[caption id="attachment_422" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Jay, Susan, Ella Cate, and Caroline"]
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“On a brilliant Fall day in 2008, I called Dr. Karl Stegall to share the news with him that I had decided to answer God’s call into ordained ministry, and would be attending seminary. His first advice to me was, “That’s marvelous…anytime you have the opportunity to preach, let Susan sing for 20 minutes and you close the service with a prayer.” We laughed, of course, but his next words made the most profound impact on the way I would navigate my seminary and ministerial career.
He said those words familiar to all his seminary students: 'Don’t worry about a thing…our Foundation will help you through seminary.' Those words embraced me like a blanket on a cold night, and I could not wait to share them with my family who, like me, was anxious about the costs associated with seminary.
As a recent graduate, my heart overflows with joy, knowing that as I have endured the rigors of commuting to Atlanta, I have not traveled alone because all of you as donors to the Stegall Seminary Scholarship Foundation have traveled with me. Your financial support has undergirded this journey.
It has not been lost on me that I now have the privilege of joining you in helping others attend seminary. As you have partnered with us throughout our own journey, so now Susan, Caroline, Ella Cate, and I will partner with you by offering our own financial assistance to other students. To God be the glory!”
- Rev. Jay Cooper, Will be appointed to First United Methodist Church, Montgomery, AL
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“On a brilliant Fall day in 2008, I called Dr. Karl Stegall to share the news with him that I had decided to answer God’s call into ordained ministry, and would be attending seminary. His first advice to me was, “That’s marvelous…anytime you have the opportunity to preach, let Susan sing for 20 minutes and you close the service with a prayer.” We laughed, of course, but his next words made the most profound impact on the way I would navigate my seminary and ministerial career.
He said those words familiar to all his seminary students: 'Don’t worry about a thing…our Foundation will help you through seminary.' Those words embraced me like a blanket on a cold night, and I could not wait to share them with my family who, like me, was anxious about the costs associated with seminary.
As a recent graduate, my heart overflows with joy, knowing that as I have endured the rigors of commuting to Atlanta, I have not traveled alone because all of you as donors to the Stegall Seminary Scholarship Foundation have traveled with me. Your financial support has undergirded this journey.
It has not been lost on me that I now have the privilege of joining you in helping others attend seminary. As you have partnered with us throughout our own journey, so now Susan, Caroline, Ella Cate, and I will partner with you by offering our own financial assistance to other students. To God be the glory!”
- Rev. Jay Cooper, Will be appointed to First United Methodist Church, Montgomery, AL