Local and Regional Pastors and Non-Profit Leaders Complete Gardner-Webb’s Searight PACE Grant Writing Course

Participants May Apply Credit Hours Earned Toward Master of Public Administration Degree 

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—A group of ministers and non-profit leaders from local and regional ministries recently completed the Searight PACE course, “Grant Writing for Churches and Non-Profits.” Taught by Dr. Bobbie Cox, professor and chair of the Department of Public Service, the five-part series helped participants to develop the skills and resources needed to write successful grants.

“It was my honor and pleasure to offer the Grant Writing for Churches & Nonprofits course and meet this great group of faith leaders,” Cox shared. “I was highly impressed with these participants that took the class challenges seriously, and followed-through with complete grant proposals that I believe will be successfully funded. I feel blessed that I was a part of this course!”

During each class meeting, lunch was provided for the students, and they also heard from various campus and community leaders, who shared their grant-writing experiences. The guests included:

• Dean of the School of Divinity Dr. Robert Canoy.
• Adjunct Professor, Pastor and Board of Trustees Chair the Rev. Dr. Lamont Littlejohn.
• Interim GWU president Nate Evans.
• Pastor and GWU Board of Trustees Member Ray Hardee.
• Professor of Economics and International Business Dr. Anthony Negbenebor, who also serves Gardner-Webb as the assistant vice president for Business Development and Partnerships.
• Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer Nicole Waters.

For the final class meeting, students gathered to present and discuss their grant proposals. The projects included support for substance abuse recovery, after school and youth development, prisoner reentry, resources for families in foster care, and financial literacy and education. The participants also received certificates of completion, and mementoes from the Gardner-Webb Department of Public Service.

Cox is also the director of the Gardner-Webb Master of Public Administration (MPA) program. Her instruction was based on the grant writing series of courses that are offered in the MPA program. If the attendees choose to apply to the MPA Program, the grant writing series will carry four hours of graduate level credit toward completion of their MPA degree.

Class members and their grant proposals were:

• Dr. Wendy Athens, Gardner-Webb Director of Academic Innovation & Digital Learning, substance abuse recovery for women.
• Nicole Hazen, Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland County, after school youth development.
• Brian King, Christ Church (Statesville & Hickory) Recovery Pastor, providing support to formerly incarcerated people as they find housing and work.
• Mark Lattimore, Faith, Praise & Worship Center, Forest City, N.C., mental health education for parents, churches and community.
• Charles Moses, Senior Pastor, Mountain Spring Baptist Church, Anderson, S.C., youth community development center.
• Kassidy Patrick, Mosaic Hope (small, faith-based non-profit), community resource hub for families in foster care.
• Chad Woods, Senior Pastor, Great Hope Baptist Church, Conover, N.C., financial literacy and education.

For more information about Searight PACE courses, email [email protected] or visit the website here.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.