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Now, in a new office and new setting, that Scott Erickson print hangs proudly. You’ll see it just over my shoulder on Zoom calls, reminding me that What I love is God and God’s people coming together, wherever and however we may do so.

As college chaplain of Emory & Henry University, Sharon Wiley Wright views her work with students as both a calling and a privilege. A 1994 alumna, Wright has spent the past 11 years shaping the spiritual life of the campus through mentorship, teaching, and pastoral care.

NEW ORLEANS — At Dillard University, the Black College Fund (BCF) of The United Methodist Church is doing more than preserving infrastructure — it’s sustaining a legacy of faith-based education and empowerment for historically underserved students at this UM-related university in Louisiana, says Monique Guillory, Dillard’s president.

Thanks to the Kendall Scholarship, Ph.D. student Tracee Coleman is able to pursue graduate studies at Meharry Medical College — a journey she describes as both a calling and a commitment shaped by her faith and family.

The Rev. Lia McIntosh applies knowledge from her corporate sales and marketing days to her role as a United Methodist Endorsing Agency-approved life coach, helping UMC pastors understand what coaching skills can offer them — and training ministry leaders to serve as coaches themselves.

“[The Black College Fund] provides the consistent operational support needed to stabilize the institution in an era when many universities face unpredictability. This support ensures our schools can meet payroll, retain talent, and focus on long term strategic planning — not crisis management," said Dr. George T. French, Clark Atlanta University president.

Now, in a new office and new setting, that Scott Erickson print hangs proudly. You’ll see it just over my shoulder on Zoom calls, reminding me that What I love is God and God’s people coming together, wherever and however we may do so.

As the chaplain and director of the Kay Spiritual Life Center at American University in Washinton, D.C., the Rev. Eric Doolittle approaches campus ministry with the same spirit that Lent invites: a season of looking again, slowing down, and seeing the world anew.

For Priscille Hassa Malandji, a Master of Divinity student at Drew University Theological School, receiving a 2025-2026 General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) scholarship has been more than financial relief — it’s a confirmation of her calling.

What begins on Ash Wednesday culminates with Good Friday. This period is meant to be a time of self-reflection, repentance, and sacrifice. The purpose of Lent is to help us think deeply about our lives. How is our soul? How is our heart? How are we moving closer to our ideal self? Is our love growing? Are we holding grudges? Are we ready to forgive?