Jesus Christ is our... Master storyteller.
One generation shall extol your works to another and shall declare your mighty acts. (Psalm 145:4, NSRVUE)
Through storytelling, NCC’s mission can “manifest more fully the unity of the church” and form a vibrant Christian mosaic that demonstrates God’s love in real and tangible ways.
Storytelling fosters mutual concern meaning, belonging, and shared purpose rooted in Christian principles and the redemptive love of God. Stories affirm that people are seen, heard, and held with care. These Mosaic Stories can inspire people to develop a stronger faith walk and encouragement to find joy and fulfillment in challenging times. (Mark 4:2)
A mosaic is a piece of art made by arranging small colored pieces, such as stones, tiles, or glass, to form a pattern or image. Each piece may be different, but together, they tell a story. NCC was born from diverse communions, and when we come together, the visible unity creates a vibrant, living story.
The Mosaic initiative is an ecumenical initiative to develop and share stories through diverse modalities, compelling Christian stories of faith, hope and resilience.
NCC Receives $5 Million Lilly Endowment Grant
The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) has received a $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. through its National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life. The grant will support NCC’s Mosaic project, an ecumenical initiative that chronicles profound Christian stories of faith, hope, and resilience.
NCC 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 Mosaic project harnesses the rich diversity of ecumenism to uncover stories of faith leaders and laity that transcend societal and cultural guardrails to connect, educate, and engage individuals through the transformative message of the Gospel paired with lived experiences. The project will showcase stories from NCC member communions and communities, creating a distinct ecumenical storytelling campaign that leverages the power of storytelling to celebrate authenticity and diversity.
“NCC is thrilled to receive this exceptional grant from Lilly Endowment through its National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith to pave a new pathway in our work in ecumenism. The Mosaic project offers an opportunity to showcase the foundational truth that when unique, individual pieces come together in visible unity, they form a living, vivid story of faith, courage, and resilience. Much like a mosaic, this project captures the essence of NCC and its communions’ contributions to the whole of ecumenism, bringing hope to a societal landscape tainted by fear and hatred. The Mosaic project embodies the authenticity and inspiration our world needs right now—featuring real people, real faith, and real moments,” stated Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, NCC President and General Secretary.
The aim of Lilly Endowment’s National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life is to help organizations identify, produce, and share a wide variety of compelling stories that depict the vibrancy and hope of Christian faith and life.
Lilly Endowment, Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons, Eli and J.K., Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education, and religion and maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.
A primary aim of its grantmaking in religion is to deepen the religious lives of Christians, principally by supporting efforts that enhance congregational vitality and strengthen the leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment values the broad diversity of Christian traditions and endeavors to support them in a wide variety of contexts. The Endowment also seeks to foster public understanding about religion by encouraging fair, accurate, and balanced portrayals of the positive and negative effects of religion on the world and lifting up the contributions that people of all faiths make to our greater civic well-being.
Since 1950, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA has served as a leading voice of ecumenical witness to the living Christ. The National Council of Churches is a diverse covenant community of 37 member communions and over 30 million individuals –100,000 congregations from Protestant, Anglican, historic African-American, Orthodox, Evangelical, and Living Peace traditions – in a common commitment to advocate and represent God’s love and promise of unity in our public square. NCC works with secular and interfaith partners to advance a shared agenda of peace, progress, and positive change.