California
Special project: Sacred Calling
Find links below to all the articles in the “Sacred…
$171 million for better sermons
Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Compelling Preaching Initiative benefits 142 grantees, including a university associated with Churches of Christ.
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
MALIBU, CALIF. — Fun and sun in Southern California.
Pizza and drinks on the beach.
Thirty-one active and aspiring Christian preachers experienced these tangible benefits during a recent three-day gathering organized by Pepperdine University.
But the real goals of the meeting — part of the Compelling Preaching Initiative, a $171 million national endeavor funded by Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. — went deeper.
“Ministry is incredibly difficult,” said Kevin Huddleston, lead minister for The Church at 1548 Heights in Houston. “I have had so many friends who have stepped out in recent years due to the political turmoil and the growing move toward Christian nationalism in the church.”
Preachers traveled to Malibu, California, for a Compelling Preaching Initiative event hosted by Pepperdine University.
The Texan traveled nearly 1,600 miles for the conference, enjoying how-to sessions on the content, crafting and delivery of sermons as well as one-on-one coaching and fellowship with other men — and women — of God.
“I sometimes ask myself why in the world I would step back into congregational ministry at such a time as this,” said Huddleston, who just returned after seven years with a faith-based nonprofit. “I am hopeful that the Compelling Preaching Initiative will help me be fresh in ministry and faithful to the calling to proclaim God’s word.”
“I am hopeful that the Compelling Preaching Initiative will help me be fresh in ministry and faithful to the calling to proclaim God’s word.”
Joshua Jackson left a lead minister role in the Nashville, Tenn., area in December.
He echoed Huddleston, saying he hoped to gain tools to preach more effectively.
“Ministry is extremely challenging right now due to sociopolitical issues and isolation,” Jackson said. “The cohort model can be a safe place to help ministers develop and maintain community.”
Joshua Jackson previously served as the senior minister for a congregation in the Nashville, Tenn., area.
Lilly Endowment Inc., a private philanthropic foundation, kicked off the Compelling Preaching Initiative in 2022, citing a desire to help ministers strengthen their abilities to proclaim the Christian gospel.
The launch came amid the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Related: Special project: Sacred Calling
“Since the earliest days of Christianity, preaching has played a key role in communicating the good news of God’s love and nourishing the spiritual lives of Christians and their communities,” Christopher L. Coble, the endowment’s vice president for religion, said in a statement.
“Throughout history, preachers often have needed to adapt their preaching practices to engage new generations of hearers more effectively,” Coble added. “We are pleased that the organizations receiving grants in this initiative will help pastors and others in ministry engage in the kinds of preaching needed today to ensure that the gospel message is heard and accessible for all audiences.”
The initiative has awarded 142 grants ranging from $275,400 to $1.25 million each, said Judith Cebula, Lilly Endowment Inc.’s communications director. Additional grants to Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, support the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship as it facilitates a coordination program for the funded organizations.
Grant recipients include seminaries and theological schools, denomination agencies, synods and dioceses, Christian publishing houses and faith-based universities such as Pepperdine, which has ties to Churches of Christ.
Related: Decline of Christianity in U.S. has slowed, a national survey finds
Through workshops, personal mentoring, podcasts, newsletters and training videos, Pepperdine wants to help preachers improve their sermons and messages, said Mike Cope, director of the university’s ministry outreach as well as its $1.25 million Compelling Preaching Initiative.
At the same time, the university in Malibu — a coastal community about 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles — seeks to recruit and train a new generation of ministers through its NextGen Preacher Search program, led by Jeff Walling.
BOBBY ROSS JR. is Editor-in-Chief of The Christian Chronicle. Ross writes the Weekend Plug-in column for Religion Unplugged, where this piece originally appeared. Reach him at [email protected].
