The Foundation for Evangelism announces that 53* churches and church-related organizations will receive the 2025 Equipping the Local Church Grants. Thirty-two churches and organizations with 99 or fewer participants will receive $5,000 and 21 churches, organizations and groups of churches with 100-250 participants will receive $10,000.
“The Equipping the Local Grants are one of the ways that the Foundation invests in small and medium sized churches, allowing them to launch experiments or new initiatives in evangelism that they might not have undertaken without this funding assistance,” shared Rev. Dr. Heather Lear, Vice President for Grant Administration.
Following a months-long review and selection process of over 230 applicants from 25 states and eight Wesleyan-tradition denominations, the Foundation’s board approved awarding the grants to the following churches and church-related organizations:
ALABAMA
Village Church (Free Methodist) – Enhancing Gathering Spaces – Phenix City, Alabama http://www.villagechurchpc.com/ – $10,000
ARIZONA
Ajo Federated Church (United Methodist) – Faithful Roots – Ajo, Arizona https://ajofederatedchurch.com – $5,000
Iglesia Aliento (United Methodist) – Stories of Hope: Healing, Faith, and Community at the Table – Phoenix, Arizona https://iglesiaaliento.org – $5,000
Song of Life (SoL) United Methodist Church – Community Garden Ministry – Queen Creek, Arizona https://www.songoflifeumc.org – $10,000
The United Methodist Church of Casa Grande – The Tranquil CommUNITY Garden – Casa Grande, Arizona http://www.umccg.org/ – $10,000
Wesley United Methodist Church – Family Fun Day – Phoenix, Arizona https://wesleyumcphoenix.org – $10,000
ARKANSAS
Mena First Church of the Nazarene – Growing Together – Mena, Arkansas – $5,000
Moore’s Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church – Men Making Men Summer Youth Project – Morrilton, Arkansas- $10,000
CALIFORNIA
Missionary Temple C.M.E. Church – MTC Children’s Ministry – San Francisco, California – $5,000
CONNECTICUT
Redeemer’s A.M.E. Zion Church – Men of Zion: Building Leaders, Strengthening Faith, and Serving Community – Plainville, Connecticut – $5,000
FLORIDA
Branches United Methodist Church – Core Groups – Florida City, Florida https://branchesumc.org – $5,000
South Florida Global Methodist Church – Five Bread & Two Fish – Tamarac, Florida https://www.mcosf.org – $10,000
HAWAII
Lahaina United Methodist Church – LUMC Children and Youth Ministry – Lahaina, Hawaii https://lumcmaui.org – $5,000
ILLINOIS
First United Methodist Church Des Plaines – Community Building Peace Circles in Des Plaines – Des Plaines, Illinois https://www.fumcdp.org – $5,000
Community Cup Church of the Nazarene – Youngest Worshippers/Safe Space – Kankakee, Illinois https://communitycupbbk.org – $5,000
Urban Village Church (United Methodist) – Urban Story Hub – River Forest, Illinois https://urbanvillagechurch.org – $10,000
INDIANA
Waterline Church (Wesleyan) – Faith & Family Nights – Pendleton, Indiana https://waterlinechurch.com – $10,000
KANSAS
University United Methodist Church – Life Link Hub – Never Do Life Alone – Wichita, Kansas https://uumc.net – $5,000
KENTUCKY
Winchester First United Methodist Church and First Fire-Trinity Church – Adventure United Methodist Community – Winchester, Kentucky http://winfumc.org/ – $10,000
MARYLAND
Restoration A.M.E. Zion Church – Camp Embrace – Baltimore, Maryland https://restorationamezion.com – $5,000
MASSACHUSETTS
Lynn First Church of the Nazarene – L.I.F.T. (Love Is Forever Transforming) – Lynn, Massachusetts https://www.lynnnazarene.com – $5,000
MICHIGAN
Mount Calvary A.M.E. Church – Voices in Motion – Detroit, Michigan https://thrivingatthecalvary.com – $5,000
The Edge Urban Fellowship (Wesleyan Church) – i40 Urban Arts Program – Grand Rapids, Michigan https://theedgegr.com – $10,000
MISSOURI
Total Life Church of the Nazarene – Free Basketball Program – Kansas City, Missouri – $5,000
Mexico United Methodist Church – Seeds of Joy – Mexico, Missouri https://www.mexicoumc.org – $10,000
New Awakening United Methodist Church – We’re Better Together – St. Louis, Missouri https://newawakeningumc.com – $5,000
NEW YORK
Schenectady Church of the Nazarene – O.N.E. (Outreach Neighborhood Enrichment) – Schenectady, New York https://www.schenectadynazarene.org – $5,000
NORTH CAROLINA
All God’s Children United Methodist Church – Holy C.O.W. (Church on Wheels) – Aulander, North Carolina – $5,000
Checkpoint Church (United Methodist) – Nerdy Sermons – Lincolnton, North Carolina (matching grant with Reynolds Ministry Fund) https://www.checkpointchurch.com – $10,000
Forest Hill United Methodist Church – New Worship Community at Gibson Village – Concord, North Carolina (matching grant with Reynolds Ministry Fund) http://www.foresthillumc.org/ – $10,000
Galilee A.M.E. Zion Church – Christian Education Department – Morven, North Carolina https://galileeamezchurch.org – $5,000
Hope United Methodist Church – Band of Hope – East Flat Rock, North Carolina https://myhopeunited.org (matching grant with Reynolds Ministry Fund) – $5,000
Pembroke First United Methodist Church– Sacred Pathways – Pembroke, North Carolina https://pfumc.org – $10,000
Word on the Street (United Methodist) – Sunday Suppers – Huntersville, North Carolina (matching grant with Reynolds Ministry Fund) https://www.facebook.com/people/Word-on-the-Street-NC/100080641125057 – $10,000
Zebulon and Knightdale United Methodist Churches – Zebulon UMC Baby Pantry – Knightdale, North Carolina http://k-umc.org/ – $10,000
OHIO
Beloved United Methodist Church – Crockpot Compassion – Marysville, Ohio https://belovedumc.org – $5,000
Iglesia Hispana St. Mark’s (United Methodist) – “El Equipo de Jesus” (Team Jesus) – Sports Camp – Columbus, Ohio – $5,000
Open Church (United Methodist) – Recovery HEROS – Columbus, Ohio https://openchurchcolumbus.org – $5,000
St. Paul United Methodist Church – Backwards Church – Dayton, Ohio https://stpauldayton.org – $5,000
OKLAHOMA
New Life Church of the Nazarene – New Life Youth Ministry – Miami, Oklahoma https://newlifemiami.com – $5,000
Regency Park Church of the Nazarene – Recreational Outreach – Tulsa, Oklahoma https://regencypark.org – $10,000
Tulakes Community Church and Tulakes Neighborhood Ministries (Church of the Nazarene) – Community Street Fair & Movie Nights – Oklahoma City/Bethany, Oklahoma https://tulakes.org – $10,000
PENNSYLVANIA
Circleville Church of North Huntingdon, PA (Global Methodist) – Embrace Grace – North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania https://circlevillechurchgmc.com – $5,000
SOUTH CAROLINA
Ebenezer Church of the Nazarene – Housing Stability & Financial Empowerment Program – Irmo, South Carolina https://www.ebenezernazarene.com – $5,000
TENNESSEE
Bethel Chapel AME Church – ICODE (Innovation, Community, Outreach, Discipleship, and Evangelism) – Cordova, Tennessee http://bethelchapelcolumbia.org/ – $10,000
First Oneida United Methodist Church – Camp in the Community – Oneida, Tennessee https://firstumconeida.org – $5,000
Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church – Soul Food Community Table – Nashville, Tennessee https://gordonmemorialumc.org – $10,000
Pleasant View United Methodist Church – Food Pantry – Pleasant View, Tennessee https://www.pvumc.info – $5,000
St. Luke A.M.E. Church – Beyond the Walls Ministry – Nashville, Tennessee https://www.stlukeamenashville.com – $5,000
TEXAS
ConNext Steps (Global Methodist Church) – Career on a Mission, – The Woodlands, Texas https://www.connextsteps.org – $10,000
El Mesias United Methodist Church – After School Tutoring and Education Program – Floresville, Texas https://elmesiasumc.com $5,000
First United Methodist Church Victoria – Family Ministry – Victoria, Texas https://fumcvictoria.com – $10,000
WASHINGTON
Auburn First United Methodist Church – Live-Streaming Worship – Auburn, Washington https://auburnfirstumc.org – $5,000
*A previous news release noted that 54 grant recipients had been selected. During the grant acceptance process, one church had to decline due to a leadership change.
