“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”  ? Mother Teresa [caption id="attachment_1584" align="alignright" width="223"]The Canary Family The Canary Family[/caption] My name is William Canary and my wife, Leura, son, Will, and daughter, Margaret, are members at First United Methodist Church (FUMC) of Montgomery, Ala. FUMC is a church community that has laid its hands on our hearts. I also serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Stegall Seminary Scholarship Endowment Foundation. It is a privilege to offer you background about a person and a mission we very much admire and respect, Dr. Karl Stegall and the Stegall Seminary Scholarship Endowment Foundation. When I think about Dr. Karl Stegall and the Foundation this anonymous quote comes to mind… "Excellence is never an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities." Over the years Dr. Karl Stegall has led us all closer to our faith and in our relationship with Jesus Christ. His ministry and his dream to provide Scholarships to seminary students reminds me daily that my number one priority in life should be God---and helping others to minister the word and do great things in the name of God. The Stegall Foundation allows me to renew my faith whereby, God speaks to my heart, mind and conscience. Our family's giving to the Foundation has become a lesson in love! I am reminded this holy season, that Christian stewardship calls for a prayerful and a realistic assessment of what we are able to give, and giving it in such a manner that Christ is glorified.  Christian giving has always had the same goals as giving in the Old Testament: “the support of God’s ministers, the relief of the poor, and the spread of true knowledge of God.” Christian giving is in many ways, representative of our total commitment to serve the Lord. All of us remain sensitive to pressures on philanthropic giving at this time of year, however I am asking you to consider making a gift to the Stegall Foundation. Consider doing it by offering your contribution in the name of others this Christmas; by spreading the joyous news of your gifted support in preparing both the future of the church and the needs of these seminary students. The note we will insert into our family's Christmas card this year will read:   [caption id="attachment_1581" align="aligncenter" width="150"]Canary Family 2013 Christmas Card Insert Canary Family 2013 Christmas Card Insert[/caption]

Merry Christmas With much thought, prayer and consideration we have made a gift donation in your name to the Stegall Seminary Scholarship Endowment Foundation, which provides scholarship resources to the seminary students in the Alabama-West Florida Conference. This gift will provide critical resources to the Foundation in their mission of preparing the future of our Church. You can learn more about the Stegall Seminary Scholarship Endowment Foundation at: www.stegallscholarship.com God Bless your family for a happy and healthy new year!

May God continue to bless each and every one of your families and provide for yours a happy and healthy new year! In the spirit of our faith, I offer this prayer: Father God, we dedicate the ministry of the Stegall Seminary Scholarship Endowment Foundation to You. We choose to put You first in everything we do. Let us continue to be an instrument of your steadfast love and for us to always do Great things in Your name. Give us the ability to make wise gifts and teach us to listen to Your voice always. We ask for your blessing on ALL our Seminary graduates, students, past-present-future investors in the Stegall Seminary Scholarship Endowment Foundation and it’s mission. We ask this in Jesus’ name. AMEN