Gratitude flows from the recognition that who we are and what we have are gifts to be received and shared. Gratitude releases us from the bonds of obligation and prepares us to offer ourselves freely and fully for the work of the kingdom.
~ Henri Nouwen, A Spirituality of Fundraising
Your Support Has Impact!
One of the profound blessings of 3E is the requirement by the Lilly Endowment that we raise matching funds - an equal amount to those granted. How can a requirement be a blessing? Foremost, this grant is not a band-aid to stanch a bleeding and dying church; it’s a catalyst, provoking needed change in how we frame our experience as church. By requiring matching monies, Lilly is catalyzing us to invest ourselves and be the change that is needed to become the church the Spirit is provoking us be in this new day.
The people of the Rocky Mountain Synod responded generously to our matching needs in our Phase I grant (2017-2019; to see the results of our first grant, visit Phase I 2017-2019. We need the blessing of your investment once again.
Our fundraising goals for Phase II (2020-2022) are even greater because our vision of impact for this grant is much, much greater. We intend to make serious, impactful dents in the education debt of our rostered ministers through our Ministerial Excellence Fund. We want to inspire and equip congregations through Stewardship for All Seasons to enhance radical generosity for vitality in ministry.
The total expenditures for the Phase II grant, a portion of which is shared with the Grand Canyon Synod, will be $1,000,000. Our gift and our task in the Rocky Mountain Synod will be to raise $350,000.
But, we’re not stopping there! We intend for 3E to be a program that outlasts our Lilly grant. Our RMS capital campaign, Next Faithful Step—Better Together, after raising the initial $350,000 for 3E, will take the next step and raise an additional $100,000 to ensure that 3E has the infrastructure and sustainability to continue for years to come.
We thank all in the Rocky Mountain Synod for keeping the 3E momentum going! Our goal is nothing less than the transformation of the Synod’s culture around money. 3E is integrated in many ministry initiatives in our Synod and continues to serve as a catalyst for change. As recipients of God’s abundance for the sake of the world, we are on the road together toward greater generosity and financial health in Christ.