Southwest Baptist University receives $1.1M gift for center to train, support pastors

Southwest Baptist University received a $1.1 million endowed state and a portion of the gift will establish the Blair Endowed Center for Training and Pastoral Health, according to a Tuesday news release.

The center will support and encourage pastors — and other leaders in the ministry — to navigate the stress and demands related to those roles.

“The university looks forward with great enthusiasm and anticipation to the impact this center will have both locally and globally as SBU continues to send Bearcats out to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ, be on mission with a purpose and change the world for Christ,” said SBU President Rick Melson, in the release.

In addition to the learning about the Bible, the center will offer programs on preventing burnout. Other focuses will be emotional intelligence, conflict management training, business processes and managing people.

SBU was founded in 1878. The Christian liberal arts university offers more than 100 areas of academic study and undergraduate and graduate levels. The main campus is in Boliver but other campuses are located in Mountain View, Salem and Springfield.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: SBU receives $1.1M gift for center to train, support pastors