Midwest Episcopal District · A.M.E. Zion Church

Supporting
Your Local Church
& District Ministry

Building Stronger Leaders. Empowering Stronger Churches.

A multi-year, $350,000 initiative funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. — strengthening Indiana congregations and developing leaders across the entire Midwest Episcopal District through four targeted grant programs.

Rev. Austin J. Young, Program Director · Bishop Daran H. Mitchell, Presiding Bishop · Funded by Lilly Endowment Inc.

Explore All Four Initiatives ↓ Why This Initiative Matters

Scroll

Why This Matters

Addressing Real Challenges.
Building for the Future.

Pastors and lay leaders across our district have named the same challenge. This initiative is our direct and sustained response.

Across the Midwest Episcopal District, congregations are carrying significant ministry responsibility with limited financial capacity. Leadership gaps, outdated systems, and underfunded programs have become persistent barriers to healthy, growing churches.

The Supporting Church Grants initiative was created to address those barriers head-on — investing in people, systems, and innovation so that churches can move from surviving to thriving.

Funded through a generous multi-year commitment from Lilly Endowment Inc., this initiative spans 2025 through 2028 and serves both Indiana congregations and the entire five-conference district through four distinct programs and a central Leadership Training Institute.

The goal is accountability, measurable outcomes, and ministry sustainability — not just grants, but real transformation.

“

This initiative exists to help congregations and leaders move from "we want to" — to "we actually did it."

— Lead Forward Initiative, Midwest Episcopal District

🌱

Strengthening Leadership

Investing in the people who carry ministry forward — pastors, women leaders, and the next generation.

⚙️

Building Capacity

Equipping churches with the tools, systems, and resources needed to serve their communities effectively.

📊

Accountability & Outcomes

Built-in reporting, measurable goals, and committee oversight ensure every dollar creates real ministry impact.

🔗

Shared Learning Across the District

Best practices developed in Indiana flow back to all five conferences through the Leadership Training Institute.

Four Initiatives

Grant Programs for Every Ministry Need

Two initiatives are available exclusively to Indiana congregations. Two serve the entire district. Click any card to explore and apply.

📍 Indiana Only

Ministry Capacity

💰

Ministry Capacity
Micro-Grants

📍 Indiana Churches Only

Seed grants of $2,000–$5,000 — approximately $12,000 per year — helping Indiana congregations launch innovation projects or stabilize core ministry capacity. Choose your lane and tier, then submit a clear, outcome-focused proposal.

~$12K/yearInnovation LaneStabilization Lane3 Tiers Available

View Program & Apply →

📍 Indiana Only

Technology

💻

Technology Equipment
Matching Grants

📍 Indiana Churches Only

A dollar-for-dollar matching grant program helping Indiana congregations acquire essential technology to strengthen digital ministry, worship capability, and community outreach. Reviewed by a 3-member committee with technology expertise, recommended by Presiding Elders.

Dollar-for-Dollar MatchTech Committee ReviewDigital Ministry Focus

View Program & Apply →

🌍 Episcopal District Wide

Women in Ministry

✨

Women in Ministry
Support & Empowerment

🌍 Episcopal District Wide Impact

Led by Rev. Dr. Lori K. Holmes, this Episcopal District wide initiative open to all congregations and leaders across the six annual conferences, an LTI empowerment track, an annual summit, and a visibility campaign. Advisory support from Conference Directors of Women across all five conferences: MI, IN, MO, KY, and TN.

Peer CohortsAnnual SummitLTI TrackVisibility Campaign

Learn More →

🌍 Episcopal District Wide

NextGen Leaders

🔥

NextGen Leaders
in Ministry

🌍 Episcopal District Wide Impact

Led by Rev. L. Samuel Brown, this program builds tomorrow's ministry pipeline through mentorship for Conference Studies students, Lay Department pathways (Christian Education, Lay Council, Missionary Society), and a Young Adult Track at the annual LTI. Advisory team spans all five conferences.

Mentorship ProgramLay Dept. TracksYoung Adult LTI Track5-Conference Advisory

Learn More →

Indiana Only — Congregations physically located in Indiana within the Midwest Episcopal District

Episcopal District Wide — Open to all congregations and leaders across all five district conferences

The Hub

Refresh Conference (aka LTI)

The LTI is the connective spine of the entire Lead Forward initiative — a Episcopal District wide training platform that anchors and integrates all four programs.

Administrative Dean: Rev. Austin J. Young
Curriculum Deans: Rev. Shannon Hancock & Rev. Dr. William Johnson, III
Planning Committee: Appointed by the Bishop

The Leadership Training Institute serves as the central hub connecting all four initiatives. It operates as a Episcopal District wide training platform, bringing together leaders from across all five conferences for annual learning, collaboration, and shared practice.

🏛️

Episcopal District Wide Training Platform

Serves as the primary annual convening across all five conferences — sharing learnings and best practices.

✨

Women in Ministry Empowerment Track

A dedicated LTI track specifically designed to uplift and equip women serving across the Episcopal District.

🔥

Young Adult / NextGen Track

Annual track within LTI focused on leadership readiness and transitions into effective ministry service.

🔗

Integration Across All Initiatives

LTI integrates learning, outcomes, and best practices from all four grant programs into one shared district conversation.

🏛️

LTI
Hub

💰

Ministry
Micro-Grants

💻

Technology
Grants

🔥

NextGen
Leaders

✨

Women in
Ministry

Staffing & Accountability

Program Leadership & Structure

The initiative operates with clear role definitions, financial oversight, and committee accountability structures at every level.

Role	Name
Presiding Bishop	Bishop Daran H. Mitchell
Program Director	Rev. Austin J. Young
Program Manager, Women in Ministry	Rev. Dr. Lori K. Holmes
Program Manager, NextGen Leaders	Rev. L. Samuel Brown
Administrative Assistant	LaTascha Moses
Financial Assistant	Miah Powell
LTI Curriculum Dean	Rev. Shannon Hancock
LTI Curriculum Dean	Rev. Dr. William Johnson, III
Technology Grant Committee Chair	Rev. Charles Thurman, Sr.

Grant Committee Oversight

Presiding Elders and conference representatives provide grant review, criteria development, and accountability for all Indiana-based grant programs.

Ministry Capacity Micro-Grants Committee

Elder GibsonElder SimmonsElder Evans

Technology Grant Committee

Members Rev. Charles Thurman, Sr. Crystal Bailey Krista Holmes Elijah McGinnis Steve Grimes Fayola Baptiste

Recommended byPresiding Elders

Who This Serves

Indiana Focus & Episcopal District Wide Impact

The initiative intentionally operates on two levels — targeted Indiana grant programs and broader Episcopal District wide leadership development — so every congregation and leader can participate.

Indiana Focus

📍 Ministry Capacity Grants · Technology Equipment Grants

Indiana congregations only — must be located in Indiana within the Midwest Episcopal District
Ministry Capacity Micro-Grants: ~$12,000/year in competitive seed grants
Technology Equipment Matching Grants: dollar-for-dollar match for digital upgrades
Grant committee review by Presiding Elders and appointed advisors
One application per church per grant cycle
Pastor and lay leader dual affirmation required
Accountability: reporting, midpoint check-in, and final outcomes required

Episcopal District Wide Impact

🌍 Women in Ministry · NextGen Leaders · LTI

All five conferences — Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee
Women in Ministry: open to all congregations and leaders across the six annual conferences, LTI track, annual summit, visibility campaign
NextGen Leaders: mentorship, Lay Department pathways, Young Adult LTI track
Leadership Training Institute: annual Episcopal District wide training and convening
Best practices and learnings shared across all five conferences
Advisory teams include representatives from every conference
Focus on leadership readiness and effective ministry transitions

Not sure which initiative fits your church or ministry? Reach out to the Lead Forward team at Email: midwestamez@gmail.com before applying. Our team will help you find the right path forward.

Our Team

Staff of the LeadForward Program

Dedicated professionals serving Indiana congregations through the Midwest Episcopal District's Lead Forward initiative.

Rev. Austin J. Young

Program Director

LaTascha Moses

Administrative Assistant

Rev. Dr. Lori K. Holmes

Program Manager, Women

Rev. L. Samuel Brown

Program Manager, Next Gen

Miah Powell

Financial Assistant

Under the leadership of Bishop Daran H. Mitchell, Presiding Bishop, Midwest Episcopal District

SupportingYour Local Church& District Ministry

Addressing Real Challenges.Building for the Future.