampa, FL.
Tamil Ministry – Christ Church Lutheran,Phoenix, AZ