Cheering and applause – in a church council meeting?

This is precisely what happened this spring when Oak Knoll Lutheran's church council (Minnetonka, Minn.) approved sponsoring 10 students for three years.

Sponsoring a student through LPGM’s Project Education India program allows students – mostly Dalit children of poor, migrant farmers – to attend a quality school while living in a safe, supportive boarding home. Currently, $30 a month provides everything from nutritious food, medical care and school uniforms to tutoring and special activities.

“This is so much more than just writing a check,” shares church council president Mike Shetka. “It’s a relationship… Coming out of Covid, we were looking for ways to spark engagement. This was a tangible project we could take on that directly matches our mission – to grow the fruits of God's Kingdom.”

The gift came out of the congregation’s commitment to tithe funds received through recent estate gifts.

"We look forward to writing the students and getting to know one another through this partnership, as well as keeping them in our prayers and potentially visiting them someday," says Pastor Jay Rudi. "We are grateful for concrete ways to share God’s love and to support these students in their education and development of their gifts and talents."

Project Education India is currently in need of sponsors for almost 200 students, so Oak Knoll’s news came at a great time. 

LPGM’s sponsorship of students in Lutheran partners’ boarding homes in India goes back to 1996 and has supported nearly 7,500 students as they receive a quality education.

Sponsor Students

Sponsoring a cohort of students can be a great way for a congregation or faith-group to build a community-to-community relationship. It helps you get to know a group of students, communicate with them, pray with (and for) them, and explore what it means to support access to quality education as a community of faith, together.

Here are some students currently in need of sponsors: