Making disciples of Jesus Christ
and spreading scriptural holiness across the globe.

The Connectional Council of the Global Methodist Church has received a grant of $800,000 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help support The Great Lakes Annual Conference of the Global Methodist Church (GLAC) to help establish the Equipping Initiative.  The grant builds upon a $49,900 planning grant received earlier this year, which enabled the GLAC to develop an implementation framework for its strategic plan . That plan, approved at the annual conference session in June 2025, identifies five strategic areas of focus: Cultural Formation, Discipleship Formation, Leadership Formation, Local Church Formation, and Missional Formation. “This grant is an answer to prayer,” said Rev. Dr. Scott Pattison, Conference Superintendent for the GLAC. “Since inception, our leaders have been discerning avenues by which we can better support pastors and develop the next generation of leaders. Now we have the resources to turn those conversations into action—investing in scholarships, apprenticeships, resources, and church planting that will bear fruit for decades to come.” The grant will support four key areas of investment that support the initiative: Ministerial Support and Equipping Fund ($400,000): Establishes an endowment to support ministerial scholarships for those pursuing ordained ministry, church plant seed funding, pastoral apprenticeship programs, internship placements in thriving congregations, and innovative ministry development. Half of this amount ($400,000) will be raised through a 1:1 matching campaign, leveraging the Endowment's investment, to generate $800,000 in total funding for these funds. Development and Project Management ($200,000): Provides professional fundraising communications and project management support to help the conference achieve matching funds goals and coordinate implementation across all strategic areas. Leadership and Capacity Development ($140,000): Partners with qualified experts to deliver training on disciple-making strategies, church health assessments, evangelism training, leadership development pathways, adaptive ministry for changing contexts, and more. Technology and Systems Infrastructure ($60,000): Develops digital platforms featuring church assessment tools, coaching resources, videography, a learning management system, and a resource-sharing network connecting churches across the conference. With matching funds, this opportunity could raise up to $1.2 million, $800,000 from Lilly Endowment and $400,000 from funds raised through GLAC. “Our strategic plan lays out an ambitious vision, and now we have generous resources to make it a reality,” said Rev. Tyler Best, Director of Operations. “From digital tools that connect our churches to scholarships that remove barriers for future pastors, every aspect of this grant is designed to strengthen local congregations where ministry happens every day. We are very grateful to Lilly Endowment for entrusting us with this opportunity.” The Equipping Initiative is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s Supporting Hoosier Churches Initiative. This initiative is designed to help strengthen the capacities of regional denominational organizations and church networks in Indiana to help their congregations thrive and contribute to quality of life in the local communities they serve. The grant to the Connectional Council of the Global Methodist Church supporting GLAC is one of 37 that is receiving funding through the initiative. About Lilly Endowment Inc. Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. A principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of about religion and lift up in fair, accurate and balanced ways the roles that people of all faiths and various religious communities play in the United State and around the globe. About the Great Lakes Annual Conference The Great Lakes Annual Conference of the Global Methodist Church serves congregations across Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, with its headquarters in Kokomo, Indiana. The conference is committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ and spreading scriptural holiness across the globe through its network of local churches and pastoral leadership.

Last summer, some members of the Great Lakes Annual Conference met a leader from Oasis Conference, a missional partner of the conference, whose courage and faith left an indelible mark on our hearts. Despite urgent warnings about the dangers in his city—despite friends and fellow believers pleading with him to seek asylum elsewhere—he made the difficult choice to stay. To remain with his people. To continue the work God has called him to, no matter the cost. Recently, that cost became devastatingly real. Armed men invaded his home, carrying machetes. They threatened his wife and children and waited to ambush him when he returned. Only by God's grace and a timely warning did he escape that day. This is not a another news story to gloss over. This is our brother in Christ. His family is our family. His danger is our concern. The Oasis Conference serves an overseas region of the world where it is dangerous to share the Gospel and many worship in underground churches. There is an urgent need right now: a safe haven in a more secure city where this leader and perhaps others like him can flee with their families when violence closes in. The GLAC has been invited to contribute $10,000 to help fund this refuge. We're asking small groups, local churches, individuals, and districts across our conference to come together during this season of giving. Every gift—whether $25, $100, or $1,000—brings us closer to this goal. We will update you weekly through the end of the year on our progress. Any amount raised beyond $10,000 will be directed to Oasis Conference's most pressing needs as determined by their leaders. Will you stand with our brothers and sisters who are standing for the Gospel at great personal risk?