Dear Lucy Leader,

I am new to LWML. I am very confused by many things and there seem to be so many things to learn and understand! I don’t really understand the meaning and purpose of the Mite Box and was wondering if there was a resource that might help me understand.

Thank you,

Confused Corinne

Dear Confused Corinne,

Welcome to the LWML! LWML stands for Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, and we collect mite offerings to help spread the Word of God across the world as Lutheran Women in Mission! The concept of the Mite Box comes from the Gospel of Mark and the tale of the widow putting in two small mites despite this being all she had.

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on (Mark 12:41–44).

The concept is explained further at lwml.org/mites. There are also many resources to encourage you to pray over mission grant recipients as you place mite offerings in your Mite Box. These resources are available at lwml.org/mission-grants. If you click on a specific grant, the resources for that grant are listed below and you can learn about how mite offerings are being used.

May God guide you as you continue on your journey with the LWML!

Lucy Leader

Do you have a question for Lucy Leader?

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God's Blessings,

2021–2023 Group and Leader Development Committee Members
Christina Bean
Elaine Engelman
Jennifer Gierke
Brianne Stahlecker, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, advisor