D. Thomason Grant Recipients - 2008 Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Austin, TX Auburn Theological Seminary, New York, NY Childspring International, Atlanta, GA First Presbyterian Church, Natchitoches, LA The Fuller Center for Housing, Shreveport, LA Haiti Education Foundation - USA Office, Little Rock, AR Holmes Chapel Presbyterian Church, Monticello, AR Lyon College, Batesville, AR Mo-Ranch, Hunt, TX The Salvation Army, Shreveport, LA Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Home and Family Services, Monticello, AR Volunteers of America North Louisiana, Shreveport, LA Volunteers for Youth Justice, Shreveport, LA

"I feel strongly that God is calling me into ministry with a church that asks itself the question at the heart of Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth: how are we to live as a set-apart people in a world that too often fails to mirror what God intends?

I believe that the church is called to struggle with this question - not to disengage with the world in an attempt to perfect our piety, and certainly not to allow the church to cater to the needs of our culture in an effort to become more attractive.

I believe … that we are faced with a particularly pointed question: whom do we trust? We are called to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, who, in the face of fear, ushered in a new reality that confounded the powers that promulgated that fear. We are called to put our trust in the God of Abraham and Sarah, who shattered limitations and expectations and raised up a people.