As part of the Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative, Azusa Pacific University recently received a $1,249,916 grant to support a project, entitled Synergistic Congregations: Building a Strong Community Together. This initiative, implemented by APU’s Center for Vocational Ministry (CVM) and the School of Theology, will encourage congregations to flourish by helping their congregants deepen their relationships with God, enhance connections with each other, and contribute to the vitality of their communities. It will be funded by the grant from January 2024 through December 2028.

This Synergistic Congregations Project is a collaboration among academic researchers, pastors, ministry leaders, and church members. “This project will enhance the vitality of Christian congregations by inviting the Church and academy to work alongside each other in meaningful ways to bridge the gap between Sunday’s worship and the work of their congregants from Monday through Saturday,” said Matthew Elofson, PhD, Interim Dean of the School of Theology and principal investigator of the grant. Jennifer Graffius, DMin, executive director of the CVM and co-investigator of the grant added, “We are thrilled about the opportunity to dive deeper into developing a robust theology of faith and work for faith communities and to partner with churches and industry leaders as we do it.”

The project will gather pastors and leaders from 20 churches in four geographical areas including: Southern California, Northern California, the Southwest, and Pacific Northwest. The participants will gather regularly over five-years to explore how churches can effectively empower Sunday worshippers to embrace their callings as Christians in their everyday lives. The project will conclude with one church in each region hosting an Engaging Faith Conference in the final two years to share what they have discovered with other congregations in their area.

“We are at an exciting time in our history, as we celebrate our 125th anniversary,” said APU President Adam J. Morris, PhD. “As we continue to seek to advance the work of God in the world, this grant provides an exciting opportunity for the faculty and staff of the Center for Vocational Ministry and the School of Theology at Azusa Pacific University to partner with a number of faith communities. We hope these connections will cultivate robust relationships between our university and local churches throughout the Western United States.”

APU is one of more than 100 organizations that received grants through a competitive process related to the Thriving Congregations Initiative. Reflecting a wide variety of Christian traditions, the organizations represent mainline Protestant, evangelical, Catholic, Orthodox, peace church and Pentecostal faith communities.

“Congregations play an essential role in deepening the faith of individuals and contributing to the vitality of communities,” said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for religion. “We hope that these programs will nurture the vibrancy and spark the creativity of congregations, helping them imagine new ways to share God’s love in their communities and across the globe.”

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. A principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of the role religion plays in the United States and across the globe.