Author

Patrick B. Reyes

Senior director of learning design, Forum for Theological Exploration

Patrick B. Reyes is the author of the award-winning book "Nobody Cries When We Die: God, Community, and Surviving to Adulthood." A Chicano educator, administrator and institutional strategist, he currently serves as senior director of learning design at the Forum for Theological Exploration, where his portfolio includes oversight of organizational thought leadership, resource development and annual grant funding.

The Children’s Defense Fund selected "Nobody Cries" as the first book for its inaugural book club in 2019, and recognized him in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 as a “Great Teacher and Preacher.” He is president-elect of the Religious Education Association and serves on several boards supporting the next generation of religious leaders and educators of color. His current book project "The Purpose Gap: Creating Conditions for a Life of Meaning and Purpose" will be released by Westminster John Knox Press in spring 2021. Learn more at www.patrickbreyes.com.

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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