ENCORE Ministry Executive Director Kent McNish announced the Bill and Lynn McAlilly Fund for Church Accessibility at the inaugural Tennessee-Western Kentucky (TWK) Annual Conference June 15-17, 2022. During the announcement, McNish presented a check for $500,000 from ENCORE Ministry to establish the fund. The goal is to build the fund to $750,000 by September 2024.

“ENCORE Ministry wants to build this fund over the next three years,” McNish said, “so that in January 2025, ENCORE Ministry can access the interest from the fund and provide matching church accessibility grants to TWK churches in honor of Bill and Lynn McAlilly.”

In the past, church accessibility grants have been given to numerous TWK Conference churches and facilities to make them accessible to older adults so that they may fully participate in church activities. Recipients include Arlington UMC in Nashville to help renovate building damage sustained from 2021 flooding and St. Matthew’s UMC in Memphis to help renovate a fitness room for senior adults in the church and community.

ENCORE Ministry created the fund to acknowledge Bishop McAlilly’s 43-year career in ministry and his retirement scheduled for September 2024.

“Lynn and I are filled with gratitude for this promising goal of making our congregations accessible to all persons. The generosity of ENCORE Ministry to honor us in this way will also make a difference in the lives of persons who long to share in the fellowship and worship with their congregations. Making church facilities accessible will be a difference maker for these persons who are among us,” said Bishop Bill McAlilly.

Churches and individuals can make contributions to this fund honoring the McAlilly’s by visiting https://encoreministry.kindful.com/.

About ENCORE Ministry

ENCORE Ministry, the official older adult ministry of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky (TWK) Conference, provides older adult ministry resources, leader training, church consultations, and matching grants to equip TWK churches for ministry by, with, and for older adults. It receives no apportionment funding from the conference. TWK churches receive ENCORE Ministry services at no cost. Since 2013, grants totaling $783,880 have been given to churches in the conference. Proceeds from this year’s special Sunday offering on September 11 — or any Sunday that’s convenient for churches — will be added to the McAlilly Fund.