A Christmas Message from GBHEM
Dear Friends,
In this season of Advent, it seems as if we are all in the same place as the shepherds of Bethlehem. Like them, we are waiting in the darkness, doing our best to keep watch over our flocks and find safety in a frightening world. Yet, the shepherds did not wait in endless darkness—and neither will we.
The angel of the Lord arrived before them, shining the glory of God into the night and announcing the good news of the birth of Christ. We are in trying times, but the glory of the Lord is still there to light up our darkness.
We see it every day. We see it in our United Methodist-related schools like Meharry Medical College, which is lifting its community with COVID-19 testing and lifesaving research. We see it in the work of clergy like Rev. Dr. Kimberly E. Lane-Willis, a hospital chaplain who makes space for peace and gratitude on the frontlines of the pandemic. And we see it in you, our friends and colleagues who have shown remarkable grace and compassion in adapting your ministries to the realities of 2020.
Below, our GBHEM video Christmas card reminds us to look for those instances of God’s glory shining all around us. I hope you enjoy it, and on behalf of the entire board and staff of GBHEM, I wish you and your families a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Blessings,
Rev. Greg Bergquist
General Secretary
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry
The United Methodist Church
Related Posts
Discerning God’s call in your life and think that call may be to vocational ministry in The United Methodist Church? Exploration 2026 may offer the clarity you’ve been seeking. Exploration, a nationwide vocational discernment retreat hosted by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, is set for November 6-8, in Orlando, Florida. Registration is now open for adults 18 and older who are considering a call to vocational ministry.
More than 470 scholarship recipients supported by The United Methodist Church’s General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) reached a major milestone this spring, earning degrees across disciplines ranging from theology and education to finance and science.
As students face mounting financial pressures from cuts in student support programs on U.S. university campuses, the General Boards of Higher Education and Ministry and Global Ministries will offer campus food and hygiene insecurity grants for United Methodist-related colleges to help provide food and essential supplies to their students.
