The office of Stewardship Ministries announced the 2015-2016 winners of the Stewardship Sermon Scholarship. The award is given to students whose sermons are judged most effective in exploring biblical stewardship in the contemporary context of the local Nazarene church. This year, three winners were chosen for submitting excellent examples of stewardship sermons: David Goodwin, David Filsinger, and Rachael Reichley, all from Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. Each will receive a $1,000 scholarship toward his or her continued pastoral development.

Stewardship Ministries began sponsoring this scholarship in 2008 when a legacy gift first made the program possible. Funds are awarded annually to up to five pastoral ministry students who are currently enrolled in either a religion or Christian education program at a USA or Canada Nazarene institution of higher education.

“The scholarship program shows our Nazarene students how to preach and teach about stewardship,” said Mark Lail, Stewardship Ministries director. “Knowing how to talk about money and God’s thoughts on it is an essential skill for any pastor.”

This year’s scripture assignment was Luke 12:13-21, a parable of Jesus concerning storing up riches in heaven as opposed to earthly wealth. Applicants for the scholarship were challenged to explore holiness in tithing and living generously, while addressing money as it relates to funding the mission of the Church of the Nazarene: “To make Christlike disciples in the nations.”

The sermons submitted by Goodwin, Filsinger, and Reichley offered insightful, challenging calls to biblical stewardship. Stewardship Ministries would like to congratulate all of the winners on their excellent work. Their sermons will be available as a free resource download on the Stewardship website.

Information about the upcoming 2016-2017 Stewardship Sermon Scholarship competition will be released on the Stewardship Sermon Scholarship website soon. Additional questions or comments can be directed to Stewardship Ministries at stewardship@nazarene.org.

--Stewardship Ministries