American Baptist Home Mission Societies, American Baptist Foundation announce 2018 Palmer grant recipients

VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 12/19/18)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) and American Baptist Foundation (ABF) are pleased to announce recipients of a total of $538,889 in grants from the Virginia and Gordon Palmer Jr. Trust, as awarded by ABF during ABHMS’ 2018 grant cycle:

• ABHMS Cultivating Good Ministry Practices/Palmer Grantee Gathering, $25,000;
• Corporación Milagros del Amor, SUBE, Caguas, Puerto Rico, $25,000;
• Cleveland Baptist Association, Youth Enrichment Program of Greater Cleveland, $25,000;
• Milwaukee (Wis.) Christian Center (MCC), MCC Youth Leadership Project, $23,000;
• Shiloh Baptist Church, Tennis Rocks, Wilmington, Del., $25,000;
• Judson Memorial Church, Sonic Youth Expansion, New York City, $17,000;
• Columbia Street Project (CSP), CSP Resource Center, Bangor, Maine, 25,000;
• Edna Martin Christian Center, Henry Blair Farm, Indianapolis, Ind., $25,000;
• American Baptist Churches of New Jersey, Safe Spaces: Healing Circles, $11,500;
• Ottawa University, F.A.I.T.H (Fighting Addictions in Thy Honor), Ottawa, Kan., $11,850;
• Pilgrim Baptist Church, Eliminate Racism in Rockford, Ill., $25,000;
• Somerset Academy Inc., Rizpah’s Children Freedom School, Philadelphia, $25,000;
• Third Baptist Church, Community Collaborative for Youth Safety, Chicago, $25,000;
• Network 7 Intergenerational Discipleship, Kodiak (Alaska) Baptist Mission, $21,425;
• American Baptist Women’s Ministries, Gateways to Girls’ Futures, $25,000;
• Berean Baptist Church, Arts on a Mission, Brooklyn, N.Y., $25,000;
• First Baptist Church, Surf Church, La Jolla, Calif., $8,000;
• Hope for Tomorrow, Indianapolis, Ind., $5,000;
• First Baptist Church, A Place for You fellowship groups, Middletown, Ohio, $5,000;
• JOYA Scholars, middle school, high school and college readiness, Fullerton, Calif.,  $25,000;
• NextGen Church, Epostlenaut Multimedia Ministry, Princeton, N.J., $10,000;
• The Generosity Project, American Baptist Churches of the Central Pacific Coast, $23,800;
• Alderson Broaddus University, Faith Formation Among Generation Z, Philippi, W.Va., $16,000;
• Palmer Theological Seminary, Discipleship Formation in Context, St. Davids, Pa., $14,720;
• Lindsey Street Baptist Church, The Triple A Project, Atlanta; $25,000;
• Benedict College, Institute for Youth, Columbia, S.C., $25,000;
• Bob Burdette Center After-school Program, Charleston, W.Va., $16,694; and
• Lifespring Community Church, Aquaponics Outreach, Ravenswood, W.Va., $5,000.

Impacting the “Transformational and Formational Ministries” theme with two focus areas—“Creative Faith Formation” and “Healing Ministries”—the Palmer grant awards distribution represents national organizations, American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) regions, ABCUSA-related colleges and seminaries, Community Outreach Ministries, Rizpah’s Children partners, ABCUSA churches and Aligned Action Networks.

Ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, the awards will fund special projects and programs that best demonstrate the theme “Alternative Models for Developing Leadership for Mission and Ministry.” Applicant organizations submitted innovative projects and experiments with alternative models of leadership development and enhancement, using approaches that are context-appropriate and reflect the realities of 21st-century church, culture, ministry and mission.

ABHMS is planning two onsite gatherings and one mid-cycle online gathering to discuss project accomplishments, to address what hasn’t yet been accomplished and to provide coaching and enhancement where necessary. At the final gathering, awardees will evaluate successes and share lessons learned.

The Virginia and Gordon Palmer Jr. Trust was created in 1999 as a permanent endowment to ABF. The trust is administered by the foundation, in accordance with established guidelines and principles.

American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists to promote Christian faith, cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and bring healing and transformation to communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.

American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.