Russell Lackey
Pastor, Mission Lutheran Church
Russell Lackey is pastor of Mission Lutheran Church in Laguna Niguel, California. He previously served as senior campus pastor at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he held the James E. Rasmussen and Duane M. Skow Chair in Pastoral Excellence and also served Luther Memorial Church. He was the project manager of The Moses Project, funded by the Thriving in Ministry Initiative of Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lackey is the author of "Power and Purpose: The Book of Revelation for Today." He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in Christian leadership from Duke Divinity School and a Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary.
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