The Ohio Conference Ministry Development Team (MDT) has awarded two grants totaling $2,750. The MDT approved these grants at its Aug. 24 meeting. Grants will provide funds toward the following projects:

Youth Events — Lee Heights Community Church in Cleveland is receiving funding for two youth programs intended to promote personal development, career exploration and faith formation, a Youth Exposure Trip and a Youth Mini-Retreat. The Youth Exposure Trip will take youth from Lee Heights to visit two his­torically Black universities in southern Ohio, Central State Uni­versity and Wilberforce University. (Note: The MDT previously approved this grant in August 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible for Lee Heights to carry out the proposed pro­grams during 2020, and those funds were returned.)

Immigration Forum — Haroldo Nunes, executive director of Open Arms Hispanic Ministry, has received an invitation to attend a national immigration forum in Washington, D.C., in October. Open Arms is receiving grant funds to cover the costs of his attendance at this forum.

Since 2012, the Ohio Conference Ministry Development Team has awarded Ministry Grants to Ohio Conference congregations and related groups for ministry projects.

Funding for these grants comes from funds accumulated in years in which the Conference completed the fiscal year with a surplus.

This year the MDT had $19,630 available for grants. However, only the two grants were awarded because no other congregations or related groups  applied for grant funding.