Many have charged that short-term missions are, if not a waste, at least a poor use of time, money and power. For the host of one such mission to Liberia, they are nothing of the sort.
Author
Olu Menjay
Principal, Ricks Institute, Monrovia, Liberia
Olu Q. Menjay is principal and chief administrative officer of the Ricks Institute, a learning and faith community near Monrovia, Liberia. Looted and vandalized during the Liberian civil war, the school is the only private school in Liberia offering free primary education. A native of Liberia, Menjay has studied in the United States at Mercer University, Duke Divinity School and Boston University and has a PhD from the University of Wales, through the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Praha, Czech Republic.
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