Fuller Seminary and the PreachFor Foundation Launch Partnership to Strengthen the Future of Church Leadership
Nashville, Tennessee, USA, September 15, 2026 – (Published jointly by the PreachFor Foundation and Fuller Seminary.)
Fuller Seminary is pleased to announce a new partnership with the PreachFor Foundation, through which it will provide rigorous theological education and spiritual formation for a PreachFor America Fellow preparing for long-term vocational ministry. An African proverb reminds us, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This collaboration, one of PreachFor’s first seminary partnerships for the fellowship’s inaugural year, reflects that conviction: that the future of the church will be strengthened when seminaries, congregations, and ministry leaders work together to identify, form, and support the next generation of pastoral leaders. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the future of the church by combining academic excellence, practical ministry experience, and intentional leadership development.
“Across the country, churches are asking who will lead the next generation of congregations, communities, and ministries. The answer is not found in institutions acting alone. It requires churches, seminaries, mentors, and generous partners working together to notice, name, and nurture God’s calling in gifted leaders,” said Fuller President David Emmanuel Goatley. “Our partnership with PreachFor embodies that conviction and gives us great hope for the future of the church.”
Founded to address the growing need for well-equipped pastoral leaders, PreachFor has created the PreachFor America Fellowship for promising emerging leaders to receive theological training, tailored mentorship, and hands-on ministry experience within local church contexts. Through the partnership, fellows can pursue graduate theological education at Fuller while serving in carefully selected ministry placements.
The partnership’s impact is already taking shape through the experience of Xaviere Jones, a member of PreachFor’s inaugural fellowship cohort. Jones, a graduate of Wheaton College, has been awarded a scholarship thanks to two generous Fuller donors and will pursue study at Fuller while serving through Brentwood Baptist Church’s ministry residency program in Tennessee.
“One of Fuller’s greatest strengths is helping students bridge the gap between theological reflection and ministry practice,” said Dr. Jeffrey Keuss, dean of Fuller’s School of Mission and Theology. “Programs like PreachFor’s create meaningful opportunities for students to be formed both in the classroom and in the life of the church.”
The collaboration comes at a time when churches across the country are seeking creative and sustainable approaches to leadership development. By bringing together seminary training, local church investment, and cohort-based mentoring, Fuller and PreachFor hope to create a model that helps emerging leaders thrive in ministry for the long term.
“Our collaboration with Fuller reflects our conviction that the church’s future depends on forming leaders who are both deeply grounded theologically and actively engaged in ministry,” said Dr. Trygve D. Johnson, executive director of the PreachFor Foundation. “We are grateful for Fuller’s shared vision and excited about what this partnership will mean for our fellows and the churches they will serve.”
As one of only two inaugural seminary partners, Fuller sees the collaboration as an opportunity to expand pathways for ministry formation while strengthening relationships between theological education and local congregations.
ABOUT FULLER SEMINARY
Fuller Seminary is a multidenominational graduate institution that has equipped visionary ministers, scholars, teachers, mental health professionals, and intercultural leaders since 1947 to share Christ’s hope and healing in the church and the world. With graduate degrees, certificate programs, and professional and personal development courses delivered through two schools and a global online community of students and learners, Fuller comprehensively prepares Jesus-led women and men to become the compassionate, resilient leaders the world needs now. Learn more at fuller.edu.
ABOUT THE PREACHFOR FOUNDATION
The PreachFor Foundation's vision is to raise a new generation of exceptional faith leaders to serve the church. In collaboration with flourishing churches and leading academic institutions, PreachFor’s flagship initiative is the PreachFor America Fellowship. It uniquely combines real-world ministry work for an emerging leader at a healthy, thriving church, intentional mentorship, and the opportunity to earn a master’s degree from either Fuller Seminary or Wheaton College’s Litfin Divinity School—all while being supported by a meaningful wage across two years. Learn more about PreachFor at preachfor.org.
