Growing in Wisdom
by Rev. Dr. Philip Jamieson, UMHEF President and CEO
As another year comes and goes, I reflect on what is behind and wonder what is ahead. I look back and see connections I did not see before, how the Lord shaped and moved me over time. I hope lessons and experiences of the past will give me wisdom for the future.
I have that same hope for our United Methodist Higher Education Foundation scholarship recipients. Education is not just about knowledge. It is also about wisdom, using knowledge to better the person and community and finding insight and purpose. When we make education at one of our UM-related colleges, universities, or seminaries more accessible, we do more than give access to facts and figures; we provide opportunities for these students to gain wisdom and understanding.
Meet one UMHEF scholar who is growing in wisdom.
Kourtney Joseph, a junior studying history, politics, and global affairs at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia affirms that she is gaining more than just knowledge while attending a UM-related school. She is also gaining wisdom from the environment and experiences outside of the classroom.
Campus Minister Brandon Tolle says Kourtney has found “a refuge where she can explore who she is, what she thinks, and what it means to follow Jesus in today’s world.” Political science professor Barbara Donovan speaks highly of Kourtney’s performance in the classroom: “At Wesleyan, Kourtney has taken advantage of opportunities to a myriad of extracurricular activities to develop her own sense of self and to contribute to the broader community.” As a student leader of Wesley Ministries on campus, Kourtney says, “My biggest goal has been to connect with students and develop deep conversations about politics, faith, and understanding in our modern world.”
Friends, you and I are invited to participate in our Lord’s gracious activity as He moves and shapes the lives of students like Kourtney, and every UMHEF scholarship recipient. Imagine the ways these students will transform their local and global communities! What we do gives them the tools and wisdom to do just that.
As 2024 comes to an end, please prayerfully consider a gift to UMHEF. The wonderful work of our foundation is something special, and I hope you’ll be a part of it. May this Christmas season be full of joy as we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, the One who is the embodiment of wisdom.