For more than 160 years, Lutherans from the United States have been sending missionaries around the world. Today, missionaries continue to be an important part of the church's global mission. Missionary Sponsorship through the ELCA is a way you can be involved.  

Goals of the Program

Missionary Sponsorship is intended to:

1. Assist ELCA members identify with the global ministries of the church;
2. Strengthen the total mission of the ELCA;
3. Increase the financial resources available for missionary participation in ministry outside the United States; and
4. Enable ELCA members to relate personally with ELCA missionaries serving in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe.

General Information

Missionary Sponsorship is not intended to compete with or be a substitute for financial contributions to the general mission support program of the ELCA. Congregations sponsoring a missionary will do so by providing new money, rather than by using funds currently committed to general mission support.

In addition to the missionary's salary, financial support provides housing, baggage shipment, pension, social security contributions, children's education, local transportation and international travel.

Presently, missionary family support averages $79,000 annually and single missionary support averages $40,000 annually. Missionary salaries are governed by ELCA policies and no individual missionary will receive more or less salary by virtue of sponsorship.

Although these amounts represent total annual missionary support, sponsorships can be arranged for any amount a sponsoring congregation, group or individual choose to set as their pledge. Here are some specific ways you can help.

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Newsletter
Read the most recent issue of "Maboko na Maboko," the missionary sponsorship newsletter. This "explain it all!"