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Coffee ministry, community playgroups and intergenerational connection benefited from the latest round of LLL Mission Outreach Grants (MOGs) awarded at the Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District (LCAQD) Synod.
LLL Board Chair Steve Podlich and CEO Karen Pienaar were proud to be on hand to award three MOGs totaling $50,000 at June's annual Synod that was also sponsored by LLL.
"The LCAQD are truly grateful for LLL's generous support of Synod, including the coffee cart sponsorship," LCAQD First Assistant Bishop Ben Hentschke said.
"While the reports, robust discussion, Strategic Charter launch and confetti cannon helped keep delegates awake over the days, the coffee certainly helped!"
Photos: Top - LLL Board Chair Steve Podlich (far left) and CEO Karen Pienaar (next to Steve) with the Queensland District LLL Mission Outreach Grant recipients for 2026. Above - Queensland District Bishop Mark Vainikka (right), with Pastor Ray Morris and wife Janelle from St Mark's Lutheran Church, Caloundra. Below - Trinity Lutheran College Principal Laura Robbins and St James Lutheran College Principal Michael Stock enjoy a beverage from the coffee cart.
Missional impact
The congregational projects receiving support through this year's MOGs in Queensland are:
- an intergenerational outreach project at St Mark's Lutheran Church, Caloundra
- a community coffee ministry at St Paul's Lutheran Church, Caboolture, and
- a community playgroup at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Buderim.
Since 2010, over 70 projects have received funding, totaling more than $1 million, through our Mission Outreach Grant program that offers $175,000 across the five Districts annually.
Photos: Above - Karen and Steve present a grant to Janice Pope, Treasurer of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Buderim. Below - LCAQD District Bishop Mark Vainikka and Church Board (DCB) Chair Michael Klatt look on during the LLL presentation.
Broader support
Beyond the Mission Outreach Grants and Synod sponsorship, LLL's support of the Queensland District also extended to sponsorship of the LCAQD Synod Art Competition.
Now in its fourth year, the competition attracted a record number of submissions with entrants from 4-years-old to 96, with cash prizes awarded across six age categories at a presentation at the District office in May.
A winning submission from last year's competition (pictured below) was generously donated and auctioned, raising over $2,000 for the LCAQD's United in Hope project aimed at strengthening mission and ministry in the Far North Queensland region.
LLL was also proud to support this worthy cause through the LLL $10k Matching Appeal, with every donation made during the month of March this year matched dollar-for-dollar by LLL until we reached our goal of $10,000.
Photo: Below - LCAQD District Church Board (DCB) Chair Michael Klatt with the auctioned artwork.
