Why Support Welch College? BY MIKE EDWARDS
I have the honor of traveling across our denomination promoting the ministry of Welch College and raising support for the Welch Fund. I am often asked, “Why should I support Welch College?” I have a couple of responses. The first is, “When you give to the Welch Fund, you invest in the lives of students who will make and are making an eternal difference in the world for the cause of Christ.” Another response I offer is, “Welch College is educating leaders to serve Christ, and He has a plan for every student. He calls some to be pastors, youth pastors, missionaries, and worship leaders. Others He calls to be educators, nurses, counselors, business professionals, or physical therapists who will also serve in the local church. You make an eternal difference when you invest in students attending Welch.” I want to point out that supporting Welch College involves more than donating funds to the college. Supporting the college also includes praying for the college. I challenge you to pray for our current students to earnestly seek the will of God and excel in their studies. Pray for faculty and staff as they serve the Lord at the college. Pray for President Pinson and the administration as they lead through these unprecedented days. Pray for prospective students making decisions about attending Welch in the future. Recommending the college to potential students is another way individuals support the college. Welch is not for everyone. However, I am confident more students will consider it as their pastor, parents, and other people of influence recommended the college. Welch is both Christian and distinctively Free Will Baptist. Our professors
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present the content of their classes through a conservative Christian worldview. Your recommendation of Welch College may be used by God to change the direction of a student’s life. Supporting Welch involves three vital components: recommending the college to potential students, praying for the college and college family, and giving financially to the Welch Fund. The Welch Fund helps provide student scholarships. The generous giving of Free Will Baptist churches and individuals last year lowered annual tuition costs by approximately $5,000 per student. This kind of support is just what students need to attend Welch College. Your financial support impacts the students at Welch. According to the denominational calendar, February is the Welch College emphasis month. I challenge Free Will Baptist churches everywhere to receive a special love offering for the Welch Fund in February. I challenge Welch alumni and friends to give a special offering to the Welch Fund as well. Your generosity makes a difference for every student. I also encourage you to consider becoming a member of the Torchbearer Club. Members support the Welch Fund through automated monthly gifts of at least $25. A $25 per month gift enables you to give $300 per year, and $50 per month provides a $600 annual contribution to Welch. A monthly donation of $83.34 makes a $1,000 contribution each year. Torchbearer Club members’ monthly contributions range from $25 to $450 per month. Join the club! Torchbearers receive a t-shirt and other perks throughout the year. Learn more by visiting www.torchbearerclub.com.
