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Houses of Hope: Encouragement for small-town and rural congregations
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ducation Beyond the Walls at Austin Seminary (EBW) has created Houses of Hope to respond to the needs of smalltown and rural congregations in Texas and Oklahoma. “Houses of Hope is intended for small-town and rural congregations who feel restless and stymied by how to best be the church in this age and who are curious about what their future might hold,” says Melissa Wiginton, vice president for Education Beyond the Walls. An initial process of mutual discernment between the Houses of Hope team and a congregational leadership team helps interested congregations decide if Houses of Hope is a good fit for them. Those who go forward will join with five other congregations, each with their own coach. They will engage in small-group discussion along with individual and group activities in “Building Hope,” a course of Christian practices that grows to include their town or community.
Additionally, EBW will make “Building Hope” available for congregations outside of Texas and Oklahoma in Fall 2022.
Scan the QR code at left or visit the website at www.ourhousesofhope.org for more information.
Austin Seminary receives second Young Adult Initiative Grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. for The 787 Collective
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ustin Presbyterian Theological Seminary has been selected to receive a $1.25 million grant from The Lilly Endowment Inc. to further the work of The 787 Collective. These funds will sustain the work of the Collective for an additional five years, undergirding its mission to resource and support congregations seeking to engage young adults through creative ventures that deepen love for God, others, and self. Launched in 2017 through an inaugural Young Adult Initiative grant, The 787 Collective worked with twentyseven congregations through three different grant cycles, as congregations and young adults collaboratively discerned creative ventures to support the spiritual thriving of young adults. The Collective resourced these groups—spiritually, creatively, and materially—enabling them to practice innovative thought and design within their contexts. Every
congregation participated in the community life of the Collective, sharing their best practices and biggest challenges in both celebration and lament, striving to share knowledge and encouragement for the betterment of the community as a whole. Moving into the next phase of development, the Collective will offer dynamic ways to invite more congregations and practitioners into their work. Utilizing capacity for virtual connection and information sharing, as well as harnessing the knowledge and experiences of firstgeneration participants, The 787 Collective looks forward to sharing learning opportunities, resources, encouragement, and inspiration to a growing community of hopeful, curious, and creative people committed to the life of faith. It anticipates opening to new congregations and young adults in Fall 2022.
Up-to-the-minute programming and registration: AustinSeminary.edu/EBW 20 | Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
