The William Male Center for Seminary and Graduate Studies at Grace College & Seminary.

WINONA LAKE — Grace College & Seminary is pleased to announce it is the recipient of a new $250,000 grant from The Kern Family Foundation, bringing the total gifted from the foundation to $450,000. The grant will be used to capitalize on the growth in Grace’s accelerated seminary degree program which allows students to earn a bachelor of arts in biblical studies and a master’s in divinity in just five years.

The Kern Family Foundation, based in Waukesha, Wisc., desires to see well-educated pastors in U.S. churches. After realizing the success of their initial grant, awarded in March of 2018, the Kern Family Foundation invited Grace to write an expansion grant proposal.

“We were thrilled to see the impact of the initial grant from the Kern Family Foundation,” said John Sloat, director of the accelerated degree program in the Grace College School of Ministry Studies. “The grant enabled us to grow our program to 30 students in the first year. We are projecting to more than double that number with the expansion grant.”

The expansion grant will be used to complete three core objectives: continue to grow the accelerated seminary degree program, increase enrollment in Deploy for students ages 18 – 25, and partner with other institutions to bring a five-year accelerated program to their students. The $250,000 will provide for the hiring of a full-time program director, marketing efforts to promote the seminary programs, and spiritual formation opportunities for students.

“We believe in our programs because they equip students for ministry without obtaining insurmountable debt. The seminary is thankful to have the Kern Family Foundation as a partner to mobilize us in these efforts,” stated Dr. Freddy Cardoza, Dean of Grace Theological Seminary and the School of Ministry Studies.

For more information about the Grace College & Seminary blended seminary degree program, call (574) 372-5100, ext. 6494 or visit seminary.grace.edu/delivery-methods/accelerated/.