The Texas Baptists Christian Life Commission (CLC) is excited to announce the Community Transformation Initiative, a grant designed to relieve the financial burdens of Texas Baptist churches and affiliated ministries.
The initiative is in partnership with the WMU of Texas through the Mary Hill Davis Offering funds. The CLC has had a long history of partnering with WMU of Texas to provide Community Care grants, and the Community Transformation Initiative will be the natural continuation of this relationship. The initiative, which was originally planned to launch in late 2020, has been announced early so that ministries impacted by COVID-19 can find relief.
"The CLC has a strong history of partnership and collaboration with the WMU and we're excited to continue working together as ministry partners to address the impact of COVID-19 in our communities,"Katie Fruge, director for Hunger and Care Ministries, said. “I’m really thankful that the WMU of Texas has allowed us to retool this so that we can meet such a unique challenge.”
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues, churches and ministries have risen to respond to increased needs. School closures and job losses have created an urgent need for feeding ministries and community support. The CLC recognizes the hard and important work that these ministries have been a part of, and the new initiative will help ministries stretch their resources even further.
The grant will award up to $1,000 to purchase essentials for the ministry’s community, such as food, cleaning supplies and protective equipment. Furthermore, Fruge explained that the Community Transformation Initiative aims to provide comprehensive support so that the work can continue beyond the COVID-19 crisis.
In order to do this, the initiative will also provide financial and informational resources. Recipients will attend three webinars designed to address mental health, spiritual health and principles of Christian community development.
“We want to help ministries and churches who are having to meet new community challenges,” Fruge explained. “It’s important that we give them the tools they need to continue beyond the COVID-19 crisis.”
Texas Baptists churches and ministries with a Texas Baptists affiliation are eligible to apply for the Community Transformation Initiative. Both pre-existing and new ministries are welcome, and ministries that have already received other Texas Baptists funding may also apply. Recipients must also have the technology necessary to participate in the Zoom webinars offered.
For more information or to receive an application for the Community Transformation Initiative, contact Katie Fruge at katie.fruge@texasbaptists.org.
Texas Baptists is a movement of God’s people to share Christ and show love by strengthening churches and ministers, engaging culture and connecting the nations to Jesus.
The ministry of the convention is made possible by giving through the Texas Baptists Cooperative Program, Mary Hill Davis Offering® for Texas Missions, Texas Baptists Worldwide and Texas Baptist Missions Foundation. Thank you for your faithful and generous support.
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