Southeastern University in Lakeland gets $1.1 million grant for Latino church program
Southeastern University has received a $1.1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help expand the reach and impact of the Avance Initiative, a collaboration between the university’s Carrión Hispanic Leadership Center and the National Latino Evangelical Coalition.
Southeastern is one of 105 organizations to receive a grant through the Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative, the school said in a news release. The Avance Initiative is a comprehensive, year-long Christian leadership program designed to empower the next generation of Hispanic and Latino church leaders, the release said.
The National Latino Evangelical Coalition launched the initial pilot of the Avance Initiative in 2017, and with the support of the grant funds, SEU plans to expand on its existing success and formalize it as a program through the CHLC, the release said.
The program will focus on four key areas specifically tailored to address the unique needs and challenges of Hispanic and Latino congregations: emotional and spiritual health of the leader, biblical and pastoral theology in a changing world, organizational thinking and prophetic advocacy.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Southeastern U. in Lakeland gets $1.1 million grant for Latino program
