“The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation.” –Corrie ten Boom
The dictionary defines donation as “something that is given to a charity, especially a sum of money” or “the action of donating something.”
Perhaps one of the Bible’s best-known examples of donating is the parable of the widow’s mite, which says: “As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘Truly I tell you,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on’” (Luke 21:1-4).
For more than three decades, the East 91st Street Christian Church Foundation has continued to fulfill Christ’s directive: going into the world, teaching, making disciples (Matthew 28:18-20), and meeting the physical needs of hurting people (Matthew 25:35-40). Since its founding, E91 Foundation — which has grown to a fund surpassing $3 million — has granted more than $2 million to over 300 evangelical nonprofit ministries in Indianapolis and some 60 countries throughout the world. The generosity of our donors makes it all possible!
In 2024, E91 Foundation awarded grants totaling $116,076. Following are those organizations and/or individuals that have received grants in 2024:
Afterbeat — $5,000 for school evangelism projects. Alko Stoel, Afterbeat’s CEO, recently wrote in an e-mail: “E91 Foundation has been an amazing, divine blessing to our ministry in The Netherlands. Especially locally, we have had the opportunity to go minister in schools, in our youth center, and coffee shop. On top of everything, we see our church-plant growing rapidly through this ministry.”;
Alexander Christian Foundation — $16,000 for college scholarships to Indiana students entering the ministry;
Allendale Christian Camp and Retreat Center — $8,788 to help young people connect with God in His creation through worship, study, and adventure. In a March 5, 2024, letter to E91 Foundation, Randy Pim, Camp Allendale’s Executive Director, wrote: “We would like to express our appreciation for your partnership with the ministries of Camp Allendale. Your gift is vital in providing Christian camping and quality retreat facilities for the central Indiana area. Thank you for helping further our goal of providing a dynamic environment for people to engage the living God.”;
Christian Missionary Fellowship International (CMFI) — $2,500 to help build a sports field at MOHI’s new Discipleship Camp. On Jan. 30, 2024, Kristen Hodge, CMFI board member overseeing the Sports Ministry project in Nairobi, Kenya, and a member of the E91 Foundation board, wrote in an e-mail to E91 Foundation: “I am leading another Kilimanjaro climb to build a sports field at MOHI’s new Discipleship Camp. I absolutely loved summer camp each year at Allendale! I learned a lot about myself and Jesus, so I know how important this experience is for these children! Having a place to play at the Angaza Camp will be priceless.”;
Christian Mission for Myanmar (CMFM) — $2,000 to help provide food and supplies for students and professors at a new Bible seminary (Hangnyu Bible College) located in Northwest Myanmar, where there are a few churches, but no training for current or future ministers and evangelists to attain Biblical degrees and further their study of Scripture;
Covenant Connections — $5,000 for assistance publishing the book, Soul Strength—Rhythms for Thriving by Dr. Alan Ahlgrim, for African and Pakistani readers. “Please convey our thanks to the board of E91 Foundation, wrote Rick Shonkwiler, Director of Operations, in a recent handwritten note, adding, “We are grateful for your belief in our mission and special project. Covenant Connections for Pastors exists to help leaders develop soul-strength. Stepping into the gap felt by leaders in Africa and Asia with books and resources is one of our endeavors. We will soon be reaching Spanish-speaking leaders as well.”;
Cru/Campus Crusade for Christ International/Keith Spence — $5,000 for funding toward the development of 18 Nepali ministry leaders as a part of a new emerging-leader initiative that our Campus Crusade for Christ ministry launched on Feb. 26, 2024. “We want to thank you for the generous grant that the E91 Foundation provided on behalf of our ministry in April of this year,” wrote Linda and Keith Spence in a thoughtful note, adding, “Your faithful partnership is helping us launch a new initiative in Nepal and is also opening the door for Gospel outreach within the Hindu-majority business community. We are very excited to see how God will work through this unique opportunity.”;
e3 Partners — $5,000 to help fund four upcoming “Four-Fields Disciple Making and Church Planting Intensive” trainings for emerging indigenous missionaries working in unreached areas of north India;
E91 Church — $25,000 for September 29, 2024, 100th Anniversary Celebration Sunday;
E91 Church/Camp Allendale — $6,500 for summer-camp scholarships. In an e-mail to the E91 Foundation, E91 Student Pastor Aaron Coon wrote: “I am so thankful for the generosity of the E91 Foundation over the years in NextGen. Donating to our scholarship fund has made a huge difference in the lives of so many families. Last year, because of the donation to our summer camps, five students from E91 who attended camps on scholarship decided to get baptized. Without the generosity of the E91 Foundation, they would not have been able to attend.”;
E91 Church/Mexico IMPACT Medical Mission Trip — $2,000 toward the purchase of supplies to be used in a medical clinic as well as for the purchase of sports equipment for children being ministered to while their parents are being treated in the clinic in north-central Mexico. The mission trip will occur in April 2025;
Indiana Right to Life Education Fund — $2,500 to help fund a “Love Them Both” billboard on I-465 in Indianapolis, Indiana, in Dec. 2024 that is expected to receive more than 1 million views per week;
International Disaster Emergency Service (IDES) — $5,000 toward a new-church plant. Jeff Greene, IDES Advancement Director, recently wrote: “Last year, we partnered with Global Providence Gospel Network providing famine relief, which resulted in the possibility of four new church plants. We would like your help in funding one of them. The location is in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya.”;
Kairos Benevolence Fund (KBF) — $2,000 to KBF, which provides assistance to Christian church ministers, missionaries, and their spouses, who, after a lifetime of faithful Kingdom service, find themselves facing a financial or health-related hardship that they do not have the resources to meet;
New International/Josh Reynolds — $5,000 in support of the start of Josh’s new position as the Pastor of Mobilization for New International. Writes Josh: “Our organization sends missionaries across the globe, and my division is Mobilization.”;
Polish Christian Ministries (PCM) — $8,788 toward Polish pastors’ and ministry partners’ salaries; building projects at several Polish churches; six equipping and training weekends for 125+ students at Christian School of Music; as well as food, housing, and special care for Ukrainian refugees;
Project Liberia — $5,000 toward completing a college building in Liberia, where ministry leaders will be trained;
Shepherd Community Center — $5,000 to provide expanded programming to our neighborhood students. “On behalf of everyone at Shepherd Community, thank you for your support of this vital outreach to our community,” wrote Pastor Mark Hiehle, Shepherd’s Church Development Officer, Pastoral Care & Food Strategy, this past October.
Today, the Foundation continues to provide members and friends with an opportunity to leave a long-lasting legacy of Christian service and missions through bequests, memorials, and gifts. The Foundation adheres to Christian beliefs and principles and provides a vehicle for the broader Christian community to remember Christ and give a portion of their family’s final assets or unexpected proceeds back to God.
We invite you to prayerfully consider partnering with us by donating to the E91 Foundation. While a board maintains the endowment and grants funds to qualifying entities, donors can make contributions for specific purposes or create an endowed fund. The board then uses the interest each year within the donor’s guidelines to fund missions and ministries. If you’re interested in making a donation or memorial gift to the E91 Foundation, we can accept cash, check, or an on-line donation here. If a check, please make it payable to “E91 Foundation” and mail it to: E91 Foundation, PO Box 50704, Indianapolis, IN 46250. Any Foundation board member is also able to accept donations, answer questions, and help you through the process, or you can visit www.e91foundation.org/donations/ to get more information or to contact us to help expand God’s kingdom. Please consider – if you haven’t already — leaving a lasting legacy for the support of Christian service.
As you reflect on Corrie ten Boom’s previously cited quote and the parable of the widow’s mite, are you more focused on your life’s duration or donation?
Blessings,
Blair and Beth Austin, Co-Presidents
E91 Foundation
“Excel in the Grace of Giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7)
