The Lilly Endowment, a private philanthropic foundation based in Indianapolis, Indiana, has approved 77 grants, each valued up to $1.25 million, to be distributed among various Christian groups and organizations across the United States. The aim of these grants is to aid parents and caregivers in sharing their Christian faith and values with their children.
The Christian Parenting and Caregiving Initiative, spearheaded by the Lilly Endowment, seeks to support interested parents and caregivers in instilling religious beliefs and values in their children. This initiative builds upon recent research that highlights the pivotal role parents play in shaping the spiritual lives of their children.
Christopher L. Coble, the Vice President for Religion at Lilly Endowment, expressed the foundation’s commitment to nurturing the spiritual development of children. Coble stated, “We’ve heard from many parents who are seeking to nurture the spiritual lives of their children, especially in their daily activities, and looking to churches and other faith-based organizations for support. These thoughtful, creative, and collaborative organizations embrace the important role that families have in shaping the religious development of children and are launching programs to assist parents and caregivers with this task.”
The Lilly Endowment aims to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States through their religion grantmaking efforts. In addition to supporting initiatives that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen Christian leadership, the foundation seeks to foster accurate portrayals of religion’s role in the U.S. and abroad to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions.
The recipients of these grants encompass a diverse range of denominations, Christian colleges, local congregations, and regional districts of national church groups. Notable beneficiaries include Asbury Theological Seminary, Marquette University, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, College of the Ozarks,
Wheaton College, and the University of Notre Dame, with grants ranging from $240,000 to $1.25 million.
The Christian Parenting and Caregiving Initiative comes at a crucial time, with religious leaders acknowledging the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of children and families. The pandemic has prompted many parents to grapple with questions about their faith and values while responding to their children’s spiritual inquiries.
The Lilly Endowment invited “organizations with public charity tax status,” including theological schools, colleges, universities, church resourcing agencies, publishing houses, denominational judicatories, camps, retreat centers, and other religious organizations, to apply for these grants.
Ultimately, the foundation aspires to strengthen ministries that support families and empower interested parents and caregivers to nurture their children’s faith with confidence. The initiative encourages congregations and Christian
organizations to develop resources, programs, and ministries that cater to the developmental needs of children, and embrace families of various backgrounds and religious identities.
Research has shown that many Christians struggle with effectively sharing their faith. A Lifeway Research study in 2022 revealed that two-thirds of American Christians lack knowledge of effective methods for sharing their faith with others, despite over half expressing a willingness to share their beliefs with others.
Through the generous grants provided by the Lilly Endowment, the Christian Parenting and Caregiving Initiative aims to make a positive impact in the lives of families, strengthening the spiritual foundation of future generations.
Source: The Christian Post
