STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID
The need for more workers for the harvest and a need to substantially assist men and women preparing for ministry has greatly increased the need at RTS for additional funds for scholarships and campus housing. 9:37 Leadership Scholarship Fund God’s call of men and women to leadership within the church is a sobering responsibility not only for the ones called but also for those responsible for their training. Whatever the call to ministry, RTS is committed to train these future leaders from a distinctive commitment to the inerrancy and sufficiency of God’s Word. As a result of the faithfulness of the RTS family, thousands of ministers and other leaders who have attended RTS in the past 40 years have gone out to serve Christ and His kingdom in North America and around the world. As part of the campaign, we plan to establish the 9:37 Leadership Scholarship Fund based on Matthew 9:37 where Jesus asks us to pray for more laborers in the harvest field. The purpose of this initiative is to identify and recruit 300 key prospective church leaders for full-time enrollment into the Master of Divinity program providing to them 50% scholarships. These scholarships will be available on all of our 5 M.Div. campuses – Jackson, Orlando, Charlotte, Atlanta and Washington. For additional information see http://www.rts.edu/newsevents/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=1053 A student’s call to ministry usually corresponds with personal sacrifice. All who come to RTS trust God to provide for their tuition and living expenses. Most students take outside employment while maintaining demanding study loads. While some students consider seeking student loans, very few will ever be called to positions that will enable them to pay back such large loans while still providing for themselves and their families. International Scholarship Fund The greatest need for scholarships is for international students. There are constant requests for assistance from students in China, Indonesia, Czech Republic, Romania, Turkey, Russia, and others. Needs include housing, transportation and living expenses for international students Most come from poor countries and must work part-time jobs on campus to supplement the sacrificial giving by their sending churches. Even so, almost all of them also require substantial scholarships to cover tuition and other related costs. The opportunities to place trained leaders around the world are unprecedented today and the number of applications by highly qualified applicants to attend RTS has never been greater. But since current finances are limited, and training leaders is critical for the furtherance of the gospel around the world, we are seeking to increase the scholarships available for international students. And while so many capable internationals desire to study at RTS, many North American students recognized as having exceptional leadership potential also seek training. RTS benefits from their gifts even while they are being trained here. This is because the quality of the education provided to all students is greatly affected by the abilities of the students themselves, in turn raising the level of instruction our professors can deliver. Therefore, we seek increased funds for merit-based scholarships so as to attract top-level students considering coming to RTS. Student Housing Lastly, there is a great need for affordable housing, particularly at the Orlando and Charlotte campuses. But reasonable cost is only one aspect of this. An intangible yet valuable component of seminary training is the sense of community derived from studying and living together. The Jackson campus has enjoyed this added benefit. The addition of affordable housing on our other campuses would not only help relieve some cost-of-living concerns and provide needed housing for international students, but would also strengthen all students through the support and nurture coming from Christian community living. |