Soldiers of the Cross

Soldiers of the Cross

Emergency financial support and pastoral care for church workers


Soldiers of the Cross has provided emergency financial support and pastoral care for Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod church workers since 2004.

Today, the program stands ready to assist church workers who need short-term support and care from their Synod. Why operate Soldiers of the Cross?

Among the Synod’s seven mission priorities is No. 5:

“Promote and nurture the spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being of pastors and professional church workers.”

As with Veterans of the Cross, Soldiers of the Cross plays a significant role in fulfilling that mission priority.

“One of our Synod’s top priorities must be helping our church workers in their time of need,” said the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, LCMS president. “Many have given a large portion of their lives to serve, very often in modest circumstances. While these are challenging times for many families, we must make every attempt to help our servants of the Church.”

Demand for such help is greater than many people may realize, as affected workers endure in uncomplaining silence.

Since its inception, Soldiers of the Cross has seen the number of requests for assistance exceed the funds available each year. By God’s grace, caring people in the LCMS continue to respond with compassion and generosity, even though the identity and privacy of those helped is protected.

Soldiers of the Cross depends totally on donor-designated contributions to deliver this vital care to workers and their families who are in crisis situations.


Concerned for an LCMS church worker?

To refer a rostered church worker to the program, please contact your district president. Information about specific beneficiaries is confidential, and privacy is respected.


Application

Soldiers of the Cross provides assistance for rostered church workers who face specific financial challenges. If you are applying for assistance through Soldiers of the Cross, please complete an online form.

Apply online

Please note that prior to applying, you must speak to your district president to explain the reason for needing assistance. He or his representative will review your application.




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Contact Soldiers of the Cross

For information about the application or pastoral care process, please contact the LCMS Church Information Center:


How to help

The Soldiers of the Cross program is supported by direct donations. Your donations are necessary to continue providing emergency support to our church workers in their times of need.

Give now

Give by mail:

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Attn: Soldiers of the Cross
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-6861

Give by phone: 888-930-4438

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The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Inc., including Mission Central (in Mapleton, Iowa), is an IRS registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity.

A contribution designated (restricted) for a specific purpose, when accepted, will be used only to fund expenses related to that purpose. Occasionally, we may receive more in contributions for a particular purpose than can be wisely applied to it in the foreseeable future or the purpose may cease to be feasible. In these situations, the LCMS will make reasonable attempts to contact contributors to apply their contribution toward another aspect of ministry that aligns closely the contributor’s goals and values. If a contributor cannot be contacted, the LCMS will use the gift to meet a similar pressing need that most closely matches the contributor's original intent.

Consistent with Synod Board policy and in recognition of a more challenging economic and philanthropic/fundraising environment due to inflationary pressure, not more than 13.5 percent of any charitable contribution will be allocated to administering gifts and communicating with contributors. Contributions received and accepted by the LCMS are deemed to be in agreement with this statement.

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