Speaker: Caitlin Ware
Tell us what it means to you to receive this scholarship.
Caitlin Ware : Hi, my name is Caitlyn Ware. My home church is Bailey Memorial United Methodist in Rosemont, West Virginia in the Mon Valley District. I'm a third year m div student at Duke Divinity School. I chose this program to prepare to serve alongside the people of West Virginia. Being United Methodist in West Virginia places me within a long history of service. A Wesleyan tradition in the mountain state. Our sense of connection is and our understanding of grace and social transformation calls us to witness to God's power with our hands and feet across our state alongside all people. For the last three years, West Virginia annual conference scholarships have made it possible to study full time at Duke. At no cost to me, I gained skills in community development, relationship building, ministry and I deepened my relationship with God. But for the last three years, I received more than scholarships. I received prayers and support from First Parkersburg, a place I'd never visited. I received care packages and letters and I always had connections to people across our conference to take what I was learning in the classroom and make it applicable to lifelong Appalachian ministry. The gifts I received from our conference are innumerable. You have been such a blessing to me in making my education possible and I can't wait to return home and serve. Thank you.
