BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) -- An international student ministry that partners with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has hired a staff member to spearhead a new initiative to help theologically moderate churches discover God’s calling for both clergy and laity.

Jennifer Herron, a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary with several years experience in curriculum development and summer camps, will oversee the Echo Initiative, a four-year project by Passport, Inc., to produce both curriculum and programs for children and youth funded by a $750,000 grant from the Lilly Foundation

Jennifer Herron

Herron formerly worked as program coordinator for UrbanPromise Ministries in Camden, N.J.; director of children’s ministry at Faith Presbyterian Church in Medford, N.J.; and team leader for Metro Ministries International in Brooklyn, N.Y. She worked as an apprentice with Urban Neighbors of Hope in Melbourne Australia in 2003-2004.

“Jennifer has worked in the trenches and appreciates what it means to create theologically thoughtful curriculum that is still practical and versatile enough to work in a variety of settings,” Burroughs said.

The initiative will focus on the idea that no matter what students choose to do with their lives vocationally, they can minister to others. Immediate plans include Bible school material for children and Bible studies for youth.

Herron earned a master’s degree in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary in 2003. She received a certificate in youth and theology from Princeton Theological Seminary and is working on a second master’s degree from Azusa Pacific University that she expects to complete next year.

She moved recently from New Jersey to Birmingham, Ala., and began working for Passport in April.

Passport, a non-profit ministry started 20 years ago by husband-and-wife team David and Colleen Burroughs, received the Lilly Grant late last year. While it was the ministry’s first direct grant, Passport has worked with Lilly before with the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond and the Samuel Project.

Bob Allen is managing editor of Associated Baptist Press.

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