AGTS Pathways for Underserved Student Groups

Assemblies of God Theological Seminary at Evangel University (AGTS) is launching a comprehensive plan to expand educational pathways by increasing affordability, enhancing access, and deepening support for ministers through the support of a Pathways grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. This initiative features the “William Seymour Initiative,” which offers contextualized education for Black ministers and ministry students within the Assemblies of God and Church of God in Christ, the nation’s largest Black Pentecostal denomination, while fostering critical dialogue on race, social justice, and reconciliation and the Hispanic Initiative. The seminary has launched a master’s in leadership and ministry with this grant.  

The Rev. Dr. Sergio Navarrete, D.Min., director of Hispanic Initiatives at Evangel’s Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, explains the initiatives progress.

Briefly describe the project.

We are excited to introduce our online Spanish Master of Leadership and Ministry degree designed specifically for pastors and Hispanic leaders both in the United States and around the world. This program is the only ATS-accredited master’s degree in Spanish available to pastors within the Assemblies of God denomination, allowing our students to study remotely. Most of our students are Hispanic individuals serving in the U.S., while we also welcome a small but growing number from Central and Latin America. Notably, we have one student from Equatorial Guinea—the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God in his country—who is set to graduate this May and will then begin his doctoral studies with us, all in Spanish.

I came to the U.S. from Mexico in 1979 and was incredibly fortunate to join Fuller Seminary’s Hispanic department, where I earned my Master of Divinity. Later, I enrolled in the Doctors in Ministry program at Azusa Pacific University. At that time, the Assemblies of God did not offer these advanced degrees in Spanish. Thanks to the generous support of the Lilly Foundation, we now have that opportunity, and we are profoundly grateful for their grant.

What have you learned so far?

We recognized a significant need for this program. As a Pentecostal denomination, our global membership now exceeds 70 million, with 49% – approximately 34 million individuals – identifying as Hispanic. In the United States alone, our 3.2 million members include 24% Hispanics, and we support 2,200 Hispanic churches. Currently, only about 10-15% of our pastors hold a bachelor’s degree in theology, with most having completed a two- or three-year Bible studies diploma—a trend mirrored among pastors in Latin America.

Thanks to the Lilly grant, we now offer an accredited master’s degree specifically for Spanish-speaking pastors and ministers. This milestone has been warmly received both in the U.S. and around the world.

Our faculty for this program consists entirely of Hispanic professors who hold doctorate degrees in Bible, theology, or ministry. As experienced pastors within the Hispanic-American Pentecostal community, they bring not only substantial ministry experience and insight into the unique challenges of growing a Spanish-speaking church but also a strong scholarly background that enriches the academic environment.

We remain committed to offering a 50% scholarship to all our students – a significant advantage. For our Latin American students, where costs can be prohibitive, we have successfully reduced the course fee to $250 per course, an initiative that has proven both impactful and essential to their success.

Additionally, we must translate all our website materials into Spanish to better serve students who are not fluent in English. Although progress is underway, much of our content remains in English, making this a top priority.

We have also identified a second need regarding our library resources. While our collection primarily consists of works in English, German, or Latin, Spanish theological titles are considerably fewer. This issue is not unique to our seminary but is shared by many theological institutions nationwide that offer Hispanic programs. There is an urgent need for collaboration among these schools to develop effective strategies to support our students in their research endeavors.

What has surprised you along the way?

There is a strong interest in theological graduate education among our Hispanic pastors—many of whom aspire to earn a master’s degree. Although I was aware of this desire, seeing it firsthand has been truly enlightening. Across the U.S., thousands of Hispanic Pentecostal students are eager to advance their education, and it brings me great joy to support and nurture this ambition at AGTS.

Unfortunately, many pastors face financial challenges that make further education difficult. With most not qualifying for federal student loans, they often struggle to fund their studies. We are actively exploring solutions to help ease this burden.

At our national denominational headquarters, the Hispanic Relations Office is dedicated to supporting our ministers. We have also launched a scholarship fund that has already received over $700,000 in pledges from pastors and friends committed to helping students achieve their educational goals. While the full amount has yet to be received, contributions continue to come in monthly, and three of our students have already benefited from partial scholarships.

I have also witnessed the genuine care and commitment of our Evangel University President and the seminary's Vice President toward the Hispanic community. Their unwavering support and readiness to help have been a true blessing. I feel incredibly fortunate to have the backing of our administration, the opportunities provided by grants, and the dedication of our students and faculty.

What have been a few of your successes?

In May 2025, we will celebrate the graduation of our third Spanish master’s in leadership and ministry class. Each year, about eight to nine students complete our 36-credit master’s program, making them eligible for our ATS-accredited D.Min. program. Many of our 24 graduates have already applied for our inaugural Spanish online D.Min. degree. We anticipate enrolling at least 20 students from our seminary, and with a global announcement of the program, we expect many more applications.

Our seminary president, vice president, and dean have given their official approval to launch the D.Min. program in Fall 2025. This marks a significant milestone in our denomination’s 110-year history, as it will be the first-ever ATS-accredited D.Min. offered in Spanish – a true victory and cause for celebration.

What aspects of the project are you hopeful about?

As the Director of the Hispanic Initiative at AGTS, I envision launching a Spanish-language PhD program within the next three to five years. While our Doctor of Ministry program is commendable, there is a strong demand for a PhD that offers specializations in New Testament, Old Testament, and Missions. I am fully committed to bringing this vision to life, trusting that with God’s guidance, hard work, and dedication, it will become a reality.

I also hope to secure additional scholarships to support our students, who are in great need. Many pastors in the U.S. earn an average salary of only $35,000 to $40,000 a year and typically serve congregations of around 110 members rather than large mega-churches. Balancing family responsibilities with the pursuit of graduate education presents significant financial challenges. I believe that funding opportunities exist, and I am praying that God will lead me to connect with organizations like the Lilly Endowment Inc. Their exceptional support for AGTS and numerous other schools has been invaluable.

What are you learning that could help other schools?

The interconnectedness of the Assemblies of God – both nationally and globally – has been a tremendous benefit to me. This network is incredibly valuable, and any school with similar connections should make the most of them. With our many Bible Institutes, we can promote our programs and share information on both national and international stages. Building relationships and getting to know one another is key.

Moreover, having our top administrators actively involved in this effort has been a fantastic experience. Their commitment is evident – they genuinely want to see the Hispanic church flourish and thrive. It's essential to recognize the significance of the faculty in this process. Attempting to engage without experienced faculty members who have ties to a Hispanic church, for instance, can pose significant challenges. The classes need to be thoughtfully contextualized; simply translating material from an Anglo perspective into Spanish isn't sufficient. It requires a deeper understanding. Both the faculty and course content must be Hispanic-contextualized and tailored to align with Hispanic culture.

As a Pentecostal community of scholarship, the mission of the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary is to form servants who lead, equip the Church, and reach the world for Christ. AGTS is committed to the Pentecostal dimension of Christianity as is seen in both the belief and practice of each of its faculty members and administrators as well as the nature of its degree programs and course offerings. AGTS website