WHY I GIVE CONTINUED
Late in 2001, the Wheelers found themselves connecting more deeply with the Trinity community when Marianne was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Within hours of Marianne’s diagnosis, a couple from CrossLife sought out Paul and Marianne and counseled them through this difficult process. That couple was Don and Joy Carson. Don Carson—better known as D.A. Carson—is a research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and he and Joy play an active role both in the Trinity community and at CrossLife. The Wheelers were both thrilled and humbled that the Carsons were so attentive and loving in their assistance during Marianne’s treatment and recovery. “The Carsons immediately reached out to us and mentored us through a very difficult year,” Marianne said. “Their counsel was instrumental in helping us meet all the mental, emotional, and spiritual challenges we faced.” Upon Marianne’s recovery, the Wheelers felt that God was calling them to honor the Carsons for their assistance. They could think of no better way than to fund a scholarship in their name. Thus, in 2004, the Wheelers established the Don and Joy Carson Endowed Scholarship—the first PhD scholarship in the history of TEDS. “We felt that the scholarship enabled us to show tangibly our appreciation both to Trinity, its faculty and students, and especially to the Carsons,” Marianne said. Since its endowment, the scholarship has allowed the Wheelers to grow even closer to the Trinity community and see firsthand the impact their gift has had on its recipients.
WHY I’M GRATEFUL CONTINUED
Thanks to the scholarship, Caleb can continue his studies and pursuit of his mission. He plans to use his opportunity to earn a degree so that he can return to his homeland and more effectively teach God’s Word.
for which Caleb is incredibly thankful, and one which he plans to use to pursue God’s calling in his life. Caleb was an evangelical pastor in Kaduna State, Nigeria, for nine years before coming to America. In 2010, he moved to Massachusetts with his family—a wife, Happiness, and three children—to study at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. After graduating from Gordon-Conwell with a Masters in Divinity and a Masters in Biblical Languages, God called him to continue his studies at TEDS. “Trinity is well-known around the world,” Caleb said. “Many of my professors in Nigeria have gone here, and it was a school I have wanted to attend for a long time. I appreciate how it is an evangelical school that holds fast to the authority of Scripture and is also academically vigorous.” Now at Trinity, Caleb is pursuing his PhD in Old Testament—a degree he hopes to complete in five or six years. Though he is only in his first year at Trinity, he already appreciates how his professors have his best interests in mind and want to help lay a foundation for his success, even if that means extending deadlines or arranging lastminute meetings. Thanks to the scholarship, Caleb can continue his studies and pursuit of his mission. He plans to use his opportunity to earn a degree so that he can return to his homeland and more effectively teach God’s Word. “When I was a pastor in Nigeria, I knew very little about the Old Testament,” said Caleb.
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