A MOMENT FOR MISSION
"Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path. … I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." -- Psalm 27:11a, 13, NRSV
Education is at the forefront of our lives. When children are young, parents analyze school districts and sometimes relocate to insure the best possible education. As children grow older, parents examine their sons' and daughters' interests and consider what activities would prepare them for the moment they apply for college.
Education is not only a value in our surrounding culture; it is also a part of us realizing fully who God created us to be. It helps us to understand and appreciate the complex world God created and with this understanding, to love God with our heart, soul, strength and mind.
African-American students earn only 15 percent of bachelor's degrees, quite a disproportion in comparison with our population. The United Methodist Black College Fund helps close this gap. Supporting 11 historically Black United Methodist colleges and universities through our apportionments allows young people to have opportunities for an education that might otherwise be out of reach. They study to become teachers, doctors, pastors, bishops, judges, artists, entrepreneurs and more.
Samuel DuBois Cook, president emeritus of Dillard University in New Orleans, writes, "Black colleges are also sources and catalysts of leadership for the church, culture and the professions, as well as shining examples of cultural pluralism, educational diversity, integrity, justice, humanistic consciousness and ethical sensitivity, and the liberal arts tradition. They effectively and passionately bridge the communities of faith and learning."
OFFERTORY PRAYER
God of hope, grant that we may demonstrate our love for you and our neighbors. Open our hearts to your guidance that we may make a way for opportunities for all of our children to live out their gifts and callings. Amen.
From Discipleship Ministries: Second Sunday in Lent - Dear God, our Savior, you grant us citizenship in heaven. In your Son Jesus, we find peace and freedom from the consumerism of this world. May our minds be set not on earthly things, but on your ultimate purposes. Help us to place our hope in you. In trust, we dedicate these gifts for your service. Let more people come to know your saving help in Christ, our Lord. Amen. (Philippians 3:17 – 4:1)
NEWSLETTER NUGGET
The United Methodist Black College Fund nurtures students to increase their knowledge and to experience spiritual growth as they pursue undergraduate and graduate education.
Students who attend colleges and universities that the Black College Fund supports regularly serve their communities. They are doctors providing medical care in underserved areas, clergy and lay leaders within our churches and young people working to ease racial tension.
The face of these institutions has changed over the years to include richly diverse student bodies. However, the guiding principle underlying the need for the Black College Fund has remained the same: to create opportunity for students for whom education might otherwise be unattainable and to raise leaders who can model living together as children of God.
The historically black colleges and universities of The United Methodist Church, far out of proportion to their numbers and financial resources, educate some of the world's most active and popular leaders – preachers, district superintendents and bishops; college professors and presidents; general agency staff; and legislators and community leaders.