Contact: Dr. Kimberly Lymore
773-483-4300

October 9, 2020

The Faith Community of St. Sabina has received a grant of $1,000,000 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish the Third Day Church project.

The program is funded 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.

Lilly Endowment is making nearly $93 million in grants through the initiative. The grants will support organizations as they work directly with congregations and help them gain clarity about their values and missions, explore and understand better the communities in which they serve, and draw upon their theological traditions as they adapt ministries to meet changing needs.

The goal of the Third Day Church Project is to help congregations to develop a culture that facilitates ongoing learning while improving their ability to meet the needs of their congregants by living out its mission and values. St. Sabina designed this program based on its understanding of the church. St. Sabina believes the church is the people, not the building. St. Sabina believes it’s role is to nurture and develop spiritually mature Christians who are trained leaders and not confined by the walls of the sanctuary, but can penetrate the world in order to present God’s way of living as a divine option. St. Sabina is committed to being a community of believers that imitates Christ and builds a Third Day Church, that takes dominion (Genesis 1:28), takes possession (Joshua 1:10-11), and makes disciples through training up followers of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20).

St. Sabina is one of 92 organizations taking part in the initiative. They represent and serve churches in a broad spectrum of Christian traditions, including Anabaptist, Baptist, Episcopal, evangelical, Lutheran, Methodist, Mennonite, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Reformed, Restoration, Roman Catholic and Orthodox, as well as congregations that describe themselves as nondenominational. Several organizations serve congregations in Black, Hispanic and Asian American traditions.

“In the midst of a rapidly changing world, Christian congregations are grappling with how they can best carry forward their ministries,” said Christopher Coble, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for religion. “These grants will help congregations assess their ministries and draw on practices in their theological traditions to address new challenges and better nurture the spiritual vitality of the people they serve.” Lilly Endowment launched the Thriving Congregations Initiative in 2019 as part of its commitment to support efforts that enhance the vitality of Christian congregations.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly & Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a 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 exists to support the causes of religion, education and community development. The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. However, it maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis and home state, Indiana. The principal aim of the Endowment’s grantmaking in religion 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 their pastoral and lay leadership.

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan Responds to the Lifetime Facebook Ban. 
Thursday, May 9, 2019, 7pm at Saint Sabina Church

The ARK of St. Sabina's
New Mentoring Program
for Girls 13 - 17

Mentors Needed - Apply by Dec. 12th