Raising Up Future Pastors

At Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA), we believe in training, mentoring, and supporting students who are ready to make a difference for Christ. Today, future spiritual leaders must be rooted in love, humility, compassion, and truth before they begin serving others. In this month's issue of Heart and Soul, Dr. Bryan Froehle, professor of practical theology, shares how PBA's growing focus on pastoral formation is critical to a growing, multicultural region like South Florida.

Ours is one of the most culturally diverse, spiritually complex regions in the nation, and if we are to reach and serve this region for Christ, the need for well-formed, faithful pastors has never been greater. As a Christ-first university, PBA has a responsibility to do its part to raise up the next generation of pastors and Christian leaders.

More than 25 years ago, PBA established its School of Ministry with this purpose in mind. The 2013 launch of the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program, the gold standard for pastoral formation, marked a major milestone. Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, the MDiv laid the foundation for a growing range of graduate programs designed to meet the needs of the Church. Since this time, new degrees followed: the Master of Arts in Christian Studies, Philosophy of Religion (Apologetics), Intercultural Studies (Missiology), Community Transformation and Chaplaincy, and a PhD in Practical Theology. Each was developed with one question in mind: How can we best serve those God is calling into ministry today?

Partnerships with Purpose

This question has led to incredible opportunities for partnership and support. In recent years, PBA has received significant grants from Lilly Endowment Inc. to strengthen pastoral formation. These grants enable PBA to support future leaders of the Black Church, equip pastors as co-vocational chaplains for hospitals and communities, and invest in the next generation of preachers.

In December 2025, PBA was awarded a $10 million Lilly Endowment grant to strengthen congregational leadership through a cooperative for theological education among seminaries and institutions in South Florida. The grant is designed around three initiatives that will bring together those preparing for ministry within specific Christian traditions for advanced formation, as well as chaplaincy and pastoral care training and cross-institutional learning to deepen program effectiveness.

A People-First Approach

But grants and programs are only part of our story. What truly defines PBA is its people. Students, both young and old, come to PBA responding to a sense of calling and leave shaped for a lifetime of ministry. Faculty, new and veteran, make sure their teaching is always fresh and engaging. Together, they reflect a shared vision: to serve Christ and His Kingdom faithfully.

Rooted in Christ

In our culturally diverse South Florida, we need one thing to bring us together, and that one thing is the cause of Christ and His Kingdom. More than ever, PBA is at the ready to work with all who are called to raise up the next generation of pastor-leaders. By training pastors in the beauty and power of God's Word, entering ever more deeply in the Christian theological tradition so necessary for sound preaching and teaching, and being formed spiritually, as praying men and women, attentive to the call of Christ in their lives and those they serve, PBA is responding to God's vision of a future full of hope. As we say to our students, now is the time to rise to the call!

We are only just beginning: our vision is to form many more students, serve many more congregations, and engage the generosity of people who care to support our mission and match the generous support received thus far.

May we all rise to the call!

Dr.Froehle is professor of practical theology and director of the Ph.D. in practical theology program in PBA's School of Ministry. He is the immediate past president of the Association of Professors of Mission and widely published on practical theological methods, contextual ecclesiology, and congregational studies.