Ozark Christian College Receives $1 Million Lilly Grant

By Rick Cherok

Ozark Christian College‘s president, Matt Proctor, announced that the institution has been awarded a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. The aim of the initiative is to help theological schools across the United States and Canada strengthen their educational and financial capacities to prepare and support pastoral leaders for Christian congregations both now and into the future.

During the next five years, the grant will fund four strategies of Lincoln Seminary’s Lifelong Leaders Initiative:

• Launch Coaching Cohorts: Establish a structured network of coaching groups for early- and mid-career ministers, offering spiritual, personal, and leadership development through guided relationships with experienced pastors.
• Develop and Deliver Non-Credit Ministry Content: Accelerate the creation of accessible, ministry-relevant courses and seminars—delivered digitally—to equip pastors and lay leaders in theology, leadership, pastoral care, and ministry practice.
• Integrate Ministry Feedback into Theological Education: Use data from participating pastors and lay leaders to inform curriculum design and cocurricular programs, ensuring theological formation remains connected to churches’ lived realities and needs.
• Enhance Institutional Infrastructure: Expand OCC’s Idleman Ministry Center to support content delivery, program coordination, and long-term sustainability of the Lifelong Leaders Initiative.

“At Ozark Christian College and Lincoln Seminary, we train men and women for Christian service,” says President Matt Proctor, “and the Lifelong Leaders Initiative will enable us to carry out that mission within the church, offering ongoing support, education, and encouragement to ministers and lay leaders as they serve. We thank God for his continued provision to us with the Pathways for Tomorrow grant, and we’re praying that God will be honored through the Lifelong Leaders Initiative as we seek to make Christ known through the church.”

Rick Cherok serves as Managing Editor of Christian Standard, Executive Director of Celtic Christian Mission, and Director of Men’s Services at Kentucky Christian University.