Foundation presents $550K grant to Evangel

A Wisconsin foundation has awarded a $550,000 grant to the consolidated Assemblies of God Theological Seminary at Evangel University.

AGTS and Central Bible College merged with Evangel in May 2013, with the Evangel name surviving.

The grant from the Kern Family Foundation in Waukesha, Wis., supports the costs associated with a five-year master of divinity degree, a program targeted toward new students with high grade point averages and good references, said Dorothea Lotter, director of institutional and alumni relations for AGTS at Evangel.

She said the grant would cover the fifth year of tuition for students accepted into the program; assessment, promotion and recruitment costs; leadership development, including retreats and personal mentoring; and field education, including hand-on experience with organizations such as Convoy of Hope.

"If they have the academic capacity, we can help them fast-track through the undergrad and the master's program by condensing some of the requirements in the middle," Evangel spokesman Paul Logsdon said. "It would save them at least a year."

The university tapped David Bundrick, AGTS academic dean and dean of of the Evangel school of theology and church ministries, to lead the master's program, according to a news release.

“We believe we must be more intentional in our efforts to identify and commit to the formation of younger pastoral leaders called to serve local congregations with ever increasing effectiveness,” said AGTS President Byron Klaus, vice president of the consolidated Evangel, in the release. “With the catalytic impact of this grant, we will be able to create a clear path for young pastoral leaders to enter a lifetime of ministry leadership with minimal student debt, adequate professional competency and a clear supporting network of pastoral, institutional and denominational leadership."