Fuller Seminary Awarded $5 million Grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. for Storytelling Project

Fuller Theological Seminary is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life. The grant will fund a new project that addresses the polarization and politicization that both divide the church from within and the church with our neighbors, with a particular aim of capturing the imagination of disaffected and deconverted audiences, especially among Millennials and Gen Z.

Fuller is one of 13 organizations from across the United States receiving grants through the initiative. The group includes media organizations, denominational judicatories, church networks, publishers, educational institutions, congregations and other nonprofit charitable organizations.

The seminary project team will produce and distribute a series of compelling stories in which seemingly irreconcilable differences—whether religious, political, socioeconomic, or racial—become not merely obstacles to be overcome but catalysts for renewal and transformation. The stories will be centered on Christians and their communities engaged in such work around the United States, and they will be sourced from Fuller’s extensive networks and beyond, delivering a diverse and representative collection of narratives that embody the joyful, hopeful, and transformative message of the kingdom of God.

“This initiative embodies our commitment to sharing the Gospel’s transformative power in a divided world,” said Fuller Seminary President David Emmanuel Goatley. “By highlighting stories of imagination and impact, we can inspire hopefulness and collaboration across diverse communities.”

The storytelling campaign, which will span four years, will include short-form documentary films, podcast series, and collections of articles and written vignettes that capture real-life stories of individuals and communities experiencing renewal through unexpected connections and transformative conflicts. These inspiring stories will highlight vibrant Christian faith at work amidst our broader society’s need for renewed hope and joy today.

The aim of Lilly Endowment’s National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life is to help organizations identify, produce and share with a wide variety of audiences compelling stories that portray the vibrancy and hope of Christian faith and life.