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 At
the closing of their church's doors, the congregation of The Fifth
Street United Methodist Church in Meridian decided that their ending
could be someone else's beginning. The church, which had been in
existence in some form since the mid-1800s, closed quietly last
summer, ending a long tradition of prayerful services, joyful weddings
and community fellowship.
And the congregation
didn't want the story of Fifth Street to end there. To continue
the history of their church and its vision, members made the decision
to sell the church property and donate the proceeds to worthy causes.
"We decided
to start a scholarship at Millsaps," said Marolyn Davison,
a church member instrumental in planning the gift. "I'd spoken
to the pastor at First United Methodist Church in Canton years earlier,
and he had mentioned something about setting up a Methodist scholarship.
I think that conversation planted the seed in my mind for our decision
to endow a scholarship at Millsaps."
The resulting
scholarship, which will be available in the fall of 2003, will be
awarded to a Methodist student who resides in the Meridian Area
District. Eligible students must meet all academic standards of
admission to Millsaps while exhibiting financial need, and the scholarship
may be renewed annually for up to four years.
"We talked
to our district superintendent, and he said there was no scholarship
specifically for students in our area," said Davison. "But
he said that he received several calls every year from people interested
in local scholarships they could apply for. We just thought there
was a need we could fill."
"One of
our main priorities in the development office at Millsaps is to
generate endowed scholarships such as this one," said Michele
Bunch, Director of Donor Relations at Millsaps. "Many of our
students might not be able to afford a nationally ranked education
but for the generosity of people such as the congregation of the
Fifth Street United Methodist Church. They have set a wonderful
example for others by giving the gift of higher education."
And as for the
congregation of Fifth Street, the moment is bittersweet, signaling
the ending of a community but also the beginning of an opportunity
to help others.
"What a
wonderful act of generosity coming out of the sadness of a church
closing," said Maurice Hall, member of the Millsaps Board of
Trustees and Meridian resident. "This small congregation has
acted with foresight and selflessness, enabling many young people
who will never have heard of Fifth Street UMC, to carry on the legacy
of its ministry."
"The Lord
takes care of everything, and change is inevitable," said Davison.
"We just go with the flow."
To make a donation
of any size to the United Methodist Meridian Area District Endowed
Scholarship Fund, contact Michele Bunch at (601) 974-1026 or bunchmc@millsaps.edu.
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