Imagine how $2,500 could enhance your preaching!

In Fall 2026, the Leadership Academy Preaching Institute (LAPI) is launching a new initiative to support Collaborative Preaching Groups (newly formed or pre-existing small groups of preachers in EPA and GNJ). The initiative allows preachers of all experience levels the opportunity for creative, collaborative, and preaching-focused work in community, with the aim of sustaining continued development toward compelling preaching.

What is your creative proposal? If you are an appointed (clergy) or assigned (lay) preacher in EPA and GNJ, you may request financial assistance for the purpose of convening a group of preachers for collaborative work. Your proposed activities should be self-initiated and self-directed. You may request financial support to cover such items as workshops, materials, meals, accommodations and travel.

These funds can help underwrite costs for ideas such as the following:

• You and a group of preaching colleagues want to go on a sermon planning retreat
• You want to bring in a guest speaker or workshop leader for a group of preachers
• You want support forming a feedback group of preachers to discuss each other’s sermons on a regular basis
• You and your worship team members want to plan a retreat for integrating sermon themes with worship planning
• You and other preachers want to attend a national or regional preaching conference together

While your proposed activities should be self-initiated and self-directed, LAPI can provide a vetted list of workshop leaders as well as curricula, books, upcoming national preaching conferences, and other resources.

Your application for financial support of a Collaborative Preaching Group should:

• Name the primary person responsible for the proposal, finances, and reporting
• Identify the group of preachers participating in the collaboration
• State the learning goals for the group and the proposed activities, with dates and locations
• Request up to $2,500 to underwrite the costs of the proposed activities

The Leadership Academy Preaching Institute is funded by the Compelling Preaching Initiative grant awarded to EPA and GNJ by the Lilly Endowment, Inc. To promote good stewardship of funds among all EPA & GNJ preachers, individuals can be part of only one Collaborative Preaching Group funding application.

Applications are due by December 10, 2026: https://forms.gle/vMy89BWvszGTTkaa8

Award decisions will be made by February 15, 2027.

Each project must be completed and a final report submitted within 30 days after completion of activities or November 15, 2027, whichever comes first.

Apply to the LAPI Imagine Initiative