Grantee Directory

The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church’s mission is “to increase our love for God and to help meet the needs of humankind by loving God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with our entire mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.” Since its inception in 1796, the A.M.E. Zion Church has faithfully worked to empower, edify, engage, and equip congregations, leaders, and communities around the globe. Called the Zion Leadership Hub: Empowering Congregations for Inward Development, Outward Impact, and Upward Faith Life Together, this project will convene 2,000 congregational leaders from 700 congregations within three Episcopal Districts in North Carolina and Mid-Atlantic. The Zion Leadership Hub model houses learning and training modules in three areas of focus: 1) Community Development: Connecting church to the community 2) Life Together Discipleship Small Groups: Building community within our church 3) Hybrid Worship Training: Spiritual engagement of in-person and virtual community in worship, including technical training. The A.M.E. Zion program is designed to engage congregational leaders in an interactive 6-month training series that will confidently equip them to lead in their congregations and communities with a growth mindset. A.M.E. Zion recognizes that thriving congregations must include engaged, trained, and resourced lay leaders. We will recruit and train them to come alongside the pastor in order to provide the necessary capacity for their congregation to engage their community in doing the work of the Gospel. Our firm hope is that through this initiative, congregations and leaders will be able to navigate the changing landscape of faith, community, and church life.

The Thriving Black Church Initiative (TBCI) is a comprehensive program aimed at bolstering the health and vitality of Black congregations and communities in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Curated by Our Daily Bread Ministries, at the direction of our Strategic Governing Partners, TBCI is poised to launch a groundbreaking digital platform that serves as a centralized repository for Black Church resources and materials to facilitate Bible engagement, spiritual growth, and leadership advancement. Central to TBCI's mission is the promotion of spiritual formation and discipleship, nurturing ministries that resonate with the lives of Black congregants while deepening their connection to God. This includes the cultivation of congregational leaders who are instrumental in sustaining and expanding thriving churches within Black communities. To achieve this, the initiative focuses on vibrant programs centered on discipleship and spiritual formation, authentically crafted by and for Black Americans. Recognizing the symbiotic relationship between pastors, lay-leaders, and communities in Black contexts, TBCI serves as a vital resource for Black congregational leaders. TBCI will provide contextualized seminary-level courses meticulously crafted by Black Christian subject-matter experts. These courses are tailored specifically for the ministerial development of Black congregational and para-ministry leaders. Moreover, TBCI will foster a collaborative environment where Christian leaders can convene, exchange insights, and share resources. This communal ethos transcends denominational and geographical boundaries, nurturing a vibrant community of learning and support. Utilizing an Asset-Based Development approach, Our Daily Bread Ministries will work collaboratively with representatives from our six governing strategic partners: Church of God in Christ, Progressive National Baptist Convention, Global Summit/City Partnership, Kingdom Association of Covenant Pastors, AME Zion, and PastorServe, to develop resources contextualized for the Black Churches. These resources will aid biblical engagement, spiritual formation, and congregational leadership development.

Going into this project, we believed that a set of concerns framed the issue of congregational thriving. We believed that the “economics of ministry” needed either reformation or explanation, because the perception of financial acumen and true practice seem confused in many congregational settings. We believed that our main duty would be to orchestrate a process of institutional realignment. Current circumstances demand our re-imagination, especially for our collaborative focus on African Methodism, African Methodist Zionism, and Christian Methodism. Prior to the pandemic, most congregations would have appreciated technical assistance, meaningful networking opportunities, and resources to explore further innovation. The urgency is more existential now: core traditions of congregational life have been disrupted. Mission may remain constant, but circumstances have challenged its practical relevance. What we believed before is no longer central to the patchwork of our congregational habits. The experiences of crucifixion and resurrection frame our theological conversations. Payne’s mission resonates with working with congregations to breathe life into their circumstances so that they may carry out their local ministries to the glory of the Kingdom and its beloved community.

In the spirit of the relationship between Stillman College and the Christian Church, this program proposes a five-year plan for 15 traditional African American congregations in central Alabama. These churches will represent three denominations: the Presbyterian Church U.S.A, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. This plan will take each congregation collectively and individually through the three phases of recognizing their changing social and cultural context, clarifying their values and mission, and cultivating appropriate Christian practices for the sake of transformation and vitality. These churches represent a unique witness here in the Deep South. They have combined educational achievement and sacrificial service for decades, for the greater good of their congregants and their communities. Yet, the new realities of this cultural moment present complicated challenges and require creative adaptation. To facilitate the necessary assessment and adaptability, the College's plan will be executed in consultation with the Center of Lifelong Learning at Columbia Theological Seminary and the Office of Vital Congregations for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). We believe this work is critical for our Christian witness in central Alabama.