USF Scholarship Opportunity

Grace and peace United Student Fellowship family! During our last reunion, it was suggested that we establish a scholarship. Since that time, a few alumni including Michael Blackman, Pastor Marvin “Pete” Connelly, Toby Crandall, Braska Williams and myself formed a Scholarship Planning Committee to brainstorm the logistics to create this fund. Based on our research and consultation with other representatives of the United Student Fellowship, we are proud to share that we are ready to initiate the steps to create the United Student Fellowship Scholarship (USF) endowment fund through North Carolina State’s University Development Department!

I am among the first to admit that throughout my career, doors have been opened, opportunities given and my salary impacted as a result of the degree I earned bearing the North Carolina State University seal. More importantly, I know that I kept coming back each semester because of the friendships I was blessed to form and the spiritual foundation built while attending the United Student Fellowship. The seeds of USF in my life have yielded a faithful church leader, a solid love for the Word of God and a heart for outreach. Because of these and so many blessings I received while attending NC State, I am compelled to tap into my resources to give back. A scholarship bearing the USF name would afford me this opportunity.

Dr. Marvin “Pete” Connelly, Jr. wrote: I too am eternally humbled by the opportunities that NC State University degrees have afforded me. Since my undergraduate days and Bachelor degree in 1985, I have obtained two other degrees from NC State. Two of my sons attended NC State and all four of my children are successful adults. Much of my time at NC State was spent with the United Student Fellowship and still today as a pastor, I utilize the many notes taken during Bible Study with the Fellowship. Those years helped establish my anchor in the Lord; therefore, I cherish the opportunity to give financially to creating a legacy of remembrance for the United Student Fellowship.

$25,000 is the minimum amount required to establish an endowment at the University. To fund the $25,000, the requirement is to secure at least five (5) people who would be willing to give $1000 per year over the next five (5) years. We are pleased to announce that we already have the first five donors who will give $1000 per year over the next five (5) years! Won’t you also join us by becoming one of the donors to give $1000 per year over the next 5 years? By becoming one of the $5000 donors, you will help us increase the amount of the scholarship that can be awarded. For example, the interest from a $25,000 endowment results in a $1000 scholarship annually. Interest from a $50,000 endowment results in a $2000 scholarship. Your donation can be given in a variety of methods (e.g., bank account, credit card, property, beneficiary). Your support is tax deductible and grants you membership into the Chancellor's Circle at NC State. The Scholarship Planning Committee has partnered with Chris Price, Director of Development, from NC State to assist those interested in making such commitments. He can be reached at ccprice3@ncsu.edu or by phone at (919) 780-8280. If you are willing to join us in giving at this level or have questions before making this commitment, please contact Chris.

Maybe you can’t pledge $1000 per year over the next five years, but you would like to make a donation towards the scholarship fund. Once the USF scholarship is established, additional information will be forthcoming so that you too can share in this unique opportunity.

Please prayerfully consider how you can contribute to this worthwhile effort to establish the United Student Fellowship name for years to come.

Sincerely,

Elaine Barnes Food Science Major Class of 1984

My assignment is such a difficult task -limited to 500 words or less- to share ‘What I have learned about God. Thousands of lifetimes are insufficient to summarize all there is to know about God. This task attempts to define God who is eternal and infinite in character, attributes and being, by my finite mind which cannot nor has yet to encompass all of the totality of God. What I have learned thus far in my brief Christian experience is two-fold, my studies about God and God’s revelation of Himself to me, of which the latter has been greater. Yet even with revelation after revelation that God shares Himself with me, I’ve only just begun to learn of Him. Each day that I live is an enjoyable learning experience to discover more about this unlimited God. However, within the parameters of 500 words, I will endeavor to share the highlights of my learning experience that I consider top priority.

Now, a few accolades of the obvious attributes, those selfexplanatory wonders. God is Holy, Love, Righteous, Great, Compassionate, Faithful, Merciful and Awesome. He is omnipresent (everywhere at the same time), omniscient (all knowing), and Almighty. Jehovah-Jireh (provider) and Jehovah-raphe (healer) are names associated with the power of God, and yes the name ‘I AM’ speaks volumes of who God is to me, all who call upon this name, and the world at-large.

Among the vast attributes, concepts and revelations of God that stand out for me, the following two are my ‘principles to live by’.

1. God is always in the process of reconciling all of mankind back to Himself. His plan is to bring this world back to a God-Man relationship, and He wants believers and followers, to help Him accomplish this task. God is The God of the harvest. The problem that God sees is the same as Jesus stated, “… The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;…” (Matt. 9:37). God is actively working in the earth to continue the fellowship that He once had with mankind in the Garden of Eden. God wants His love along with the processes of life’s tests and trials to equip and enable me and other believers to be reminded of the Great Commission – share the Gospel to win The Lost.

2. God is seeking true worshippers. Understand the worship that God is pursuing is not just the outward expressions of behaviors and actions such as the waving of the hands, the shouts of praise and the dance. But the worship that God seeks is an internal attitude and mindset of total submission to His acceptable plan, purpose and process for one’s life. When total obedience is given to God, then outward expression will be a joy to what He hears and sees.

So what have I learned about God, the half has yet to be told. Each day as I get to know God, I will endeavor to make Him known to ALL.

Respectfully yours,

Dr. Reginald Stepney Year

graduated Dec 2015

Doctor of Ministry D. Min.