Hi, my name is Parker Davis and I’m a graduating senior this year. I have been a part of St. Luke’s Student Ministries since the beginning of 7th grade. Being a part of this ministry has shaped me into the person I am today, and I couldn’t thank them enough for all they have done for me.

Back in 7th grade, I couldn’t go on a retreat, and I was so bummed. It would have been my first church retreat and all my friends were there. It was disappointing, but God brought some good out of it. Once my youth pastors found out the reason I couldn’t go was due to financial reasons, they offered me a scholarship. At the time I didn’t know that the church even knew my name, let alone that they would offer me a scholarship to go on a trip. That showed me how much they cared for me, a new member of the church. It was truly amazing.

Several years later, as a freshman in high school, there was an upcoming trip to a youth conference called CIY (Christ In Youth). As someone who’s family doesn’t make much money, I never thought I would be able to go because it was out of state and a week long. I had heard so many amazing things from the upperclassmen about how this trip changed their lives and changed their faith, yet all I could think about was how I wasn’t going to be able to go. It was hard thinking about not going, so I just accepted that I probably wouldn’t go on that trip. Although one day, I got a call from one of my youth pastors, and  again, they offered me a scholarship! I was so excited!

Since being offered a spot on that trip freshman year, I have gone every year. It is truly a life-changing trip, and I wouldn’t have been able to go if it had not for St. Luke’s financial support. I made bonds with friends that couldn’t be made anywhere else, and Jesus continued changing my life every summer. I hope that by reading part of my testimony and how scholarships changed my life, I can encourage you to consider the ways you can support students at St. Luke’s. Please help give the gift of a life-changing experience for other students like me by contacting Brindley Ginn at bginn@stlukesmethodist.org.