Each year, the Bethesda Auxiliary, in partnership with Able Light, awards college and seminary students with scholarships for their commitment to the disabilities field and Lutheran ministry.

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Creating opportunities for the next generation

The Auxiliary Scholarship Committee is offering up to $3,000 to Lutheran students pursuing undergraduate degrees and seminarian and post-graduate students that will prepare them for ministry (such as pastor, pre-seminary and deaconess studies, deaconess, director of Christian education, or special-needs teacher), so they will have an opportunity to share Jesus’ love and the Gospel message with people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Seminarian and Post-graduate Students

Criteria for seminarian and post-graduate students committing to ministry, such as pastor, deaconess, director of Christian education, or special-needs teacher with people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• Be an active, communicant member of a Lutheran congregation.
• Be a current college senior, accepted to begin seminary or post-graduate studies in the fall, or currently be classified as a first-year or second-year student at any Lutheran seminary. Students going on to their internship/vicarage year do not qualify.
• Have a commitment to inclusion of people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities within the local parish, giving them the opportunities for study of God’s Word and serving with which all members are blessed.

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College and University Students

Criteria for college and university students pursuing undergraduate degrees in an academic area such as special-needs Lutheran school teacher, director of Christian education, pre-seminary and deaconess preparation studies, that will prepare them for ministry with people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so opportunity to share God’s Word and the love of Jesus is present.

• Be an active, communicant member of a Lutheran congregation.
• Be classified as a junior or senior at an accredited college or university.
• Have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Have a career objective in the field of ministry with people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so opportunities to share the Gospel and Jesus’ love with them, as wonderful relationships of shared faith are established.

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