Find a Church
Documents
Calendar
Prayers
Churches
Documents
Calendar
Prayers

Living Legacy Fund

The Presbytery of Des Moines established the Living Legacy Fund to empower and support the congregations of the Presbytery as they labor in God’s mission and witness to God’s grace in Jesus Christ. The Living Legacy Fund is built upon the proceeds of the sale of church properties within the Presbytery and with donations directly to the Fund.

The Living Legacy Committee oversees the assets of the fund and is responsible for awarding grants according to the Living Legacy Fund Policy. The Committee will accept applications for grants, evaluate them, and announce its decision in the Fall of each year. Checks will be issued in February of the following year.

Use of the Living Legacy Fund

Congregational Mission and Revitalization
10% of the annual allocation will be available for grants for congregations or committees of the presbytery to be used for mission and witness activities or mission trips, or for grants for congregational revitalization. Grants for congregational revitalization will be made in consultation with the Commission on Ministry and are intended to enable and support initiatives toward congregational growth and vitality. Accordingly, these grants cannot be used for property repair or payment of loans and are not intended for cases in which long-term financial support is needed. Congregational Mission and Revitalization Grant Application

Leadership Development Grants
5% of the annual allocation is available for grants for leadership development. Teaching elders and ruling elders pursuing ministry-related continuing education or theological education may apply for grants. (Seminary students should contact  the Committee on Preparation for Ministry for grants.) Leadership Development Grants Application

Youth and Camping
10% of the annual allocation will be available for camping and youth ministries of the presbytery. Additional funds for camping and youth ministries of the presbytery are available from the Walther Fund. These funds can be accumulated for up to three years to be used as scholarship for Presbyterian Youth Triennium.

New Worshiping Communities
25% of the annual allocation will be available to the New Worshiping Communities Committee with the approval of the Presbytery for use in starting and/or supporting new worshiping communities.

Presbytery Operating Fund
Of the annual allocation, 50% will be distributed to the operating fund of the presbytery.

 

Updates from Living Legacy Grant Recipients

 
First Presbyterian Church of Creston: Lunches for Kids
First Presbyterian Church of Creston participated in a summer community mission project called “Lunches for Kids”. The Living Legacy grant, from our presbytery, enabled them to continue this participation and be a positive influence in the community in which they live. We are proud of the work they have done!
 
The community of Creston has a high percentage of people living in or near poverty. The local school district offers a lunch program for part of the summer, but there are always four to six weeks in July and August when no lunches are served. Local churches step in to feed the hungry kids until they go back to school (and receive free school lunches once again). In prior years, First Presbyterian of Creston had committed to serving/covering at least one of these weeks.
 
For the summer of 2023, the number of kids needing lunch “exploded”. The congregation went from serving less than 100 per day to serving 125 to 179 per day! First Pres of Creston is a small congregation and very generous, however that was a LOT of food for them to purchase and prepare on their own.
 
First Pres applied for the Living Legacy Grant in the fall of 2023 in the hopes of receiving funds for the summer lunch program of 2024. The grant was approved and even more meals were served this this summer!
 
The congregation members who serve in this ministry love the opportunities to visit with the kids (and parents). They often end the interaction with “God bless!” or “Have a blessed day!” as they drive away. The time with each family is brief but it is certain they are making a difference in their small town. The verse from Matthew 14:16, “God’s intent is for hungry people to be fed, and he calls his people to participate in providing the food” is close in their hearts as they look forward to serving again in 2025.