In the aftermath, parents and church leaders continue to grapple with the best ways forward for spiritually educating children in their homes and congregations. During the height of COVID-19, many of the traditional methods of children’s ministry - Sunday school, vacation Bible school, confirmation classes, baptisms - disappeared or were adapted. The initiative seeks innovative ways to engage children in lives of faith, inside and outside of church buildings. Most of the programs will start later this year, with funding intended to support the first five years of their work. The grant recipients include a range of faith groups that represent people of different branches of Christianity, including from a diversity of racial and ethnic groups, as well as educational institutions. “These thoughtful, creative and collaborative organizations embrace the important role that families have in shaping the religious development of children and are launching programs to assist parents and caregivers with this task.” Coble, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for religion, in a July 5 statement announcing the grants. “We’ve heard from many parents who are seeking to nurture the spiritual lives of their children, especially in their daily activities, and looking to churches and other faith-based organizations for support,” said Christopher L. Lilly Endowment, through its Christian Parenting and Caregiving Initiative, recently approved a total of $92 million for 77 organizations - including denominations, local congregations and regional districts of national church groups - as they seek to create or expand home-based programs and parent networks that will nurture the spiritual growth of young people. Dozens of Christian groups seeking to instill faith in the nation’s children have been given grants of as much as $1.25 million to help them meet their mission.
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