Grant Continues

The Go Tell It IN the Mountains compelling preaching initiative is gearing up for another year. This Lilly Endowment funded program focuses content, context, delivery, and digital resources for preaching.

To enhance preaching content the initiative is co-sponsoring a summer 2025 pericope text training on May 21, 2025. Rev. Dr. Allison Deforest of United Lutheran Seminary will present this training at the Lutheran Home in Hollidaysburg and on Zoom.

Specialists creating videos to better understand contest. Dr. Gil Waldkoenig of United Lutheran Seminary will cover PA Appalachian context; Ross Murray, founder and director of The Naming Project, will cover awareness to LGBTQ concerns; Mission Insite will assist congregations in understanding their specific contexts though community analysis. Sacred Playgrounds will assess those nominally connected to our faith communities through our camp and campus ministries. Kroger Assessment Team will assess our rostered leaders, Authorized Lay Worship Leaders (ALWL), and congregational leadership. Another training video is being developed to learn the basics of AI and use of AI in presenting and distributing a sermon or series of sermons.

Coaches for ALWLs will be trained by Rev. Dilip Abayasekara. New ALWLs will be offered training through Faith+Lead of Luther Seminary. In September 2025 it is the hope to have a full cohort of up to 90 preachers. This monthly cohort will focus on delivery and tools to move away from manuscript reading.

Finally, the Prayer Team has regularly been holding this initiative in prayer. If you’d like to join the Prayer team, or get more information on these programs,

Contact the Initiative Director, Rev. John Kratz, at director@alleghenysynod.com.