Sander Seminarian Scholarship Challenge

Phyllis and Duane Sander

Duane and Phyllis Sander understand the debt that higher education can bring, and they are especially concerned about the impact that this debt has on new pastors.

The Sanders would like to see the financial indebtedness of seminary students eliminated. To encourage others to take a step toward achieving this goal, they have offered a gift in the form of the Sander Seminarian Scholarship Challenge. Through this challenge, all general fund scholarship gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to a total off $250,000. The match will run through the remainder off the fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2008.

The Sanders say they have given this generously because "it's important to give now. If our gift can grow, as well as help people now, it will help people forever."

They say that the most important reason for the gift is for seminarians to gain a sense that someone believes in them individually and wants them to succeed in their studies. "It provides the students with a sense of pride and responsibility to complete their education and become pastors or professional workers in the church. It's an encouragement. A way to say, you're doing something important."