HIGHER EDUCATION NEWS
LOCAL CHURCH NEWS
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ARMSTRONG
BUTLER
E ESGUERRA
M ESGUERRA
FRICK
GEHRS
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HAAS
KING-NOBLES
KOSTBADE
MYEONG
MEADE
MCCOOL
MERCER
PETTY
SCHULETER
TALIWAGA
VAN GORKOM
17 students receive United Methodist scholarships
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry has awarded 17 students from the Illinois Great Rivers Conference a total of $36,850 in scholarships for the 2024-25 school year. GBHEM strengthens the educational mission of the Church by fostering environments of intellectual development alongside spiritual growth. Through GBHEM programs, such as Clinical Pastoral Education, the Course of Study, the Central Conference Theological Education Fund, the Black College Fund, and robust scholarship programs, GBHEM supports Methodist scholarship and leadership around the world. Alleviating student debt through financial support remains a priority. GBHEM awarded over $3.7 million in scholarships to 2,165 students in 2024, including students from 51 annual conferences in the United States and 28 annual conferences in the central conferences. In addition, GBHEM stewarded the distribution of roughly $17.4 million in grants to United Methodist ministries. Because of your generous support, approximately $6.4 million is apportioned annually for the 11 historically black
colleges and universities (HBCUs) related to the Church through The Black College Fund. The funds enhance capital improvements, provide scholarships, and support the work of faculty and staff. There are approximately 13,534 students at BCF-supported HBCU’s; 70 percent receive Pell Grants The IGRC students that have been awarded scholarships include: • Nolan Armstrong, Mt. Vernon: First UMC, Rend Lake College • Quinn Butler, Normal Calvary UMC, Illinois Wesleyan University • Enrico Micah Esguerra, Bradley Wesley UMC, Olivet Nazarene University • Marie Adelaine Esguerra, Bradley Wesley UMC, Olivet Nazarene University • Taylor Frick, Glen Carbon New Bethel UMC, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville • Abigayle Gehrs, Edwardsville St. Johns UMC, Southeast Missouri State University
• Ryan Haas, Normal First UMC, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary • Emily King-Nobles, Normal First UMC, Olaf College • Aidan Kostbade, Coal City UMC, Millikin University • Myeonghwan Lee Myeong, Jesus-Love UMC, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Doctorate program • Avery Meade, Nashville Grace UMC, Grand Valley State University • Murphy Mccool, Rossville UMC, Spring Arbor University • Mackenzie Mercer, Mossville UMC, Illinois State University • Michelle Petty, Mahomet UMC, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary • Rachel Schlueter, Cantrall UMC, Illinois State University • John Taliwaga, Effingham Centenary UMC, Enrolled In Advanced Or Clinical Pastoral Education Training • Jack Van Gorkom, Trenton First UMC, Greenville University
Harrisburg First UMC celebrated Palm Sunday with a very lively, spirit-filled worship service. Following the service the church held their annual Soup and Pie Auction with proceeds going to the church’s Caring for Kids program. The fundraiser netted $10,295 – funding that will provide two months of ministry for the program. The church’s Grover Dickerson Fund matched the fundraiser total, providing the ministry with $20,590.
Photos courtesy of Harrisburg First UMC
Murphysboro UMC hosted the 2025 Prentice Sermon which included the dedication of a grave marker for a pioneer circuit rider. Rev. Philip Davis, (1797-1841), whose ministry mainly took place in Missouri, settled in Murphysboro. His wife, Margaret Logan Davis (1802-1891) was the half-sister of Civil War General John A. Logan. Pictured at the grave marker dedication, representing those who donated to the cost of the marker, included from left, Nancy Fager chair of the church’s Memorial Committee; Sharon Jones whose donation was in memory of her husband, P. Michael Jones; Rev. Keith Anderson, executive director of Preachers’ Aid Society and Benefit Fund; Dee Blakely, member of the IGRC Commission on Archives and History; and Rev. Stan Irvin, South District Dist. Superintendent and Prentice Sermon speaker. Several direct descendants of Rev. Davis were on hand for the
Esguerra passes state CPA exam
McKendree receives grant to develop chaplain intern program
BY MARDENE HINTON Kankakee St. Mark UMC
LEBANON – McKendree University’s campus ministry was recently awarded a two-year grant totaling in nearly $39,000 from the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) to foster leadership for communities of faith. A program of the Council of Independent Colleges supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., NetVUE is a nationwide network of more than 300 colleges and universities formed to support and enrich vocational exploration and discernment among undergraduate students. The grant will allow for the expansion of the university’s chaplain intern program with various faith community partners. Currently, McKendree has eight chaplain interns who serve seven communities of faith in Lebanon, Troy, Edwardsville, O’Fallon, Belleville, and others. “There are about 150 to 200 people per community, and all of those lives are touched each week by these chaplain interns,” said the Rev. Dr. Beverly L. Wilkes-Null, McKendree’s university chaplain. “When these students come to McKendree, we try to match them to what they’re already familiar with, and they have a say in where they’d like to serve. If they aren’t local, they are invited to explore a few
congregations before committing themselves to their assignment.” These students, who devote extra time to their faith during their college career, dedicate at least 60 hours of volunteer time each semester to these local congregations. This can include volunteering at Lenten fish fries, leading praise and worship, teaching Sunday school, and more. “Our ultimate goal is to help congregations see themselves as partners with our student interns. They learn from our interns, and our interns learn from them,” said Rev. Dr. Wilkes- Null. In a time in which church attendance has overall declined since the pandemic, NetVUE is seeking ways to increase leadership in communities of faith. The grant given to McKendree will help students interested in religion and other vocations discern their purpose, grow their relationships with their communities and one another, and foster leadership with their communities of faith, all while strengthening McKendree’s ties with these communities. For more information, please visit NetVUE at https://www.cic.edu/networks/netvue
KANKAKEE – The members of Kankakee St. Mark UMC celebrated the accomplishment of Henrick Esguerra who passed all four sections of the Illinois Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam. This accomplishment was made within a 9-month period. It required a great deal of study time, good study methods, and of course retention of all the things studied. It is not an easy feat!! The CPA exam is one of the most respected and challenging professional exams. Passing it sets
service and grave marker dedication. Photo courtesy of Murphysboro First UMC
you apart as a highly skilled and qualified professional in the world of accounting. The rigorous standards set by the Illinois Board of Examiners ensure that only the most competent candidates become licensed CPA’s. Henrick was granted scholarships from the Illinois Great Rivers Conference (IGRC), the General Board of Higher Education, and the Ministry of the UMC, all of which he and his family were very thankful for. He graduated with dual degrees from McKendree University in Lebanon, in 2024: a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems with highest honors. His parents are Rev. Dr. Enrico R. and Myra Esguerra. As Henrick awaits his license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, there is no doubt that in the future he will make significant contributions to the accounting firm in which he is employed. We are very pleased to have him as a member of our church family and wish to thank him for all the talents he shares with us here at Saint Mark. We now look forward to watching him grow professionally as well.
Photos courtesy of Kumler Outreach Ministries Springfield Kumler UMC was the site of Feeding Springfield One Lasagna at a Time’s Bunny Bash. The church’s parking lot was converted into a play area for the neighborhood children with a parked fire truck, cotton candy, hot dogs and various games. The Easter Bunny also made an appearance and attendees learned about community organizations and the work of Kumler Outreach Ministries. The day ended with bicycles donated by the Midwest Mission Distribution Center finding new homes.
4 | MAY 2025 | THE CURRENT
THE CURRENT | MAY 2025 | 5
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