Azusa Pacific University's newly launched Institute for Faith, Leadership, and Service (IFLS) was created to support the next generation of Christian leaders on campus, in the local community, and eventually on a nationwide scale. As the IFLS begins to cultivate Christian leaders, it has partnered with a number of churches through the Synergistic Congregations Grant to help local congregations bridge the gap between faith and the workplace.
The Synergistic Congregations Grant is open to applicants from churches in four different regions including Southern California, Northern California, the Northwest (Seattle and Portland areas), and the Southwest (Las Vegas and Arizona areas). The IFLS has met with pastors in those regions, encouraging them to submit project proposals that help their congregations develop programs connecting faith and everyday work so that what people experience on Sunday in church meaningfully shapes how they live and serve in their communities throughout the week. Once programming is developed, each region will form a cohort that meets 2–3 times a year to discuss their projects and build an encouraging community of church leaders who share ideas, learn from one another, and collaborate on ways to help their congregations integrate faith into everyday life and work. The grant will fund churches’ projects for up to two years and focus on making sustainable, lasting change within their respective communities. “A major part of APU’s mission from the start has been equipping and supporting churches and their leaders, and this grant gives us another opportunity to do that,” said Andrew Harootian ’15, MDiv ’18, one of the assistant directors of the IFLS. “Our main goals are research and connecting churches who can learn from one another in specific areas.”
One of the Southern California churches has already begun working with funding from the grant. A close partner of APU, Redeemed Life Church (RLC) in Azusa created Redeemed Collective Studio (RCS), a place for faith to influence and promote the arts as both a hobby and profession in the community. Lead Pastor Anthony Powell MAPS ’13, DMin ’25, has been a consistent partner with APU through the Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI), youth workshops and conferences, and being an inspiration to APU students as a chapel speaker. “We loved his vision for this project, and the realm of workplace entertainment is something he has a background and connections with, so we knew this project would make a positive impact on the community,” Harootian said.
Powell saw a need for supporting the arts in the Azusa community for at-risk youth and community members in general. As a member of the Azusa Ministerial Association, Powell regularly meets with church leaders throughout the city to discuss local challenges and saw a need for students to have access to a creative outlet. “At RCS, we aim to offer opportunities in the arts through film, theater, music, fashion, songwriting, and more that students and community members can partake in to learn and grow in their craft alongside professionals,” he said. RLC’s project furthers the grant’s mission of connecting faith with everyday work by showing students and community members how to hone their craft into an artistic profession.
With a background in entertainment, Powell has connected the studio with professionals
in different entertainment fields to teach classes and workshops at no cost to community
members. Instead, professionals are paid through the money from the grant. “The value
of these acting classes would normally be hundreds of dollars, but we’re offering
eight week courses for free,” Powell said.
The project has been very well received by community leaders and members alike. “APU is a central pillar of our community,” Powell said. “The fact that they’re willing to pour back into the community, especially the faith community, is such a blessing. Our studio being connected with their name and brand opens doors and provides a higher level of credibility.” Powell shared that being able to advertise that RCS is a partnership with APU has helped the studio garner attention and trust from community members.
Currently, RLC is hosting a choir for anyone above the age of 10. The choir hosted a float in the Azusa Golden Days Parade with a live performance. They’ve also hosted a hiphop dance class and acting classes with plans to continue expanding their program offerings in the future. The project has not only impacted the lives of local students. Powell shared that a couple in their 60s attended the acting class because it was something they had always been interested in but were never able to do, and the wife enjoyed the class so much and was a natural at making others laugh. “We’re working to create a stand up comedy set for her,” Powell said. “She’s a senior who always thought it would be fun to be on stage, and now she has the chance to do it.
To celebrate all who have been a part of the studio and promote their hard work, RLC will host a celebration of the arts night at Azusa High School. “I’ve seen God move in the ways that people have stepped into their confidence,” Powell said. “We want to reach people from all over the community, not just Christians, and God can be found in all that we’re doing. We just want to bless people and provide a space where they can grow.” In the future, RCS hopes to create a long-lasting, sustainable program where community members of all ages can engage in something positive and encounter God through creativity.
RLC has already made such a positive impact on the Azusa community with funds from the Synergistic Congregations Grant, and they’re only the first of many. RCS continues to show the community how faith connects to everyday work through a wide range of artistic professions, and the IFLS is excited to spread this love for God and others through community engagement in partnership with other churches and their leaders. “What RLC has already been able to do in the community is inspiring,” Harootian said. “Going forward, we’re excited to partner with and support other local churches because what they can do for their communities with funding from the grant is such a gift.”