TM News

March 1, 2021

Transformation Ministries (TM) has received a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish “Effective Planting: Assuring New Pastors Continue to Thrive”. It is part of Lilly Endowment’s Thriving in Ministry Initiative, a nationwide effort that supports a variety of religious organizations as they create or strengthen programs that help pastors build relationships with experienced clergy who can serve as mentors and guide them through key leadership challenges in congregational ministry.

Effective Planting will operate to accelerate evangelism through expanding the number of new church plants per year while providing enhanced wrap-around services to church planting pastors. The central focus of this program is the empowerment of 50 targeted high-level pastoral leaders in the US (10 per year) to successfully plant churches over the next 5 years. Through the provision and implementation of 4 services currently offered that develop pastoral leadership and increase church health and vitality, plus 5 new strategic systems of support afforded by the grant, this program will result in at least 90% of pastoral leaders in their fourth year of planting exemplifying maturity, knowledge, spiritual growth and strategic leadership. The long term, far reaching result will be established thriving and sustainable ministries that will continue to grow and flourish within Transformation Ministries’ network of churches.

William C. Nolte, CEO/Mission Lead believes that TM’s priorities and goals align with those of this initiative. “Transformation Ministries has, as a core commitment, a focus on caring for, supporting and connecting leaders. We are convinced that healthy leaders are essential to an effective Church. Being a part of this Thriving in Ministry Initiative is at the very heart of our mission.”

Thriving in Ministry is part of Lilly Endowment’s grantmaking to strengthen pastoral leadership in Christian congregations in the United States. This has been a grantmaking priority at Lilly Endowment for nearly 25 years.

“Leading a congregation today is multi-faceted and exceptionally demanding,” said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for religion. “When pastors have opportunities to build meaningful relationships with experienced colleagues, they are able to negotiate the challenges of ministry and their leadership thrives. These promising programs, including Transformation Ministries’ “Effective Planting Program”, will help pastors develop these kinds of relationships, especially when they are in the midst of significant professional transitions.”

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family – J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons Eli and J.K. Jr. – through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly & Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a 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. The Endowment maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and its home state Indiana. Its grantmaking in religion focuses on supporting efforts to strengthen the leadership and vitality of Christian congregations throughout the country and to increase the public’s understanding of the role of religion in public life.