As our children prepare to go back to school, there are also seven of our United Methodist institutions here in Virginia - Virginia Wesleyan, Ferrum, Shenandoah, Randolph-Macon College, Randolph-Macon Academy, Randolph, and Emory & Henry - and over 100 others across the world preparing for the beginning of a new school year. This year, hundreds of students are headed to a college campus in part because of scholarships awarded by the United Methodist Church.
Our church has a proud heritage of involvement with education. The first Methodists got their start as the Holy Club, a group of Oxford University students led by John and Charles Wesley who sought to grow both in faith and service to those in need. The early Methodist, United Brethren, and Evangelical Association churches (which later joined to form the UMC) in America began founding schools to provide educational opportunities for their children. Over the course of its history, the UMC founded over 1,200 educational institutions.
Today, we continue to support higher education through our UM-affiliated schools, scholarships for our students, and Wesley Foundations on college campuses. Our apportionments that we send to the conference and denomination help to support some of these ministries. One of our most vital educational ministries is Africa University in Zimbabwe, a university that offers opportunities for students from across the African continent so that they may work for peace and justice in their often impoverished and sometimes politically and economically unstable homelands. Here at Mount Clinton, we have our own higher education ministry in the Ray Scholarship for members pursuing education after they graduate high school.
Higher education is an important part of our heritage as a denomination, and but the importance of education goes beyond high school and college. Continuing to learn throughout our lives is an crucial part of a vital life of faith. As this new school year begins, these weekly postings are offered as one opportunity for us all to learn and grow. Feel free to post any comments or any questions you have, because that is how we all learn together.
May God, the source of all knowledge and wisdom, help you learn something new and grow in faith today!
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ReplyDeleteEducation is the most important and significant treasure we can have in our lives - not money nor wealth - but education. It may seem that only those who has money can educate themselves. But, we can actually share and educate others who are willing to learn and be educated only if we are also willing to help them. Most of us suffer because we lack proper education - and I think proper guidance and education is the only way to solve our society issues, problems and a lot more. ethics and compliance solutions
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