Merry Christmas from your FPP Friends!
Please note, this post has been re-posted from an earlier blog that was maintained by the Faithful Preaching Project before it became part of the Sharing Faith Initiative. These posts have been re-shared to maintain the full story of the grant initiative.
As 2024 comes to an end and we look ahead to 2025, it’s time to reflect on the great work that has been done within the Faithful Preaching Project.
Things we are grateful for this year:
From Rev. Dr. Carolyn Helsel:
Project Director of Faithful Preaching Project, and Associate Professor in the Blair Monie Distinguished Chair in Homiletics, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
“Coaching lay preachers and clergy in the Faithful Preaching Project has been a gift to me as a professor of preaching—I find myself learning things I can bring back to the classroom of first-time preachers in the MDiv program here at Austin Seminary. Each of these preachers brings so much to these meetings and gatherings—it’s been a real joy to be part of it all!
Our goal has been to equip preachers with the ability to preach faith-fully, which means supporting preachers in their own faith journeys as well as in their preaching. I’ve been so happy to hear from our participants, and that they have experienced both support and growth.”
From Kelley DeCleene:
Program Coordinator of Faithful Preaching Project
“Thank you to all who have supported our project in myriad ways. I’m grateful to Lilly Endowment Inc. for the opportunity to hold the program and to Dr. Helsel and Austin Seminary for the opportunity to come aboard and help run the project. We couldn’t have done all of this amazing work this year without the involvement and incredible support of the Seminary staff. I’m grateful for the preachers and teachers in our program who have jumped in whole-heartedly to learn and share and grow. And I’m grateful for how my faith has grown just by listening to the meetings!.”
We wish you a Merry Christmas and we’ll see you in 2025!
