Grants

The Joining Hearts & Hands goal for grants of all kinds is $12 million. This will fund new church development grants ($8.1 million), with an emphasis on racial-ethnic, immigrant, and Generation-X new church developments. Grants will also support redevelopment ($2.5 million) for existing congregations. Further Joining Hearts & Hands funds will be directed to racial-ethnic and immigrant fellowships ($359,000), and over $800,000 in grants for specialized ministries such as day care centers, youth outreach programs, and parish nurses.

Loans

The Mission Initiative goal for loans to new and existing churches is $6.5 million. These "bricks and mortar" loans will support property acquisition and building construction and expansion for racial-ethnic, new immigrant, and traditional congregations. The loans also will help congregations upgrade their technological capabilities to assist in worship.

• Increase New Church Developments - Start traditional profile, young family-focused, racial-ethnic and new immigrant congregations. Assist presbyteries to determine the feasibility of new churches in particular places. Identify, train and coach entrepreneurial pastors for new church development.
• Expand Redevelopment of Congregations - Facilitate congregational growth through evangelism. Help existing congregations that are responding to their changing demographics. Hire new staff for churches that have increased in membership by 150 or more in a three-year period.
• Support Existing Fellowships - Support church leaders through salary supplement and study opportunities. Purchase language-specific Bibles, hymnals, the PC(USA) Book of Order and The Book
  of Confessions.
• Assist Specialized Ministries - Strengthen outreach programs for children, youth and families.
• Undergird the Loan Program to Congregations - Increase funds available to congregations for property acquisition and building construction.