Mennonite Brethren Foundation has redirected more than $200,000 remaining in its COVID Church Relief Fund to be used for church planting.

The organization started the fund in April 2020 to assist MB congregations during the pandemic. More than $527,000 was raised, including $375,000 from MB Foundation, and $310,728 was allocated to 54 churches.

MB Foundation stated that funds not used would be earmarked for church planting. Requests for funds decreased in recent months. The MB Foundation Board of Directors redirected the remaining $216,315 to the recently formed national Church Planting Council of the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.

“The funds were initially a tremendous resource to our churches during the pandemic,” said USMB executive director Don Morris. “With the redirection to church planting, they will now be a blessing to future churches.”