The Academy of Preachers was launched with the vision of its founder and president, Dr. Dwight A. Moody, supported by a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment of Indianapolis, Indiana. Since its launch in January 2009, the Academy of Preachers has worked to Identify, Network, Support, and Inspire the next generation of Young Preachers.

During the first 18 months the work of the Academy was hosted by St. Matthews Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. In 2010, the Academy occupied office space at the Middletown Christian Church, on the east end of Louisville, Kentucky. Through our growing network of Founding Partners and National Partners, and by offering opportunities such as the Young Preachers Leadership Team, the Summer Preaching Camps, and the National Festival of Young Preachers, the Academy has influenced the lives of more than 400 young Christian preachers from across the country.

In the inaugural year, Morehouse College of Atlanta pioneered the Campus Festival, and Campbellsville University developed the festival-enriched preaching course. Now both of these strategies of encouraging Young Preachers are being used by other schools around the country to strengthen campus preaching programs and undergird the National Festival of Young Preachers. During 2011 no fewer than 10 campus festivals (or denominational festivals) for young preachers in such states as Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia, and Texsas. The Academy has developed resources for hosting such events, and these are available to any institution or organization for $200 in what we call a “Festival in a Box.”

Also during 2010 and again in 2011 highly successful fund-raising campaigns were launched, supplementing the support of the Lilly Endowment. Individual, congregational, and organizational donors are sought to under gird the work of the Academy. Currently, the Lilly Endowment provides about 2/3 of the resources needed for the work. Appeal is made to others to sustain the work of the Academy of Preachers. Those who give directly to the Academy become members of the Gospel Preaching Society. In addition to direct support, many institutions contribute to the work of the Academy by supporting the involvement of their faculty, staff, and students.

In 2010, the Academy added Rev. Lee Huckleberry to the staff as executive director; he works from the Middletown office, directs research, assessments, and publications, and oversees the finances. In late summer of 2011 Rev. Wyndee Holbrook joined the team as Lead Gospel Catalyst. She represents the Academy to our constituents in the Interstate 75 corridor, from Cincinnati to Knoxville. She also directs the AoP Gospel Catalyst Network around the country, young preachers who serve as advocates, mentors, and representatives for the Academy of Preachers. Late in 2011, the Academy also brought Ms. Charissa Acree to the leadership team as Director of Marketing and Communications; she assumed management of the AoP office and oversight of the preaching festivals.

The Academy is proud of its presence on the world wide web, Facebook, and Twitter. The year 2012 will see a major expansion of these initiatives, contining our efforts to use social media to engage the generation of young adults. The Academy also published its first book in 2010, A Beautiful Thing: Sermons from the Inaugural Festival of Young Preachers! This unique volume contains the preaching of high school, university and seminary students and may be the only book like it in print. A second volume, Waking to the Holy: Sermons from the 2012 Festival of Young Preachers containing the sermons from the second National Festival of Young Preachers was premiered during the 2012 National Festival of Young Preachers. Both books are now available for purchase: $10 for A Beautiful Thing and $25 for Waking to the Holy.

The 2012 promises a continuation of the expansion of the Academy, with campus or regional festivals now planned for Texas, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, New York, Kansas and Tennessee. The Academy continues to seek National Partners, aiming toward the goal of 100 partners by the end of the year. The Academy has contracted with Ashley, Rountree and Associates of Louisville to assist with development needs. Late in 2011, the Academy received a $1,275 million, three year grant from the Lilly Endowment; these funds provide approximately two thirds of the funding needs of the Academy and individuals, organizations, and foundations are sought to help underwrite the mission and programs of the Academy.