This year – 2022 – marks the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, as we continue to cautiously navigate this seemingly elusive virus, the word “perseverance” comes to mind. The dictionary (Merriam-Webster) defines perseverance as: “the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult.”
Perhaps one of the best examples of someone who persevered through adversity was Job in the Old Testament of the Bible, who said: “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord!” (Job 1:21b)
Despite the adversity posed by the pandemic, the East 91st Street Christian Church Foundation – like Job — has persevered and continues 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). During 2021, in fact, E91 Foundation awarded grants totaling $124,255.
Following are those organizations and/or individuals that received grants this past year:
Afterbeat/Netherlands — $5,000 for Mission Center/Coffee Café to minister to young people in the Netherlands;
Allendale Christian Camp and Retreat Center — $8,643 to help young people connect with God in His creation through worship, study, and adventure;
Alexander Christian Foundation — $16,000 for college scholarships to Indiana students entering the ministry and $10,000 memorial grant in honor of Jackie Long;
(THE) ARK Christian Ministries — $5,000 for double-decker ropes course, an outdoor facility where groups can be hosted during COVID-19;
BLVD Church — $10,000 for kitchen remodel to minister to neighborhood by serving meals;
CRU/Keith Spence — $5,000 for leadership training for international CRU ministry;
Christian Missionary Fellowship (CMF) International/Sheltons — $3,000 for Sheltons’ mission work in Brazil, South America;
Dave Smith/Global City Mission — $5,000 for evangelism/church planting in Phoenix, Arizona, especially reaching out to international neighbors;
E91 Church/Camp Allendale — $2,060 for summer-camp scholarships;
E91 Church/Counseling Center — $1,535 for suicide-prevention training for church staff and leadership;
E91 Church/Heritage Place — $634 to preserve the history of E91 church;
E91 Church/MICM — $5,000 was granted by the E91 Foundation to partner 50-50 with East 91st Street Christian Church to provide a total of $10,000 to Mid-India Christian Mission for oxygen cylinders and concentrators during Spring COVID surge in India;
IDES (International Disaster and Emergency Services) — $1,240 for worldwide ministry of responding to disasters;
Lar Feliz USA Foundation — $5,000 to build storage unit/structure to free up space for church services and Bible study in Brazil, South America;
Life Centers — $5,000 to provide video-streaming service of parenting/life skills to clients;
New Life Ministries – $5,000 to cover expenses related to opening of Men’s Life House;
Polish Christian Ministries — $8,643 to assist Polish Christian congregations to become healthy and growing;
Refuge for Women — $7,500 for scholarship fund for survivors of human trafficking;
Shepherd Community Center — $10,000 memorial grant in Jackie Long’s honor for “Jackie’s Corner,” an area in Shepherd’s library dedicated to children’s books and storytelling;
TCM (Taking Christ to Millions) International Institute — $5,000 to help bring TCM’s practical ministry-training program to Sierra Leone in West Africa;
Since its founding, E91 Foundation has granted more than $1.7 million to evangelical nonprofit ministries in Indianapolis and throughout the world. The generosity of our donors makes it all possible!
Incorporated in 1994, East 91st Street Christian Church started the E91 Foundation as a long-term Christian charitable entity separate from the church’s day-to-day business and budget. The Foundation was formed 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 donation via PayPal. If a check, please make it payable to “East 91st Street Christian Church Foundation.” Checks or cash may be sent via regular mail to: East 91st Street Christian Church Foundation, 6049 E. 91st Street, Indianapolis, IN 46250. You may also make a one-time donation or a legacy memorial gift via PayPal on our donation page. Any E91 Foundation board member is also able to accept donations, answer questions, or help you through the process, or you can visit our donation pages 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 we’re reminded in Galatians 6:9: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Despite the adversity Job faced, he persevered and, indeed, Job did not give up!
Blessings,
Blair and Beth Austin, Co-Presidents
E91 Foundation
“Excel in the Grace of Giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7)
Download our 2021 Year-End brochure here.
