Back in 1998, Sarah Wilke and Dr. Leighton K. Farrell came up with Project Transformation (PT) over lunch one day. The idea was to create a program that would “address three unique challenges: 1) how to meet the academic, physical, social-emotional and spiritual needs of children; 2) how to provide meaningful ways for college-age young adults to explore ministry opportunities and develop as young principled leaders for the church and the world; and 3) how to help churches connect with their communities.”
A few months later it was up and running, “with financial and in-kinds support from the annual conference and key partners, such as Texas Methodist Foundation, Southern Methodist University and Perkins School of Theology.”
That first summer it had 22 college interns (aka PT Corps Members) serving at five urban site church locations, providing a summer day camp for 250 underserved children. Over the years it has grown to serve “11 site churches with 135 PT Corps Members providing both after-school and summer programs for approximately 1,100 children and youth, grades 1-9 annually” in North Texas alone.
It was in 2005 that Dallas native son Eric Lindh, who had taught at Shelton School and worked at Overture Center for the Arts, came on board as PT North Texas executive director. Over 10 years, he not only grew the North Texas program, but in 2015 “secured the initial grant to form the national organization of PT” and became its CEO.
As a result, PT National’s network has more than 30 employees and approximately 200 young adults who implement PT programs for more than 7,500 children and youth in churches and communities with chapters in Arkansas, Central Texas, North Texas, Oklahoma, Rio Texas, Tennessee and Washington D.C.
Today it was announced that Eric has told his staff that he will be leaving PT after being named Equest’s CEO.
According to Eric, “It has been a tremendous honor and privilege to serve Project Transformation at the local and national level over the past 19 years. Words cannot express my deep appreciation and gratitude for the support I have received from so many people over the years to further advance Project Transformation’s mission. I will forever cherish the relationships that I have formed with the staff, young adults, board members, and partners during this journey. Like so many others who are a part of the Project Transformation family, I too am leaving transformed.”
Since the departure of Myrshem George as Equest CEO in January, Lisa Loy Laughlin has served as interim CEO while the board undertook a search for a permanent replacement.
While Eric will assume his new role on Monday, July 1, PT National Program VP Casey Mellody will serve as interim CEO as the PT board launches a search for the next CEO.