2025–2027 Mission Grant #11
NOT ALONE: Gospel Help for Families in Crisis
Lutheran Family Service, Iowa | $92,500
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About This Mission Grant
The number of serious mental health problems, suicide attempts, gender identity confusion and transition, and alienation from family and church is impacting young people and their parents. These cultural and mental health issues are destroying faith, lives, and families. Because of the stigma surrounding these topics, it is often difficult for Christian families to ask for help. They would like care that is scripturally sound, and Gospel-focused.
Lutheran Family Service (LFS) provides teams of LCMS pastors and licensed Christian mental health therapists who bring help through in-person and virtual education events, lead support groups, and provide individualized Gospel-focused care to the increasing number of families facing these mental health issues. Many LCMS parents facing these circumstances feel isolated and alone and are at risk of leaving the church.
This grant will fund teams of LCMS pastors and licensed mental health therapists to provide Gospel-focused care for families.
Mission Grant Resources
featured May 2026
Prayer Guide PDF
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Large Print Resources for Grant #11
Mental health problems, suicide attempts, gender identity confusion and transition, alienation from family and church … the number of young people and their parents who are devastated by this cultural and mental health tsunami is rising every day, destroying faith, lives, and families. The number of people who identify as transgender has doubled in recent years. Those who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual are more likely to have mental health problems and suicidal thoughts and attempts.
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Satan — the author of lies — is busy at work in today's culture. His calling is clearly described in John 10:10: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy...". He uses the divisive issues of gender identity confusion and gender transition, and the ravages of mental illness and family separation to pull young Christians away from their faith and prevent them from trusting Jesus and living the life He desires for them.
Project NOT ALONE: Gospel Help for Families in Crisis provides teams of LCMS pastors and licensed mental health therapists to bring help through in-person and virtual educational events, lead support groups, and provide individualized, Gospel-focused care to the increasing number of families with children experiencing a current crisis with gender identity confusion or transition, mental illness, or suicide risk — or a history of these challenges resulting in alienation, separation, or loss.
Through education, supportive group engagement, and individual attention provided by the professional guidance of LCMS pastors and mental health therapists, LCMS parents — and those with no church home or faith connection — will find help through the church to face today's most difficult parenting challenges.
Many LCMS parents facing these circumstances who now feel isolated and alone are at risk of leaving the church. Through this project, they will learn that they are not alone! They will find help from their church, and Christian fellowship with others from their LCMS family across the synod who face the same challenges. Others not currently connected with a church will find a welcome entry to a community of faith able to help them and be invited to a local LCMS congregation.
Regardless of their physical location throughout the United States, families will receive needed help through confidential virtual links, connecting them to informational presentations and groups led by qualified professionals, and also to other parents facing shared concerns.
The challenges for families raising children today are overwhelming, but we aren't afraid or without hope. We know that Jesus came to ruin Satan's plans, as the second half of John 10:10 shares, "...I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Trusting Him, we walk forward in courage and faith, prepared through project NOT ALONE to bring Gospel-focused, Lutheran professional help and fellowship, in Jesus' name, to those who are struggling.
