The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship received a $750,150 grant from the Lilly Endowment to create a program that will help ministers who are serving their first church after seminary.

Previous Lilly grants have totaled $4 million.

The CBF Fellows Program will include peer learning, coaching, mentoring and networking.

The program is expected to increase retention of ministers,  foster a greater sense of community among the young ministers and to help re-energize experienced ministers who serve as supervisors and mentors.

The process for applying for the CBF Fellows Program will be announced in the spring.