Author
Daniel Vestal
Director, Eula Mae and John Baugh Center for Baptist Leadership, Mercer University
Daniel Vestal is a Distinguished University Professor of Baptist Leadership and director of the Eula Mae and John Baugh Center for Baptist Leadership at Mercer University. From 1996 to 2012, he was the executive coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Priot to that, he was instrumental in beginning CBF in 1990-1991. He has been a pastor of Baptist churches in Texas and Georgia for 27 years and has traveled extensively as a preacher and teacher. Educated at Baylor University (B.A. and M.A.) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div. and Th.D.), he was the founding chair of trustees for the George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Vestal has written numerous articles, contributed to seven books and authored four books, including “Being the Presence of Christ: A Vision for Transformation.”
Lilly Endowment Inc. announces Exploring Christian Practices Initiative
The Exploring Christian Practices Initiative aims to multiply opportunities and increase access to settings that help individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds explore and engage in Christian practices to address their spiritual interests and questions, find and build community with others, nourish their religious lives and grow in faith.
In this open and competitive initiative, the Endowment invites charitable organizations to submit proposals for grants of up to $2.5 million each that may be used for up to a five-year period to develop new and/or enhance existing programs that present promising strategies for advancing the aim of the initiative and provide compelling and thoughtful responses to its guiding questions. The Endowment anticipates awarding approximately 60 grants and announcing grant awards in December 2026.
The Endowment will host four virtual information sessions (February 17, 19, 24, and 25) to discuss the Exploring Christian Practices guidelines for submitting a proposal. An Interest Form and Letter of Interest are due March 25, 2026. Complete proposals are due May 18, 2026.
Learn More and register for information sessions