Features
E
The Cathy sewell story $1 Million Lead Gift for athletic stadium Written by Dr. David Tilley, Headmaster
Every school needs a Charles and Cathy Sewell for more reasons than I could ever name! For years, they have supported Mount Paran Christian School with their faithful prayers, generosity of time, and financial support. The intersection of MPCS and the Sewells didn’t start with their most recent one million dollar gift to the school. The story of Cathy Sewell’s journey with the school is one that clearly and repeatedly demonstrates God’s ever present love and faithfulness to His children. It was 1976, and the forerunner of MPCS, Mount Paran Christian Learning Center, was being birthed in Atlanta by Mount Paran Church of God. Cathy Sewell had become both a follower of Christ and a single mom with a four-year old daughter that same year. Unable to receive child support or secure a job as a bookkeeper, Cathy was in significant financial need. She dreamed, however, that her daughter, Samantha, could be enrolled in the new school being started at her church, but she knew it was financially impossible. As God would design, after only a few days in a public school, Cathy tells of receiving a phone call from a friend indicating that someone had given a scholarship for her daughter to be able to attend Mount Paran Christian. She states, “I never knew who this came from, but I knew that God was the one to get the praise, and I could not thank Him enough!” A member of the church allowed her and her daughter to move into their house when the rent on her apartment increased beyond her ability to pay.
Charles and Cathy Sewell
6
WINGSPAN | Winter 2015
Soon after, Cathy had surgery and no insurance, but a doctor at the hospital did the surgery without charge. Cathy started working at Sewell Plastics and met Charles Sewell, whom she married two-and-a-half years later. In addition to paying the surgeon who gave her the operation without charge, Charles knew how much the scholarship for Samantha at Mount Paran Christian School had meant to Cathy during one of the most difficult times in her life. Cathy recalled that, “Charles told me to start giving back to Mount Paran Christian School by helping others who were where I had been.” For many years, this wonderful couple has done just that! They have repeatedly given financial resources to families in need and, as was the case with Cathy 40 years ago, no one knows who have been the recipients of their generous gifts. When approaching Charles and Cathy Sewell about the possibility of making the lead gift to the stadium, I went to their home to share the vision for the athletic facility. After a few minutes of sharing the vision and reminding ourselves of God’s faithfulness, Charles and Cathy Sewell agreed to provide the lead gift. As is typical of this wonderful couple, they did not seek any personal recognition for their gift. They gave this gift as an offering back to God! Charles agreed to name the stadium for Cathy because he has always known that MPCS will forever hold a place in her heart – for the love that God put into someone’s heart for her child so many years ago. As Cathy stated, “this is a praise and dedication to God and no one else!” Cathy serves as a board member at MPCS and now has three grandchildren who are currently students here. For you see, that four-year-old is now Samantha Stephens, a parent of children at Mount Paran Christian School. The blessings keep coming!
MPCS will forever hold a place in her heart