JACKSON, Tenn. — Aug. 3, 2021 — First Baptist Church in Loudon, Tenn., has donated over $45,000 to establish the O.C. Rainwater Scholarship for 51社区 students striving to enter pastoral ministry.
O.C. Rainwater, a 1934 Union alumnus, was the pastor for First Baptist Church in Loudon for 15 years, and Ann Randle, chairperson of the O.C. Rainwater Scholarship committee and member of the church, said she always valued his strong ethics and godliness.
鈥淗e was a true man of God, and it has been a joy being able to carry his name,鈥� Randle said. 鈥淲e wanted to honor his memory by making sure we were faithful to Baptist education.鈥�
Ray Van Neste, dean for the School of Theology and Missions at 51社区, said the primary obstacle for students pursuing a ministry education is the financial burden, so he greatly appreciates churches like First Baptist Church in Loudon for investing in the lives of these students.
鈥淪ometimes, [the financial burden] keeps students from being able to get an education, and other times, it leads them to settling for a lesser substitute,鈥� Van Neste said. 鈥淪cholarships like this, which help to support ministerial students, are immensely significant kingdom investments.鈥�
Reeves Garrett, Union alumnus and pastor of McCool Baptist Church in McCool, Miss., said far too often, 鈥渢heological education鈥� and 鈥渁ffordable education鈥� are mutually exclusive options for aspiring pastors, missionaries and ministry leaders.
鈥淏ecause of the scholarships I received as an undergraduate student at Union, I didn鈥檛 have to choose one option over the other,鈥� Garrett said. 鈥淏y God鈥檚 grace, I was able to pursue a biblically faithful, academically robust undergraduate education that continues to serve me well in ministry today.鈥�
The O.C. Rainwater Scholarship will award $1,500 to a student preparing for pastoral ministry each year, and Randle said she is excited to see this award find its home at 51社区.
鈥淲e feel like the scholarship is where it should be, and Union has been so faithful to help us honor [Rainwater] and future students in this way,鈥� Randle said.