THE MBF Scholarship Ministry

Recently, while making a presentation to donors and other friends of Blue Mountain College, one individual exclaimed, “I didn’t know the Foundation had a scholarship ministry!” In the past 3-1/2 years that I have served as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Baptist Foundation, I have encountered numerous folks who are not fully aware of the role and goal of the Foundation ministry in general and our scholarship ministry in particular. Therefore, the purpose of this newsletter is to increase awareness of the MBF Scholarship Ministry, to highlight various aspects of this ministry, to recognize our 2007-08 scholarship recipients, and to offer helpful tips for establishing and administering a scholarship ministry in the local church.

The apostle Paul expressed confidence in his Lord when he declared, “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). This well-known verse highlights the focus of the Mississippi Baptist Foundation’s Scholarship Ministry.

Due to the generosity of many faithful Christian stewards, the Foundation has the privilege of providing needs-based supplemental financial assistance to Mississippi students who are pursuing a degree at a Mississippi Baptist college or a Southern Baptist seminary. Most of these endowed scholarship accounts offer specific eligibility guidelines for awarding a scholarship grant. Factors such as field of study, institution attended, and scholarship amount often are included as stipulated criteria for award consideration.

In an effort to honor the purpose of the MBF Scholarship Ministry, the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Baptist Foundation has set forth additional guidelines that are applicable to all scholarship awards. An online application and our scholarship policies may be reviewed at www.msbaptistfoundation.org.

Ella Mae Pitts McCord Trust

For many people, books are held in the highest regard as they represent someone’s creative handiwork, offer knowledge, provide enjoyment, and afford opportunities for sharing. All of us have known people through the years who receive great joy by sharing their love for books and learning with others while witnessing the windows of knowledge and opportunity that are opened through the educational process.

Carolyn Mounce was and is one of those special people who spent a career opening windows of opportunity and enhancing the educational experience of students. After graduating from Blue Mountain in 1960, Carolyn served as librarian at the college from 1960 until her retirement in 2004. In this capacity, Carolyn diligently sought to minister to thousands of students as they pursued their academic and vocational goals. In an effort to honor servants such as Carolyn, perhaps a bumper sticker should be printed that reads “Have you hugged your librarian today?”

About a year ago, Carolyn contacted the Foundation office with some questions about establishing an endowment with the MBF. From that contact and subsequent visits, Carolyn established the “Ella Mae Pitts McCord Trust” in memory of her aunt. The earnings from this fund will provide scholarships to female students attending Blue Mountain College.

The Mississippi Baptist Foundation is grateful for the opportunity to come alongside of Carolyn and Blue Mountain College as “laborers together with God.”

Students Grateful for MBF Scholarships

Michal Roberson, a sophomore at Blue Mountain College, is one of many female students who benefit from the Ella Mae Pitts McCord Trust. “The foundation scholarship means so much to me and my family because it is enabling me to attend a college which strengthens my spiritual walk with Christ, sense of responsibility, and character.”

Michal is seeking a double-major in English and Biblical studies. After graduation, she plans to spend time on the mission field and to be involved in Christian publishing.

Timothy Bass is another scholarship recipient who attends Blue Mountain College. “I am a full time pastor, full time husband and full time father. Without the scholarships that I receive from the Mississippi Baptist Foundation it would be difficult to further my education in the calling to which God has called me. I am very grateful for the opportunity that has been given me.” Timothy is majoring in Church Related Vocations, and is currently the pastor of Tiplersville Baptist Church in the Benton-Tippah Association.

Church & Association Scholarship Ministry

Periodically, Foundation staff receive inquiries from churches and associations that are exploring the possibility of establishing their own scholarship ministry. The following questions and suggestions are offered to assist churches and associations interested in this unique ministry opportunity.

• Will the church have an application process?

• Who will be eligible to apply for and receive a scholarship from the scholarship ministry?
  (Only graduating high school seniors?; Only members of the church, etc.? Students from the local Baptist Association?) The church may want to consider writing the eligibility requirements in broad sweeps by prioritizing the church’s preferences. For instance, while the church may desire to make a scholarship award to a church member, members of another Southern Baptist church in the association might be considered if the awarding church has no students eligible in a given year.

• Will the scholarship be renewable?

• Will a church Scholarship Committee be established to process applications and make awards from the fund?
  This approach will help maintain the integrity of the ministry.

• Will recommendations be accepted from church members?
  Remember, the donor should not be allowed to dictate who receives an award. If a donor wants to advance a specific individual’s education, then the donor probably should offer assistance to the student in a different manner than the church’s Scholarship Fund.

• Will the scholarships be awarded only to students attending a Mississippi Baptist College and/or one of the six Southern Baptist seminaries?

• Will a certain grade point average be required?

• Will candidates for an award be expected to declare a certain major or course of study?
  The church may want to consider keeping the stipulations as broad as possible in order to increase the opportunities for accomplishing the goal of awarding scholarships.

• Will the scholarship be a budgeted item, an endowed fund from which the earnings will be awarded, or will awards be distributed as gifts are received?

  Please receive these ideas as “food for thought” as your church strives to offer scholarship assistance to students. Your friends at the Mississippi Baptist Foundation can assist with the investment and administration of your church’s scholarship funds. Please call our office at 601- 292-3210 with questions regarding the Foundation’s Scholarship Ministry and/or for assistance with the scholarship ministry of your church or Baptist Association.

- Daniel C. Hall