'I now feel prepared to come home to serve'

[caption id="attachment_873" align="aligncenter" width="196" caption="Rev. John Blount and family on graduation day - Candler School of Theology, May 2012"][/caption] I want to thank each of the donors of the Stegall Seminary Scholarship Endowment Foundation for their support over the last three years.  Over that time at the Candler School of Theology, I have experienced spiritual transformation and growth in unexpected measures. When I received the call to ordained ministry and enrolled in seminary, I did not know what to expect.  Initially, I feared I would have to bear the financial burdens and spiritual journey alone.  I did not know how I was going to get through the challenges, but trusted in God's providence. Dr. Stegall assured me the church was here to help.  He told me the Stegall Seminary Scholarship Foundation would do everything it could to ensure my success as I prepared for a lifetime of ministry.  Through their contributions and commitment, I felt God's caring and nurturing hand in my life.  Additionally, I felt a deep sense of connection with the church who was sending me forward and who I now feel prepared to come home to serve.  To them, my family and I will be forever grateful... -John Overton Blount, First United Methodist Church-Montgomery, Ala.