Author

Bob Wells

Faith & Leadership associate editor, retired

Bob Wells, who retired in 2019,  joined Duke Divinity School in August 2000 after serving for 10 years in communications at Duke University Medical Center. Before that, he was a reporter for 10 years, working at The (Raleigh, N.C.) News & Observer, the Arkansas Gazette and the Pine Bluff (Ark.) Commercial. He is a graduate of Hendrix College and the Duke University School of Law.

'We have been resurrected'

By Bob Wells Faith & Leadership associate editor, retired

Two years ago, tiny Saint Cyprian’s Episcopal Church was dying. Today, to everyone’s surprise, it is beginning to thrive. It’s a testament to the work of dedicated lay leaders in the historically African-American congregation and a retired white Lutheran pastor.

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Lilly Endowment Inc. announces Exploring Christian Practices Initiative

The Exploring Christian Practices Initiative aims to multiply opportunities and increase access to settings that help individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds explore and engage in Christian practices to address their spiritual interests and questions, find and build community with others, nourish their religious lives and grow in faith. 

In this open and competitive initiative, the Endowment invites charitable organizations to submit proposals for grants of up to $2.5 million each that may be used for up to a five-year period to develop new and/or enhance existing programs that present promising strategies for advancing the aim of the initiative and provide compelling and thoughtful responses to its guiding questions. The Endowment anticipates awarding approximately 60 grants and announcing grant awards in December 2026.

The Endowment will host four virtual information sessions (February 17, 19, 24, and 25) to discuss the Exploring Christian Practices guidelines for submitting a proposal. An Interest Form and Letter of Interest are due March 25, 2026. Complete proposals are due May 18, 2026.

Learn More and register for information sessions