Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary has received the largest grant in the history of Fresno Pacific University—$10 million, awarded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc., as announced in December 2025. The grant will directly support the seminary’s ability to train pastors for ministry within the Mennonite Brethren conference and beyond. It is a collaborative grant, so a portion of the grant helps strengthen the relationship of the seminary to several partnering institutions, especially the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.
Throughout its history, Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary (and its predecessor, Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary) has worked in partnership with USMB and most directly with the Pacific District Conference. Countless pastors, missionaries, teachers and counselors have been trained at the seminary for kingdom work in Mennonite Brethren churches and agencies and in many contexts beyond that.
The new Lilly Grant will significantly increase the seminary’s capacity to build on and expand this legacy. The grant will fund a new faculty position in Bible and theology as well as increased practical training and coaching of students by trusted ministry partners.
New seminary degree program
The Lilly Grant will also fund the development of a new seminary degree program. This new degree will be designed to serve busy pastors who would benefit from seminary education, especially if they are in co-vocational ministries and not paid for full-time work by their congregations. Within this new degree, Mennonite Brethren students will be taught Bible and theology by professors directly selected and approved by USMB conference leadership.
In addition to the new degree program, non-degree based educational programs will be offered by the seminary and its partners. Hispanic MB churches will especially benefit, as these programs will be designed for pastoral students serving in both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking contexts.
Half of the Lilly Grant ($5 million) will provide matching funds to create a substantial endowment. This part of the grant is contingent on the seminary raising additional funds that the Lilly Grant will match 3-to-1. In the end, an endowment of over $6.65 million will provide numerous scholarships that will significantly reduce the cost of a seminary education for generations to come.
In an age when many seminary students are already in ministry, where student loans are becoming harder to obtain and where many pastors are co-vocational, scholarship help is the only thing that makes a seminary education possible. All these initiatives will strengthen the seminary’s effectiveness in training kingdom workers for Mennonite Brethren churches and beyond and thus increase the seminary’s capacity to serve the USMB conference effectively for decades to come.
But there is an even more direct and immediate benefit to the USMB conference. As one of the seminary’s ministry partners, USMB is receiving funds from this grant for leadership training initiatives. These will include strategic planning events, directly funding the production costs for new and revised publications and video resources for USMB. It will also support the costs of seminary employees engaging directly with MB churches and institutions. It is a win-win-win scenario for USMB, for the seminary in Fresno and especially for a revitalized collaborative relationship between the two.
Words from USMB leaders
In preparing this article, I asked several USMB leaders to comment on what the Lilly Grant contributes to the USMB and seminary partnership. Here are some responses:
Aaron Box, USMB national director, says: “I look forward to more training possibilities for MB ministry leaders. I am particularly thankful for FPU’s desire to lean in with our conference, involving our leadership in the selection of professors. Providing training tailored for co-vocational pastors will serve a significant need in our conference.”
Jordan Ringhofer, Pacific District Conference minister, says: “Through collaboration with our seminary, USMB family and other ministry partners, the Lilly Grant is providing us with an incredible opportunity to re-engage with and build upon our MB heritage. Not only will we have MB leaders training the next generation of MB leaders, but we’ll also be providing these leaders with new tools and resources needed to navigate our complex and ever-changing ministry landscape.”
I personally am so very grateful for this seminary-church partnership. I retired after teaching at the seminary for 37 years, but I continue to be engaged as an adjunct professor, as a member of the Board of Trustees and as a volunteer in other ways. When the seminary thrives, the church thrives. When the church thrives, the seminary thrives. At least that is how it should be.
Now that a large grant will help fund initiatives in both contexts, there is a bright future for the collaborative relationship that has always been important to the seminary. Though the relationship has sometimes been strained along the way, it is being rebuilt, step by step, all for the sake of God’s glory and to increase our capacity to do kingdom work, so that God’s will may be done on earth as in heaven.
Endowment matching opportunity
As part of this award, Lilly Endowment Inc. is offering a matching challenge. Every $1 you give is matched with $3, up to $5 million. To unlock the full match, Fresno Pacific must raise $1.65 million.
Meeting this challenge enables the seminary to benefit from endowed support immediately, expanding scholarships, faculty resources and student access for years to come.
Your gift today will have a multiplied impact on the leaders God is raising up for faithful service.
Tim Geddert served as professor of New Testament at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary in Fresno, California, until his retirement in May 2023. He is a member of the U.S. Conference Board of Faith and Life.
