The psalmist declares, “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you” (Psalm 9:9-10).
A stronghold is a place where a particular cause or belief is strongly defended or upheld. A stronghold is a place that is protected against attack. For Christians, Jesus’s cross is a stronghold that is the foundation of our belief in God’s unconditional love for all people, solidarity with those who are in trouble or distress, and abundant life especially for all who are oppressed. Jesus was a stronghold for the oppressed when he preached good news to the poor, reached out to heal the sick and the suffering, welcomed the estranged and outcast, ate and drank with those deemed sinners and beyond God’s love, and on the cross, opened his arms to all. As disciples of the Lord Jesus, we extend Jesus’s own ministry when the church is a stronghold for the oppressed.
At this moment in the life of our nation, people in our country are afraid and in need of a stronghold. People fleeing war zones, children scared that their parents will be taken away, and both children and adults in the LGBTQIA+ community especially need to be reminded and assured that they are loved by God, find emotional and spiritual shelter in a safe space, and receive information and help in moving forward in their lives. Extending the very ministry of Jesus, providing such a stronghold has been the work of Christ’s Church since the very beginning.
To assist congregations in providing a stronghold, Bishop Satterlee, in consultation with Pastor David Sprang, establishes “Stronghold Grants” for congregations reaching out to the immigrant, refugee, and LGBTQIA+ communities to share the love of Jesus, provide a safe space for prayer, fellowship, and conversation, and to offer resources and assistance to help members of these communities navigate the situations in which they find themselves.
To apply for a grant, please prepare a proposal that includes a narrative description of the ministry and a budget for how the money will be used. Preference will be given to proposals that explicitly share the story of Jesus and come from communities where other resources are not readily available. Grants will not exceed $1,000. Please email your proposal to Bishop Satterlee at bishopcraigsatterlee@mittensynod.org.
These grants are made possible by an endowed outreach fund administered by the bishop and Director for Evangelical Mission and a gift from the Trapp Endowment. Grant proposals will be considered until the designated funds are awarded or August 31, 2025.