Convención receives $1.5 million Lilly Endowment grant

Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas—in collaboration with the National Hispanic Baptist Network—received a $1.5 million Lilly Endowment grant.

The grant will support “Adelante: Developing Capacity in Service of Hispanic Congregations and Leaders,” a project being developed in collaboration with the National Hispanic Baptist Network.

Convención received the grant through the Lilly Endowment’s National Initiative to Strengthen Hispanic Pastoral Leaders and Congregations. Its aim is to support and strengthen Hispanic pastoral leaders and congregations and build and expand the capacities of organizations and networks that support their ministries.

The grant will fund key leadership positions in both organizations, including a full-time executive director and a communications/development director for the national network.  Convención will hire a director of development to focus on fundraising and relationship-building.

Convención will launch its Young Latino Leaders Development Initiative—designed to provide an opportunity for young Latino Baptist leaders to experience a year-long cohort experience focused on personal development and a ministry project in their community.

Participants will be trained and certified by the Hispanic Leadership Academy in collaboration with the Center for Hispanic Leadership.

The Young Latino Leaders experience culminates with a retreat in Washington, D.C., exposing the young leaders to various organizations and leaders working to address issues impacting their Hispanic communities.

“This investment by Lilly Endowment will significantly increase Convención’s capacity in the areas of leadership, finance and administration,” said Jesse Rincones, executive director of Convención. “We’re especially excited about being able to invest in the next generation of leaders.”

Partnership Development funds will allow the national network to partner with state and regional leaders to leverage training opportunities, pastoral health, church revitalization and other efforts. The National Hispanic Baptist Network plans to engage the services of Generis Solutions. Generis will provide a development assessment of strengths, gaps, opportunities and recommended steps for long-term growth and sustainable development performance.

“The National Hispanic Baptist Network is very grateful to the Lilly Endowment for this grant through Convención Bautista Hispana of Texas,” said Bruno Molina, executive director of the National Hispanic Baptist Network.

“This grant will help us to work with Convención Bautista Hispana of Texas to develop our capacity for long-term sustainability as we connect on mission, contribute resources, and celebrate what God is doing among us. In particular, we look forward to strengthening our pastors and their families through the establishment of a pastoral support initiative and the development of our emerging leaders. To God be the glory!”

Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas is one of 23 organizations from across the United States receiving grants through the Lilly Endowment’s initiative, including congregations, denominational agencies, church networks, theological schools, colleges and universities, and parachurch organizations, among others.