The dream of Bridges was to create a program that would help congregations grow in their cultural competency so that they could Bridge the Gap between their church and the community around them. Over the past 2 years, 150 leaders from across 30 congregations have experienced the program, which has deepened their spirituality, enhanced their storytelling, and kick-started their missional imagination.
The $750,000 Scaling Grant from the Lilly Foundation will allow EPA & GNJ to expand Bridges to include pastors and church leaders in EPA & GNJ. Bridges will become part of the Journey of Hope and Wholeness Pathways program.
The Rev. Dawn Taylor-Storm, Director of Connectional Ministries for EPA & GNJ is excited about the work ahead, “The new Bridges Grant will augment our work in Journey of Hope & Wholeness and will expand our Pathways resourcing to include Bridges, an opportunity for in-person cohort experiences where relationships are developed, stories are shared and participants learn more about themselves, one another and how to bridge between their congregation and community.”
The Rev. Gina Yeske, Associate Superintendent for the Metro-Highlands Region of GNJ shared, “Lilly awards scaling grants to organizations that have demonstrated success and are ready to expand their reach and impact. In this case, the scaling grant was offered because the Bridges Initiative was successful in helping churches uncover the value of storytelling and creatively explore spiritual practices. This grant will enable the program to serve more people and broaden its influence.”
The Rev. Gabe Lopez, Associate Superintendent for the South-East Region of EPA, is excited to see the Bridges project take root in EPA, and the power that is found in listening to one another’s stories and the stories of the communities that we serve. He shared, “What it means to bridge is understanding stories and listening to people, not coming in and providing solutions or trying to just be ‘helpers.’ The people in our communities have so much to offer themselves… It’s about walking with and being in solidarity with our community and listening to their stories.”
Bridges has transformed the lives of the people who have participated so far. One person from the second cohort of Bridges shared “I think every relationship in my life will be different because of this weekend.” Exciting things are ahead for EPA and GNJ as together we work to grow our cultural competency and our spirituality.
Find out more about the Bridges project here. And find a press release about the Lilly Foundation Scaling Grant below.
For Immediate Release
The United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey (GNJ) has received $750,000 from the Lilly Endowment Inc. to further develop the Bridges program within the GNJ and Eastern Pennsylvania (EPA) Conferences. This program seeks to help congregations bridge the gap between the demographics of the church and those of the broader community, as congregational leaders spend time understanding who they are, who their neighbors are, and how they connect. Over an 18-month process, participating congregations engage in experiential learning focused on intercultural experiences, storytelling, small group reflection, art, and intentional opportunities for joy.
In 2020, GNJ received a nearly $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment to launch Bridges. That grant and the new funding were made through Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative. The aim of the national initiative is to strengthen Christian congregations so they can help people deepen their relationships with God, build strong relationships with each other and contribute to the flourishing of local communities and the world.
Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi expressed her gratitude for the grant, stating, “We are grateful to the Lilly Endowment for partnering with the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference as both EPA and GNJ work to strengthen the relationships local churches have with their surrounding communities. This grant validates the work that has been done by the Bridges program and helps us to move forward to expand our impact in local communities with greater relevance and effectiveness.”
To find out more, visit the Bridges project webpage
or contact Alyssa Ruch at aruch@gnjumc.org.
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 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 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.