FROM THE PRESIDENT

A More Perfect union needs the Bible

Throughout America’s history, the men and women whose lives most boldly declared the nation’s ideal of “liberty and justice for all” have drawn inspiration from Scripture. These Changemakers were empowered and emboldened by the Word of God. In its pages, they discovered eternal truths and guidance for how to live right with God and thus with one another. Changemakers then—and now— live the Word.

Join us in inspiring and equipping the Changemakers of tomorrow!

DOWNLOAD THE CASE STATEMENT
Screenshot from the ABS Transforming America video in which a young man reads the Bible while seated at an outdoor cafe table.
FROM THE PRESIDENT

A More Perfect union needs the Bible

Throughout America’s history, the men and women whose lives most boldly declared the nation’s ideal of “liberty and justice for all” have drawn inspiration from Scripture. These Changemakers were empowered and emboldened by the Word of God. In its pages, they discovered eternal truths and guidance for how to live right with God and thus with one another. Changemakers then—and now— live the Word.

Join us in inspiring and equipping the Changemakers of tomorrow!

DOWNLOAD THE CASE STATEMENT
Screenshot from the ABS Transforming America video in which a young man reads the Bible while seated at an outdoor cafe table.

A VISION FOR OUR TIME
TWO GREAT OBJECTS

The English reformer William Wilberforce—who launched the Bible Society movement—described his life’s purpose as his “two great objects.” Our vision is that we would be a nation deeply rooted in
‍
God's Word & Transformative Christian Community.

Every year, we study how America is doing on these two measures to inform our strategies and influence next steps for the Movable Middle, the 95 million adults in America who are open to the Bible.

A rendering of the outside of the FLDC.

DEEPLY ROOTED

Our State of the Bible research tracks the trends of U.S. adults and their relationship to the Bible, to one another, to material things, to suffering, to joy. We regularly inform other ministries and are cited by leading Christian media. In 2021, ABS produced a peer-reviewed journal article in collaboration with researchers at Harvard University’s T. H. Chan School of Public Health. This is what we know: people who engage with the Bible in community are transformed. Transformation lags or stalls for people who read the Bible on their own. Observations like these will be central to shaping biblical experiences.

VIBRANT COMMUNITY

As measured by Harvard University’s Human Flourishing Index, the more Bible-centered people are, the more they, and in turn our country, flourish or experience a life marked by:

- More happiness and life satisfaction
- Improved mental and physical health
- Deep meaning and purpose in life
- Strengthened character and virtue
- Satisfying personal relationships

A rendering of the outside of the FLDC.
A plan for today

A THREE STRAND STRATEGY

The right strategy for our time is to organize around today’s two great objects, and—with partners—articulate a great cause to accelerate a national effort.

An illustration of the Discovery Center exterior.

ADVOCACY

Shape cultural narratives by framing a transcendent cause in language for today, using story to influence perceptions of the church through research and the impact of local Changemakers. We’ll start by linking to church networks, and with them convene a national coalition of the motivated.

learn more ⟶
An rendering of the Discovery Center lobby.

EXPERIENCES

Engage and involve hands-on experiences, providing tested tools and approaches for local and national church networks to quickly identify their unique “Spiritual DNA” and the right “next steps” to take, either as a church or an individual. Incorporate our trauma healing and prayer networks as first users.

learn more ⟶
An illustration of the Discovery Center exterior.

INNOVATION

Inform and Innovate using research to spot obstacles and opportunities for Scripture engagement. Possible actions include convening solution providers and “hackathons,” speeding time to market with a focused“Innovation Fund,” and showcasing new approaches in ABS’s ChangeLab.

learn more ⟶
FINANCIAL PARTNERS

INVEST IN
CHANGEMAKING

An introduction to investing in change through The Changemakers Project.

BRINGING FAITH & LIBERTY INTO PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM

A Public-School Curriculum based on Faith and Liberty content is under development with Bible Literature Online (BibLit) to supplement their First Amendment-friendly program for in-person and online classrooms.

LAUNCHING THE TEACHER TRAINING INSTITUTE

FLI’s planned Teacher Training Institute will offer professional continuing education experiences for “Master Teachers” at middle schools and high schools.

PROPELLING FAITH & LIBERTY PUBLICATIONS

The Project will develop a suite of tailored Scripture engagement educational products and curricula for the general public, church congregations, intermediate and secondary school students, teachers in public and private settings, and colleges and universities.

RAISING BIBLE VISIBILITY

Drawing from a network of scholars from the United States and beyond, FLI’s Affiliated Scholars and Think Tanks seek to raise the visibility of the Bible as a civilizational force of freedom by fostering conversation through research and scholarship, teaching, and commentary in news and social media outlets.

LAUNCHING A LECTURE SERIES

The Faith and Liberty Lecture Series will feature 10 events per year. Led by scholar advisors and other friends of FLI, the named lecture series will take the message “Faith Guides Liberty Towards Justice” to cities nationwide in partnership with churches and other organizations.

DRIVING SCRIPTURE ENGAGEMENT THROUGH PERFORMANCE ART

The power of a good story can be enhanced through Artistic Expressions.

LAUNCHING THE INNOVATION INVESTORS FUND

The fund will generate grants in the areas of Advocacy (storytelling/media), Technology, and Experiences (involvement). Grants will be given for R&D, growth, and scaling of promising ideas that are seeking to tackle the obstacles and needed breakthroughs related to Scripture engagement.

EMPOWERING MINISTRIES WITH RICH INSIGHTS FOR INNOVATION

Because Insight informs Innovation, existing ABS Ministries and external partners will be able to apply for Insight Grants.

HELPING CHURCHES BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR CURRENT STATE

The State of the Bible Church Assessment guides individual churches and ministries through a deep assessment of their current state, congregational needs, and revealed depth of Scripture engagement.

UNDERSTANDING THE STATE OF THE BIBLE

The annual State of the Bible (SOTB) national research is in its eleventh year, and delivers an ever-increasing resource trove for churches, ministries, publishers, and media for assessing the trends of Bible engagement across the country and in their audience.

SHARING OUR INSIGHTS AND EXPERTISE

We serve the Church by sharing research findings and bright spots through webinars, podcasts, digital trainings, etc.

STRENGTHENING AND EQUIPPING CHURCHES

The annual Innovation Partners Conference gathers ministry partners, church leaders, innovators, and influencers to dig into the challenges facing, and the needs of, churches and ministries in America.

PROVIDING CONTEXTUAL TRAUMA HEALING RESOURCES

You can help provide Contextual Trauma Healing Resources for an area that is of concern to you. Once developed, these resources can be used by many.

EXPANDING THE EXPERIENCE MEDIA LIBRARY

We will need to be continually adding new Experience Media training resources for implementing experiences in one’s own community.

ACTIVATING SCRIPTURE ENGAGEMENT ACROSS THE DIGITAL UNIVERSE

Drawing new Changemakers into the movement will require a robust Digital Media Outreach Strategy that will put the right Changemakers story in front of the right user at the right time to help provide a winsome invitation to discover how the Bible can make a difference in one’s life.

LAUNCHING THE CHANGEMAKERS DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM

The digital hub to tell Changemakers Stories, point to Changemakers Experiences, and test Changemakers Innovations will be the Changemakers Digital Ecosystem.

CONVENING THE EXPERIENCE PARTNERS CONFERENCE

We will gather ministry partners and church leaders annually for an Experience Partners Conference to listen to the needs of the church, ideate to determine needed innovations in experience development, share best practices, convene think tanks, and report back our findings.

USING DATA AND INTELLIGENCE TO DELIVER PERSONALIZED SCRIPTURE ENGAGEMENT CONTENT

Guests will reflect on the inspirational content collected in their digital lamps.

LAUNCHING TRAUMA HEALING IN YOUR CITY

Create the digital ecosystem and tools, and pilot engagement experiences for the Changemakers digital hub

EXPANDING THE FAITH & LIBERTY PODCAST

The Faith and Liberty Rediscovered Podcast is a 24 episode per year media offering of the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center telling the story of past Changemakers and highlighting how we can live differently by the example they set.