University Awarded $60,000 Grant to Strengthen Faith-Based Leadership Development

HAWKINS, Texas — Jarvis Christian University has been awarded a $60,000 grant to launch the Ecumenical Ministry Leadership Cohort, a two-year initiative that will prepare undergraduate students for leadership in communities of faith through immersive ministry experiences, theological reflection, and partnerships with diverse congregations across East Texas.

          The grant represents a significant investment in the university’s longstanding mission of educating students for lives of Christian leadership, service, and academic excellence. The initiative will provide students with meaningful opportunities to explore vocational calling while strengthening relationships between the university and regional faith communities.

          Beginning this academic year, the program will select a cohort of undergraduate students who will participate in a carefully designed leadership experience that combines classroom instruction with hands-on ministry. Students will complete a preparatory seminar examining Christian vocation, denominational history, congregational leadership, and theological reflection before engaging in a series of mentored placements within four partner congregations.

          Over the course of the program, students will gain practical experience in worship leadership, pastoral care, community outreach, administration, and congregational life while learning from clergy and lay leaders serving as mentors. The rotational model is designed to expose students to a variety of ministry contexts while helping them develop the leadership skills necessary to serve faith communities with confidence, compassion, and purpose.

          “The Ecumenical Ministry Leadership Cohort reflects Jarvis Christian University’s commitment to developing servant leaders equipped to engage diverse communities with faith, integrity, and compassion,” said Dr. Maurice McMillion, Assistant Professor of Religion and principal investigator for the project. “By combining rigorous academic preparation with immersive congregational experiences, students will deepen their understanding of Christian vocation while developing the leadership skills necessary to serve communities of faith in meaningful ways.”

          Throughout the program, students will participate in faculty-guided theological reflection sessions that connect their congregational experiences with classroom learning, vocational discernment, and discussions surrounding justice, reconciliation, and Christian leadership. Each cohort will conclude its experience with a public capstone colloquium where students will present projects highlighting their academic growth, ministry experiences, and leadership development.

          The initiative aligns with Jarvis Christian University’s historic mission as a Christian liberal arts institution committed to educating the whole person—head, heart, and hand—while expanding opportunities for experiential learning and community engagement. Upon completion of the grant period, the university intends to institutionalize the cohort model within its Religion curriculum and continue strengthening partnerships with faith communities throughout the region.

          “This award reflects the strength of Jarvis Christian University’s commitment to faith-based leadership development,” said Rev. Dominique Isaac Grate, Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement & Development. “Through this initiative, students will have the opportunity to discern their vocational calling while engaging in meaningful service, leadership, and learning alongside communities of faith. The program also strengthens the university’s role as a convener and partner in cultivating the next generation of Christian leaders.”

          The Ecumenical Ministry Leadership Cohort will serve two cohorts of undergraduate students over the next two years, creating a sustainable model for leadership formation that advances Jarvis Christian University’s mission of preparing graduates to lead lives of faith, service, and purpose.