Pepperdine University Receives $7.5 Million Grant for "Empower and Equip" Program

Pepperdine University has received a $7.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative. The grant will support Pepperdine's "Empower and Equip" program, which aims to strengthen the ministries and leadership of Churches of Christ in rural areas and small towns across the United States.

The "Empower and Equip" program will enhance the vitality of rural ministries by providing encouragement, updated data, leadership training, opportunities for collaboration, and resources to expand ecclesial imaginations. Through sub-granting and partnerships, Pepperdine will collaborate with ministry leaders and organizations at both national and regional levels to support these efforts. 

"We are honored to receive support from  Lilly Endowment Inc. as it invests in the future of Churches of Christ in rural areas and small towns," said Mike Cope, Director of Ministry Outreach at Pepperdine University, who will be the Director of the initiative. "We believe our work will help reignite a passion for ministry and bring renewed energy to these vital congregations." 

John Barton, Professor of Religion and Director of Pepperdine's Center for Faith and Learning, will serve as the Assistant Director of "Empower and Equip."

On a national level, Pepperdine will work with the Siburt Institute at Abilene Christian University to conduct and gather fresh research and data, train leaders, and build a publicly accessible library featuring sermons, educational classes, and community engagement guidance. Additionally, Pepperdine will collaborate with the primary newspaper serving Churches of Christ, the Christian Chronicle, to feature regular articles highlighting rural ministries, as well as with two church planting organizations.

Regionally, Pepperdine will establish ten hub partnerships-leveraging the network of heritage universities-to provide targeted training and encouragement for local leaders. These hubs will serve as focal points for equipping ministers and lay leaders within their communities.

A key feature of the program will be an annual conference that brings together leaders from project partners nationwide to share updates, identify community needs, and set goals for the future. This gathering aims to foster collaboration and provide a platform for strategic planning to address the challenges facing rural ministries.

The initiative also includes a research component to investigate the causes of declining church attendance and religious sentiment, not only within Churches of Christ, but across various denominations. This effort, led by Pepperdine's research team, will commence in January 2025 and contribute valuable insights to the broader conversation about faith and community vitality in the United States.

Pepperdine University is one of 20 organizations from across the United States receiving grants through the initiative, including colleges and universities, denominational agencies, church networks, and parachurch organizations, among others. 

"Our hope is that these grants will provide much needed resources and support to rural and small-town churches to help them address their challenges and enhance and extend the many ways that they serve their communities, " said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment's vice president for religion.

 

 

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