BGAV Nontraditional Ministry Education Scholarships Through the vision and stewardship of faithful Virginia Baptists, the Baptist General Association of Virginia has offered scholarships to deserving recipients for many years. Through Cooperative Missions offerings of Virginia Baptists around the state, students are able to receive scholarships to assist in their education. The Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) is committed to the development of emerging leaders of all ages for advancing the Redeemer’s Kingdom. To that end, the BGAV is committed to financially aiding emerging leaders in their educational development. BGAV Nontraditional Ministry Education Scholarships are given each year by the BGAV Scholarships and Ministerial Education Funds Committee to Virginia Baptist students who meet all established requirements. Through these means, a continuing relationship between the applicant and the Baptist General Association of Virginia will develop. BGAV Nontraditional Ministry Education Scholarships assist BGAV church leaders in accessing training and continuing education opportunities provided by BGAV ministry partners and the Virginia Baptist Mission Board (VBMB). These scholarships are intended to assist nontraditional students, who are defined as: part-time students who are in nondegree programs of study with an emphasis in continuing education for ministry in the local church. Clergy and lay leaders who have a financial need and are active members of a cooperating church of the BGAV may apply for a scholarship for up to one-third the cost of an educational offering sponsored by a ministry partner. Currently, ministry partners are: the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, the John Leland Center for Theological Studies, Bluefield College, Clear Creek Baptist Bible College (Kentucky), and Virginia Intermont College.

General Requirements for BGAV Nontraditional Ministry Education Scholarships:

The Applicant Must/Must Be: • An active member of a cooperating church of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. The church must contribute financially to the Virginia portion of the Cooperative Missions budget. • Enrolled through one of the following ministry partners: the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, the John Leland Center for Theological Studies, Bluefield College, Clear Creek Baptist Bible College (Kentucky), or Virginia Intermont College. • A part-time student who is in a nondegree program of study with an emphasis in continuing education for ministry in the local church. • Agree not to apply for BGAV Achievement Scholarships, BGAV Achievement Scholarships for BGAV Academies, BGAV Ministerial Education Funds, BGAV Nontraditional Ministry Education Scholarships, or Christian Leaders Link Scholarship Funds simultaneously.

General Information Regarding BGAV Nontraditional Ministry Education Scholarships:

1. Scholarship amounts are granted per student for the semester and are determined by the amount of monies available per applicant per course. 2. Scholarships are sent directly to the sponsoring BGAV ministry partner and credited to the applicant’s tuition. It is expected that the student, his or her church, and the respective ministry partner will share in the cost of matriculation. 3. Those receiving the scholarship will be informed by letter, including the amount of the scholarship. 4. In order to be eligible to continue to receive a scholarship, an application must be submitted each semester. 5. Scholarships are considered as grants and are not expected to be repaid. 6. Scholarships are available to cover up to 1/3 the cost of a course with a maximum of three (3) courses per semester and a maximum of six (6) courses per year.

Instructions for Submitting Application Materials:

1. Please mail completed and signed application to: Virginia Baptist Mission Board Scholarship Office 2828 Emerywood Parkway Richmond, VA 23294 2. Applicants are responsible for submitting the required information. All blanks on the application must be completed. An incomplete application will not be considered. 3. Scholarship applications are due into the BGAV Scholarship Office by the first day of the month in which the term you are taking begins.

If you are applying for aid for the Children’s Ministry Certification or the Youth Ministry Certification, all spring BGAV Nontraditional Ministry Education Scholarship applications are due in by February 1 of the given year. All fall applications are due in by September 1 of the given year.

Virginia Baptist Mission Board Application for BGAV Nontraditional Ministry Education Scholarships

The completed application should be sent to the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, Scholarship Office, 2828 Emerywood Parkway, Richmond, Virginia 23294. If you have questions, please call 800.ALL.BGAV, ext. 6225, or email [email protected].

Personal Information Name _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Last First Middle Preferred Home Address __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Street City State Zip Date of Birth ____ / ____ / ____

Phone ( ______ ) ______ - ________

Email ___________________________________________________

Occupation _________________________________________________ Place of Employment ________________________________________

BGAV Church Information Church __________________________________________ How Long a Member? _______ Pastor ____________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Street City State Zip Work experience in Christian ministry (paid or volunteer):

Academic Information High school name/location ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Graduation date ____ / ____ / ____ Colleges/other schools attended Name of School

Location (City, State)

Dates Attended

Degrees Earned

Post-graduate work (indicate field of study) ___________________________________________________________________________________

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Educational Information List course(s) for which you are requesting aid. *Offered by _________________________________________________ Program __________________________________________________ Course Title/No. ______________________________________________ Beginning Date ____ / ____ / ____ Ending Date ____ / ____ / ____ Location ____________________________________________________ Instructor/Leader ___________________________________________ Costs __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (itemize) *Ministry Partner(s) sponsoring the course/event (Leland, BTSR, Bluefield, Intermont, Clear Creek, VBMB)

*Offered by _________________________________________________ Program __________________________________________________ Course Title/No. ______________________________________________ Beginning Date ____ / ____ / ____ Ending Date ____ / ____ / ____ Location ____________________________________________________ Instructor/Leader ___________________________________________ Costs __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (itemize) *Ministry Partner(s) sponsoring the course/event (Leland, BTSR, Bluefield, Intermont, Clear Creek, VBMB)

*Offered by _________________________________________________ Program __________________________________________________ Course Title/No. ______________________________________________ Beginning Date ____ / ____ / ____ Ending Date ____ / ____ / ____ Location ____________________________________________________ Instructor/Leader ___________________________________________ Costs __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (itemize) *Ministry Partner(s) sponsoring the course/event (Leland, BTSR, Bluefield, Intermont, Clear Creek, VBMB)

Personal Statement Please state your reasons for needing scholarship assistance:

You may attach additional pages as needed.

Agreements 1. 2. 3.

I pledge the information which I have provided is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I have read carefully the General Requirements for BGAV Nontraditional Ministry Education Scholarships, and I promise that I will do everything in my power to abide by the requirements. If I find that I cannot or I fail to comply with the General Requirements, I will immediately notify in writing the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, Scholarship Office, 2828 Emerywood Parkway, Richmond, VA 23294. I understand and agree that the award of BGAV Nontraditional Ministry Education Scholarships is subject to the BGAV’s sole discretion in the application of the evaluation criteria and is an inherently subjective decision. By providing this information, I hereby give the Virginia Baptist Mission Board permission to publicize my receipt of a scholarship.

Signature of Applicant _________________________________________________________________________

Date ____ / ____ / ____

For Internal Use Only Date ____ / ____ / ____ Approved by ______________________________________ Giving Plan __________________%

Award Amount _______________ Source ______________________________________ Amount ____________________________________

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