VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 9/20/21)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) is pleased to announce that Abigail Fell-Dewalt of Pine City, N.Y., and Christian Schmutz of Longview, Wash., have been named the recipients of the Daniel E. Weiss Scholarship. This year Fell-Dewalt will be attending Palmer Seminary, Wayne, Pa., while Schmutz will be attending Fuller Seminary, Pasadena, Calif.
“Being selected to receive the Daniel E. Weiss Scholarship was an incredible encouragement, not only financially, but also as an affirmation from the Lord in moving in this direction,” says Schmutz. “When I learned I had been given the incredible honor of being a recipient of this generous award, my wife and I literally leapt for joy together.”
Says Fell-Dewalt: “These last couple of years have been filled with illness for me. I have asked God on numerous occasions how I was going to be able to go to school in order to receive the training to do His work. God’s first answer was through this scholarship and others were to follow. I was in shock when I received the Weiss scholarship. I would like to thank those who awarded me with this scholarship, the people who contribute to this scholarship, and my God who has not failed me yet and who has made it possible for me to go to seminary.”
A three-year renewable award for up to $8,000 per academic year, the Weiss scholarship seeks to relieve a portion of the educational loan debt that a student may accrue. It is awarded every two-to-three years to an exemplary American Baptist who is entering seminary and shows previous academic achievement, emerging leadership in the life of the American Baptist denomination, and strong potential for future ministry.
To be eligible, a student must possess a 3.0 undergraduate grade-point average, be entering an American Baptist-affiliated or other accredited seminary, be a member in good standing at an American Baptist church, and remain committed to the growth and sustainability of the denomination.
The award is provided through the Weiss Fund of Excellence, established by the late Rev. Dr. Daniel E. Weiss, who served as general secretary of American Baptist Churches USA, 1988-2000. The scholarship is administered by ABHMS’ Office of the Executive Director in collaboration with ABHMS’ Leadership Empowerment team.
Weiss, who died on Aug. 22, 2020, left behind a legacy of Christian leadership. This legacy is now carried out through organizations such as the Weiss Fund, working to help uplift new American Baptist leaders with the help of this scholarship award.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists to promote Christian faith, cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and bring healing and transformation to communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.