The NM Conference of Churches has received a $1,065,608.00 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish The Journey Project, in support of local churches across the state. The project is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative. The aim of the initiative to encourage the flourishing of congregations by helping them deepen their relationships with God, enhance their connections with each other, and contribute to the vitality of their communities and the world. 

The Journey Project will offer faith communities across the state a group study, quarterly presentations, a retreat for faith leaders, and an annual pilgrimage. All of the events are meant to build up churches, support local faith leaders, and engage communities in conversations regarding unity, peace, racism/white privilege, and environmental issues. “This is an opportunity for the NM Conference of Churches to actively support local faith communities across the state with opportunities to reflect upon their histories, mission and values, consider the role of the church in the Post COVID world, foster spiritual growth and community building, engage in study that addresses racial biases in our churches and communities, and consider their outward ministries past, present and future,” writes Conference Director Rev. Lynne Hinton. 

NM Conference of Churches is one of 105 organizations that has received grants though a competitive round of 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 isa 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.