The Rev. Amanda McGriff envisioned preparing Episcopalians to affirm their Baptismal Covenant with a renewed commitment to evangelism. She wrote Will You? A Lenten Small Group Study, which makes intentional and explicit connections between Baptism, the Eucharist and evangelism based on the five “Will You?” questions of the Baptismal Covenant. The program has been piloted … Read More »
EES News
Grace African Christian Connection Missional Community
The Rev. Mtipe Koggani, who is from Tanzania, envisioned launching a worshipping community of African diaspora Christians in St. Louis. With strong diocesan support, including meeting space, he has been working to develop a leadership team and to conduct a community needs assessment. He received has received invaluable coaching through the Episcopal Church’s church planting … Read More »
The Mission to Sex Workers: Religious Leaders as Agents of Change in Sharing God’s Transforming Love in Jesus Christ
The Rev. Canon Will Madi envisioned the opportunity for evangelism with sex workers in the Diocese of Upper Shire, Malawi. His vision is rooted in the knowledge that sex workers are beloved children of God, despite the cultural stigma they carry and their own self-condemnation. He wanted clergy to hear the women’s stories, so that … Read More »
God of the Prisoners
The Rev. John Ng’oma, of the Anglican Diocese of Southern Malawi, envisioned training an interdenominational group of prison chaplains in best practices for approaching and counseling prisoners and sharing God’s word with them. He held the training during the Summer of 2022, and reports that it was successful in attendance, in engagement of the participants, … Read More »
Encountering the Spirit in Agrarian Ministries
Sarah Mast (SSW ‘23) and spouse Greg Mast dream of leading an affirming, land-based liturgical community. They used grant funds to visit seven faith-based agrarian communities during summer ’22: Good Courage Farm in Hutchinson, MN; Plainsong Farm in Rockford, MI; Bellweather Farm in Wakeman, OH; Adamah Farm in Falls Village, CT; Mission Farm in Killington, … Read More »
Holy Play: Meeting God in Musical Improv
Will Parker believes that evangelism is relational. He has used grant funding to convene a musical improv group, with the specific purpose of connecting what they are doing as artists to what they are called to do as Christians. His dream for the project is two-fold: that the members of the troupe will experience personal … Read More »
Standing Firm With Faith, Hope and Love in Time of Crisis
The Rev. Shadreck Kwagwanji was inspired by the widespread fear of vaccination, and the prevalence of mis-information, about COVID-19 in his home Niassa province of Mozambique. He dreamt of empowering church leaders to recognize themselves as the Body of Christ, to support one another, and to reflect God’s concern for all people, especially the most … Read More »
Cross Roads
The Rev. Marcia Sadberry is developing a bicycle ministry that uses discovery rides to build community between church members and those beyond the church community. She hosted a well-attended pilot ride on Good Friday ‘21, which was repeated as a Stations of the Cross ride on Good Friday ’22. She has a core group of … Read More »
Using Social Media as a Tool for Evangelism in Lichinga, Mozambique
The Rev. Shadreck Kwagwanji convened a workshop to train church leaders to livestream and/or post recorded worhip services, to distribute educational materials and to convene small groups. The training was successful and the participants were enthusiastic; however, many clergy in his Diocese cannot afford smartphones. Some were able to borrow phones to implement what they … Read More »
Bringing Darkness Into Light: Sharing Stories of Redemption from Men on Arkansas’ Death Row
The Rev. Dcn. Kathy McGregor recorded a live presentation of On the Row, a theatrical performance that allows audiences to hear the voices of death row innmates through actors, and thereby encounter the humanity of the incarcerated. She was hoping this format would allow her to travel more widely, and offer the video to more … Read More »