Vanguard Receives $1M Lilly Grant
In October 2024, Vanguard University received a $1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of its Thriving Congregations Initiative. This is the second Lilly Grant awarded to Vanguard, playing a significant role in furthering Vanguard’s vision to train and equip leaders for Hispanic and immigrant congregations within the local community, bolster the Master of Arts in Leadership Studies program, and support Vanguard’s Assemblies of God credential preparation program.
As one of just a few Christian universities with the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation, Vanguard places a strong emphasis on equipping and strengthening leadership in the immigrant and Hispanic communities in Costa Mesa. As such, the funding directly supports efforts to further train leaders, build partnerships, and collectively learn about the challenges facing Hispanic and other immigrant congregations.
Jonathan Allbaugh, Ph.D., dean of missional effectiveness at Vanguard, is enthusiastic for how the grant furthers the mission of both the university and the Jesse Miranda Center. “The Jesse Miranda Center is something that needs to be put on the forefront of our ministry preparation,” he explained, “so we can specifically look at the needs of Hispanic pastors and prepare them to lead thriving congregations.” Named after the late Dr. Jesse Miranda, who has been called the “godfather of Hispanic ministries” (Christianity Today), the Jesse Miranda Center continues the work of serving the Hispanic community where the academy, the church, and the community converge.
Strengthening Leadership Through Scholarships and Programs
In addition to bolstering the programs housed within the Jesse Miranda Center, a portion of the funding is designated to support advanced leadership training through its Master of Arts in Leadership Studies (MALS) program, which will be available in both English and Spanish as of January 2025.
The MALS program offers graduate students the opportunity to gain advanced leadership training while navigating the unique challenges of immigrant and Hispanic congregations. According to Allbaugh, there are three needs that Vanguard hopes to explore and support among Hispanic pastors and ministry leaders: “being trained for ministry, wrestling with intergenerational differences within the congregation, and the cost of educating basic pastoral ministry.”
Part of supporting the MALS program will entail funding scholarships to make it possible for a diverse range of students to access transformative theological and leadership education, empowering them to become effective and culturally competent leaders in their communities.
Additionally, the grant will support Vanguard’s Assemblies of God credential preparation program, which equips students for ministry leadership and helps them obtain the necessary credentials for serving within the Assemblies of God denomination. This program plays a vital role in equipping the next generation of church leaders, and the Lilly Grant will ensure that these students receive the training and support they need to serve effectively in their communities.
Aligning with Vanguard’s Strategic Vision
The implementation of these programs is just one way in which Vanguard is moving toward mission-aligned program development and building stronger community partnerships, all of which are pillars of the university’s Ascend 2030 Strategic Vision. The Lilly Grant will help Vanguard continue to innovate and develop relevant, responsive, and transformative educational offerings for students in both the Spanish and English programs.
“We’re putting infrastructure to our vision; I’m really proud of that,” said Allbaugh, “We’re able to bring clear action to our vision and demonstrate to outside constituents that we’re taking this responsibility seriously.”
Looking Ahead
With this grant, Vanguard is poised to make a significant impact on the leadership landscape for immigrant congregations, helping to build a pipeline of talented leaders who will be a part of what God is doing in the Hispanic church. As the need for culturally competent leadership continues to grow, Vanguard is at the forefront of providing education and spiritual growth opportunities to empower the next generation of ministry leaders.
“Most importantly, it’s what God is doing, and we want to give glory to Him for making this happen,” expressed Allbaugh.
