Dear Cornerstone Family,
Over the years, the Lord has graciously supplied Cornerstone with a steady stream of young men and women interested in pursuing ministry vocationally. To help identify calling to ministry and assess aptitude for ministry, we started an intern program nearly ten years ago. Our interns are provided opportunities to study with pastors and ministry leaders, observe the work of the church from the inside, and gain practical ministry experience through serving in the church.
As the Lord would have it, most of our interns move on to pursue additional seminary level education in view to becoming pastors, missionaries, educators, and counselors. As a support to our interns, the church partners with interns financially by helping alleviate a portion (typically one-third) of the seminary tuition and book costs each year.
However, we have noticed over the years that students often need additional support while in seminary. There are number of reasons why additional support may be needed. A student may have an emergency (medical procedure, vehicle repair, etc.) incurring significant costs beyond what they are able to provide. A student may lose a job while in seminary and be without pay for a few weeks or months. A student may be from another country and limited by their visa as to where and how much they can work. In situations like these, which are real life situations former Cornerstone interns have faced, students are often left with one of two options: accumulate significant debt or consider taking a break from seminary to help replenish resources.
Recognizing this challenge, the Finance Committee has established a new Seminary Student Support Fund to help further support former interns of Cornerstone who are answering a call to vocational ministry and enrolled in seminary education. This fund is designed to be a support fund for former Cornerstone interns who are pursuing vocational ministry and are enrolled in seminary. The application process, approval, and disbursements from the Seminary Student Support Fund will be overseen by the Missions Committee. Only students who were interns of Cornerstone and are pursuing vocational ministry are eligible to receive help from the Seminary Student Support Fund.
Over and above your normal regular giving to Cornerstone, please consider a gift to this special fund. When you give, simply designate your gift for the Seminary Student Support Fund. If you have any questions about the fund, please contact our Mission’s Committee chairman, Mr. John Millard, at johnfrancmillard@gmail.com.
Your servant,
