The Mary Elizabeth Wood Scholarship provides financial assistance to students for educational expenses. However, it is not limited to monetary aid. The scholarship provides a ministry mentoring opportunity, in which the student will complete a learning contract with the church. The recipient, with a scholarship team of representatives from Church Council and someone working in that ministry area, will construct a learning plan. The plan will be comprised of learning goals, learning objectives, and a ministry plan at First Baptist Church. The recipient will serve alongside First Baptist staff and volunteers in ministry for a specified length of time, likely one semester, two semesters or a calendar year. The goal of the experience is an increased understanding of ministry and service in the local church.

For some, the mentorship will lead into full-time church ministry. For others, the experience will simply increase understanding of ministry in the local church. As our church has discerned God’s prompting to greater involvement with students, this scholarship opens the door to equip students for ministry.

We anticipate that others will want to be involved in this endeavor. In fact, we will rely on future additional funding for this ministry to continue beyond the first year. If you are interested in donating to these mentorships, please designate your gifts to the Mary Elizabeth Wood Scholarship Fund.

Most of all, please pray for this new venture as we fine-tune the details, and pray that God will send us students whose lives and service can be enriched by opportunities to serve and learn.