The office of Stewardship Ministries has announced the 2016-2017 winners of the Stewardship Sermon Scholarship. The award is given to those students whose sermons are judged most effective in exploring biblical stewardship in the contemporary context of the local Nazarene church.

This year, two winners were chosen for submitting excellent stewardship sermons: Rachael Reichley, attending Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri; and Sam Bartolome, attending Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho. Each will receive a $1,000 scholarship toward their continued pastoral development.

Stewardship Ministries began sponsoring the scholarship in 2008, thanks to a generous legacy gift. Funds are awarded annually to Religion and Christian Education students who are currently enrolled 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 Deuteronomy 8:17-18. 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 Reichley and Bartolome offered insightful, challenging calls to biblical stewardship. Stewardship Ministries would like to congratulate both winners on their excellent work. Their sermons are available as a free resource download on the Stewardship website.

Information about the upcoming 2017-2018 Stewardship Sermon Scholarship competition will be released on the Stewardship Sermon Scholarship webpage soon. Additional questions or comments can be directed to Stewardship Ministries at stewardship@nazarene.org.

--Stewardship Ministries