Pepperdine University’s Empower and Equip program, supported by a generous grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc., aims to revitalize Churches of Christ in rural areas and small towns across the United States by enhancing ministerial resources and leadership. As a grant recipient, we continue our commitment to bring renewed energy and passion to rural ministries through our Rural and Small Town Initiative (RSTI), ensuring churches continue to serve as vital centers of faith and community.
Our three-pronged approach includes:
- Conducting Research: We have been working in three rural and small-town areas conducting interviews with community members, local faith organizations, non-profits, and community leaders to understand the needs within the community and the current efforts to support marginalized areas.
- Developing Leadership Training: As part of the RSTI efforts, we conduct community workshops with local leaders, churches and nonprofits sharing our perspective on ministry, our research findings to encourage a focus on the needs of marginalized populations.
- Fostering Collaboration: In each location, our partners use the community research to form a collaborative initiative that addresses a specific need within a marginalized population to effect transformation.