Empower & Equip Initiative
The Empower and Equip Initiative emerges from a Lilly Endowment Inc. grant to Pepperdine University to serve rural and small town churches within the Churches of Christ in America. Pepperdine partnered with the Siburt Institute for Church Ministry at Abilene Christian University to create a national program to conduct research on rural and small town congregations as well as to provide a broad array of resources to support the life and ministry of the thousands of congregations found in rural and small town communities. Additionally, this national program has a stunning array of university and other organizational partners that are collaboratively working together for the wellbeing of rural and small town congregations.
On this website, you will find links to our university and organizational partners, access to a wide array of resources and tools for small town and rural churches, and news and reports from the research being conducted as a part of the Empower and Equip Initiative. Please be patient with us. Research takes time and projected development of resources is slated for early 2026. For additional information, we encourage you to contact our ministry partners for upcoming engagements in your region.
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Interested in learning more and staying updated on this initiative? Fill out the form with your information and we will be in touch.