November 29—United Methodist Student Day (Today)/First Sunday of Advent
A Moment for Mission
“I thank my God always for you, because of God’s grace that was given to you in Christ Jesus. That is, you were made rich through him in everything.” —1 Corinthians 1:4-5a, CEB
The second of five children, Adazia Mellott grew up in a small house. She loved being around other people.
“My dad is a pastor, and my mom is the secretary of our church,” Mellott said, “so I thrived the most at my church, Runville United Methodist, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. My faith developed increasingly because of my church family’s constant support and the opportunities I was given.
“I started doing volunteer work and making good friends from a young age,” Mellott recalled. “The best part is having a church family who has been there for me and my family from the very beginning. I’ve definitely been challenged to go out of my comfort zone when leading certain activities or being a good role model, but I’m grateful for that.”
When Mellott’s dad encouraged her to apply for church scholarships, she learned about the United Methodist Student Day Gift of Hope Scholarship.
“God calls us to bear each other’s burdens and encourage one another,” Mellott said. “By giving on this day, the church is supporting fellow members of the body to grow through education by helping alleviate the financial burden. The more you learn, the more aware you are of the world and what you can do to better it for Christ.
“After college, I want to go out into the field in whatever opportunity God presents to me. I’m trusting him to guide me, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Offertory Prayer
Loving God, thank you for your grace given to us through Christ Jesus. Inspire us to share our many blessings to transform lives around the world. In your name, we pray. Amen.
From Discipleship Ministries: First Sunday of Advent – Great God of wonderful surprises: we enter this season of preparation for your Son’s coming, looking not for just a memory of past events, but anticipating a return. We strive to get our lives in order and pray that our giving of ourselves to these preparations might reflect the earth-shaking importance of his coming. Help us to give ourselves generously, for we do not know the day or the hour. We pray in the name of the one who will come. Amen. (Mark 13:24-37)
Newsletter Nugget
“When I started searching for possible colleges to attend,” Adazia Mellott said, “cost was a big factor. Her clergy dad encouraged her to visit Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, about three hours from her home.
“I immediately fell in love,” she said. She applied for—and received—a Gift of Hope Scholarship, made possible through the United Methodist Student Day offering.
“I owe it all to the people who gave to me through these scholarships,” Mellott continued, “because, without them, I wouldn’t have been able to choose the college God intended for me.”
Participating in mission journeys with her church family fueled her passion for missionary work.
Mellott’s dream is to become a missionary nurse.
“I want to show other people the love of Christ,” she said. “There’s a lot of injustice in the world, and shining light in a broken person’s life can make all the difference.
Please give generously on United Methodist Student Day. Thank you!
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