UM Student Day Offering Gains Major Support from Methodist Church of Puerto Rico

Each year the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) awards approximately $5.5 million in scholarships to students all over the world thanks to the support of faithful members of The United Methodist Church. Through connectional giving, members of The United Methodist Church support specific funds, projects, and missions, such as GBHEM scholarships. Student Day, one of the six designated Special Sunday Offerings, annually generates $800,000 in offerings for GBHEM to fund scholarships. These funds help provide scholarships to students across the world, including students from The Methodist Church of Puerto Rico.

“The Methodist Church of Puerto Rico has God’s call to thank GBHEM for the years of generosity provided through scholarships to Puerto Rican Methodist students.” expressed Rev. Virna Soliz, administrative manager of the Puerto Rican Conference. The impact of GBHEM scholarships has resonated with the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico so strongly they recently made a commitment to promote and raise funds for Student Day Sunday. This level of support from a conference is unprecedented but demonstrates the transformative influence of nurturing ecumenical relationships and connectional giving.

The Methodist Church of Puerto Rico has attributed their recent commitment to Student Day Sunday as a call to be, “reciprocal, grateful and supportive of education.” This call has also influenced their decision to raise $5,000 in offerings to support the special Sunday offering.

The pledge from the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico to raise funds for Student Day Sunday is the fruit of years of collaboration and relationship-building, according to David Martinez, GBHEM’s executive director for contextual leadership development.

“First, we planted some seeds and then we waited,” Martinez said. “And today, we can see that God is faithful when we trust the Holy Spirit to lead. This is the first time that we’ve seen a concordat church move in this process,” Martinez added.

The seeds that have been planted by both organizations are continuing to blossom. In January 2023, GBHEM received a welcoming invitation to speak one-on-one with students in Puerto Rico during a special scholarship information session. Rev. David Martinez and GBHEM’s director of scholarships Marcie Bigord attended the event held at the Evangelical Seminary in Puerto Rico and spoke with 122 students. Students received hands-on assistance to apply for scholarships and the opportunity to learn more about the scholarship process.

While GBHEM attended the event to pour into the lives of students, leadership from the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico were eager to return the favor with a special check presentation of generous donations from members of the Puerto Rico Methodist Conference to support Student Day Sunday and GBHEM scholarships. This remarkable moment marks the first time an entire conference, with the support of its bishop, has dedicated itself to raising funds for a special offering.

“Taking the lead to collect a Student Day offering in recognition and support of Puerto Rican Methodist students is an inspiration,” said Allyson Potts, executive director scholarship engagement for GBHEM. “This collaborative event was a great expression of the ecumenical relationship and shared values between the Methodist Church in Puerto Rico and the United Methodist Church.”

Indeed, this initiative from Methodist Puerto Rican leadership helps strengthen GBHEM’s educational efforts in the area, while also empowering and strengthening ecumenical partnerships around the world. The hope is that with additional support surrounding Special Sunday’s, more students will be inspired and provided with the financial means to pursue their educational and ministry goals.

“The Puerto Rico Methodist Conference is bringing awareness of giving to Methodist scholarships in Puerto Rico so that all Methodist students may receive educational assistance from the church,” Potts said. “This effort is also [helping] current scholarship recipients to recognize who to thank for their gifts and to be future givers to the fund for future generations.”

GBHEM is proud to support thousands of students through scholarships and help students answer God’s call to higher education. Find out how you can help support Methodist students by visiting: gbhem.org/scholarships/how-to-give