Hood Theological Seminary has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. as a part of its Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Cities Initiative, aimed toward enhancing the vitality of ministries and strengthening management in rural church buildings throughout North Carolina.
The funding will help the seminary’s Institute for Ministry in Rural Areas and Small-Cities, designed to handle present and future challenges Christian congregations face in much less populated areas. Rev. Damita Wilder, program director, will oversee 4 key initiatives by the grant: a unbroken training program and workshops, educational packages tailor-made for rural contexts, a funding heart, and an data and referral heart.
Dr. Vergel Lattimore, president of Hood Theological Seminary, expressed gratitude to Lilly Endowment for ”entrusting Hood to be part of a targeted effort to help the numerous rural and small-town church buildings and ministries in North Carolina its dedication to rural ministries.”
“Hood has a robust historical past of supporting church buildings and rural communities and appears ahead to impacting these communities in a most optimistic method,” he added.
Hood Theological Seminary joins 19 different organizations nationwide, together with faculties, denominational businesses, and church networks, chosen for his or her potential to reply successfully to the challenges confronted by rural and small-town church buildings.
Christopher L. Coble, vice chairman for faith at Lilly Endowment, famous, “Our hope is that these grants will present a lot wanted sources and help to rural and small-town church buildings to assist them deal with their challenges and improve and lengthen the numerous ways in which they serve their communities.”
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a philanthropic basis based mostly in Indianapolis, devoted to neighborhood improvement, training, and faith, specializing in enhancing congregational vitality and management inside numerous Christian traditions.
