About Us

Lilly Endowment Inc. awarded grants to 20 organizations across the United States to provide resources to help churches in rural areas and small towns enhance the vitality of their ministries and strengthen the leadership of the pastors and lay leaders who guide them. The Endowment made the grants through its Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative (Rural and Small Towns Initiative).

“Rural and small-town congregations play critical roles in supporting the vitality of their local communities,” said Christopher L. Coble, the Endowment’s vice president for religion. “Yet many resources available to support congregations do not address adequately the challenges faced by churches in rural settings. 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.”