Light the Way: ETBU Student Scholarship Initiative

ETBU STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP INITIATIVE

LETTER FROM THE

President Dear ETBU Family and Friends, Today, our college campuses, communities, and country are in desperate need of bold and courageous Christian leaders—men and women who will stand as beacons of light, bringing glory to God and hope to humanity. The void of Christian influence has left our nation on the precipice of deep darkness and in desperate need of a way forward. But we have hope in the promise of Jesus as His light drives out the world’s darkness. I am convinced that God desires to raise up spiritual leaders among our college generation, whom He will use to illuminate Christ’s light and faithfully stand for the Gospel of Jesus. Through committed academic study, career preparation, and community engagement at East Texas Baptist University, our Tiger students have resolved to prepare for their light-bearing ministry.

In the same way that ETBU graduates shine their light bright for Christ across this nation and around the world, we are teaching and training our ETBU Tiger students to embrace their Christian faith and the high calling of a lifetime of

service to God and people. We need steadfast Christian servants who will graciously share the love of Jesus through their Gospel witness and shine the light of Jesus through humbly serving others. God has purposed ETBU to challenge our Tiger students to go above and beyond, not just in making a difference in this world, but in making disciples for this world. He has called ETBU students and future graduates to embark on a journey for Kingdom impact for His glory by shining His marvelous light amid a culture that is counter to God’s truths.

We invite you to unite with ETBU as prayer partners and sustaining donors who will intercede for us and provide needed scholarship support to students who are called to be educated and equipped at East Texas Baptist University. Will you Light the Way for current Tiger students to prepare for God’s calling?

The Light the Way :ETBU Student Scholarship Initiative will provide dedicated Christian servant leaders, academic achievers, and aspiring students with demonstrated financial need the opportunity to receive a transformative Christcentered education at ETBU. Through this initiative, you can partner with East Texas Baptist University by investing in the Christian Leadership Scholarship, Academic Scholarship, or Need-Based Scholarship programs. Your investment will Light the Way forward for ETBU Tiger students to experience and earn a Christian college education rooted in the truths of God. Your support of student scholarships at ETBU will have a national and global impact for the Kingdom while engraving a lasting spiritual legacy on today’s college generation of Christian servant leaders.

I ask that you prayerfully consider partnering with East Texas Baptist University and Light the Way through a scholarship gift investment to ensure current and future ETBU Tigers can receive a Christ-centered educational experience.

Your prayers and provision will transform ETBU students for service to God and empower them for a lifetime of shining the light of Jesus Christ around the world.

Thank you for your faithful support to East Texas Baptist University as we strive to fulfill the Lord’s purposes through the servant leadership of ETBU Tiger students and future graduates.

Light the Way! Dr. J. Blair Blackburn President East Texas Baptist University

The mission of East Texas Baptist University is to educate students by integrating biblical faith and learning to develop the mind, body, and soul. ETBU prepares students to be dedicated Christian servant leaders in the fields God calls them to serve.

The University Motto, “May the Light on the Hill Never Die” inspires our campus community as it did when it was first adopted. After a century of equipping Christian leaders for Kingdom service through our institution, how desperately does our dark world need the Light of Christ in us today. The iconic lamp in front of Marshall Hall reflects the Light on the Hill and encourages our University’s calling as a Christ-centered institution. The Light on the Hill is a symbolic reminder that the ETBU Family is commissioned to be the “Light of the world,” as Jesus taught in Matthew 5:14-16. Since 1912, ETBU students have been shining the light of Christ and standing boldly for God’s truths.

Throughout the college’s history, East Texas Baptist University students have benefited from the generosity of donors who have illuminated the way through the present darkness of the times they faced. Supporters of ETBU have fulfilled this high calling in many meaningful ways, including mentoring students, employing graduates, praying for the University family, and providing the resources necessary to educate and train the next generation of servant leaders for our communities and our country.

The scholarship investment provided by donor partners empowers ETBU Tigers to prepare for their vital calling with confidence as they follow in the footsteps of those Kingdom leaders who have walked before them. By investing in the Light the Way :ETBU Student Scholarship Initiative, you will change ETBU students’ lives and create a path forward as they pursue their God-directed purposes. As a contributor to student scholarships, you will be an integral part of ETBU’s legacy of Christian faith in transforming this generation of college students. You will be empowering ETBU students to unashamedly share the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people from all walks of life and from all areas of the world.

Academic SCHOLARSHIPS

In order to recruit and attract Christian student scholars with exceptional academic promise, ETBU offers merit-based scholarships to students who demonstrate sustained accomplishment in the classroom and the potential for continued learning success. Incoming students who have established a record of academic achievement are offered Academic Scholarship support. Academic Scholarships reward students for their educational commitment and serve as a source of encouragement in their intellectual development and throughout their educational journey. ETBU’s devoted Christian faculty engage the minds of this college generation and enlighten these exceptional students during their academic pursuits, while ensuring they are expertly prepared for Kingdom service.

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n the classroom, on the athletic field, in community service, and through intentional discipleship, ETBU faculty and staff endeavor to shape and strengthen Tiger students in their relationship with Christ during their time at East Texas Baptist University. Neighborhoods in our nation and communities around the globe desperately need young men and women equipped with a Biblical worldview to navigate the issues of our time and confront the challenges of the future. By empowering Christian servant leaders, we are calling our ETBU students not to be conformed to the culture of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of their minds, so that they may be ready to proclaim their faith in Jesus and provide His Light in spiritual darkness through their witness and their work.

The Christian Leadership Scholarship enables ETBU to recruit and attract outstanding young adults who are earnest in their desire to grow in their walk with Christ during their college years and eager to encourage others to do the same. Christian Leadership Scholarship support affirms students for their demonstrated spiritual leadership and enables ETBU Tiger students to continue to grow as Christian servant leaders during their study and service at ETBU.

MACKENZIE LAWRENCE

M

ackenzie Lawrence is a sophomore nursing major from Sour Lake, Texas. Her journey to East Texas Baptist University was made possible by scholarship support given by generous ETBU donor partners.

“The Lord paved the way for me to attend ETBU by providing the scholarship support I needed,” Lawrence said. “I am so thankful for the people who invest in ETBU students through scholarships. I am not the only student who struggled financially and thought college was not an option. Scholarship donors are one of the biggest blessings to students at ETBU. Their generosity is making an impact on students and their families across campus.”

Mackenzie’s involvement on campus reflects her passion for her nursing academic pursuits and her commitment to positively impact the world. During her time at ETBU, Mackenzie has been actively engaged in various campus organizations.

She is a member of the Student

Foundation, a group of students who work to enhance the ETBU community.

Additionally, she is part of the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society and the Titus Women’s Ministry. Mackenzie also serves as a student worker at Jarrett Library, assisting fellow students in their academic journeys.

Upon graduation, she plans to enroll in a Nurse Residency Program at Texas Children’s Hospital. Her longterm goal is transitioning to St. Jude’s as a Pediatric Oncology Nurse.

Mackenzie has ambitions to embark on healthcare mission work in South Africa to provide aid and support to those in need.

Mackenzie draws inspiration from the story of Esther in the Bible. While she humbly acknowledges that she may not be as bold as Esther, her gentle spirit and kind-hearted soul drive her to love others with unbridled compassion. Mackenzie hopes to leave a legacy of passion and boldness, just like Esther, inspiring others to make a profound difference in the lives of those they encounter.

ABRAHAM CONTRERAS

A

braham Contreras is a Christian ministry and mental health major from Diboll, Texas. Known for his leadership on the East Texas Baptist University campus, Abraham was recognized with the 2023 Riley Servant Leadership Award and crowned the 2023 Homecoming King.

“I am so thankful for the people who make contributions to scholarships at ETBU,” Contreras said. “Not only because it gave me the ability to study at ETBU, but also because of the positive impact it has on my mental health. Affording tuition is stressful for many students on top of schoolwork, building a resume, and other responsibilities. Donors supplying financial help relieves that burden and helps students achieve success at ETBU.” Abraham is living proof of the transformative power of scholarship support at ETBU. His presence on the ETBU campus is marked by his involvement in a wide range of organizations. Abraham serves as

a Baptist Student Ministry leader, resident assistant, Tiger Camp captain, and student coordinator for the Christian Association of Student Leaders.

Outside the university’s gates.

Abraham is dedicated to serving his community as a youth apprentice for Mobberly Baptist Church in Longview.

He also serves as a behavioral analyst intern at Community Healthcore, where he strives to make a positive impact in the field of mental health.

As for his future, Abraham is pursuing a career as a Christian counselor.

He is passionate about meeting the needs of individuals dealing with mental health challenges. Drawing from his own experiences with anxiety, Abraham learned to surrender these concerns to the Lord, and this transformation has been life-changing for him. His goal is to guide others toward the path of depositing their worry and anxiety in God’s hands. In doing so, Abraham believes he can help others find healing and peace while glorifying the Lord.

Need-Based SCHOLARSHIPS

Need-Based Scholarship support offers an invaluable opportunity for current and future ETBU Tigers seeking a Christ-centered education despite financial challenges. Contributions of any size have a significant impact on the academic preparation and spiritual development of Christian servant leaders. Your gift will ensure a student’s financial situation does not hinder their ability to benefit from the Christian educational experience at ETBU. By investing in students who have considerable financial need, you will provide a broader diversity of future Kingdom leaders with access to an affordable pathway toward degree completion and their calling to serve the Lord through East Texas Baptist University.

I’m ready to

Light the way...

To partner with East Texas Baptist University and Light the Way through your scholarship gift support, please make an investment in our ETBU Tiger students online at www.ETBU.edu/LightTheWay. SEE HOW YOUR GENEROSITY EQUIPS THE NEXT GENERATION OF CHRISTIAN SERVANT LEADERS $12,000

supports a

Presidential Scholarship

$10,000

supports a

Vice President Scholarship

$8,000

supports an Honor Scholarship

$6,000

supports a

$4,000

supports an Achievement Scholarship

$2,500

supports a

Christian Leadership Scholarship

ANY AMOUNT

provides

Need-Based Support

Dean Scholarship

How to

give

Make a donation online at www.ETBU.edu/LightTheWay Mail a check to One Tiger Drive, Marshall, Texas 75670 Designate the check for the “Light The Way Campaign”

CONTACT US:

Email advancement@ETBU.edu or call 903.923.2071

“LET YOUR

Light

SHINE BEFORE OTHERS, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.” MATTHEW 5:16

WWW.ETBU.EDU/LIGHTTHEWAY EMBRACING FAITH

ENGAGING MINDS

EMPOWERING LEADERS

ENHANCING COMMUNITY