Baptist University of the Américas Receives Grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Baptist University of the Américas has received a grant of $1,199,722.64 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish Proclama—a program designed to equip Hispanic pastors with the skills necessary for compelling preaching.

The effort is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s Compelling Preaching Initiative. The aim of the initiative is to foster and support preaching that better inspires, encourages and guides people to come to know and love God and to live out their Christian faith more fully.

Proclama will provide pastors with invaluable resources to enhance their ministerial capabilities. Through collaborative group sessions, pastors will cultivate engaging preaching practices. At its core, Proclama’s curriculum is meticulously crafted to empower pastors with competencies honed through collaborative peer learning dynamics. This program will not only refine preaching styles but also equip pastors to meaningfully connect with diverse audiences and communities. These communities, which grapple with bilingualism, serve diverse generations of immigrants, and navigate evolving cultural dynamics, will find in Proclama a vital resource for their spiritual journey.

“This generous support will be pivotal to the success of our Proclama program. We are truly grateful for God’s faithfulness,” asserts Dr. Abraham Jaquez, President and CEO of BUA. “We eagerly anticipate witnessing the impact this initiative will have on our pastors and the diverse communities they serve.”

Baptist University of the Américas is one of 142 organizations that are receiving grants through the Compelling Preaching Initiative. Reflecting the diversity of Christianity in the United States, these organizations are affiliated with mainline Protestant, evangelical, Catholic, Orthodox Christian and Pentecostal faith communities. Many of the organizations are rooted in Black church, Hispanic and Asian Christian traditions.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. A principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of the role religion plays in the United States and across the globe.