Why is congregational student aid important?
	It’s Church Education Sunday at your congregation, and the offering plate is coming down your row. Your church board is also in the throes of determining whether your congregation should give—or increase—scholarships to students attending Mennonite higher education institutions. Money is tight. Energy prices, mission and service obligations and church building projects all discourage other generosity. Tight budgets are something everyone can understand. What is not as readily understood is how congregations can significantly lower the cost of a Mennonite education for students through a church matching grant program— congregational student aid. For example, Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold, Ohio, taught Amanda Huerta that preparing for a life of service is about both giving and receiving. Because of Zion’s generosity, she could attend a Mennonite college.   Affording a Mennonite college education seemed impossible for Amanda, even though she yearned to be the first one in her family to complete college. So when Zion gave her $7,000—and matching funds from her college of choice brought the total up to $9,500—she knew that God and God’s people cared about her.
	“This scholarship shows me that adults in Mennonite Church USA really care about the next generation, and that God really cares about the desires of my heart. This generosity makes me want to give something back. That’s why I chose a career in education and why I want to do voluntary service. I want to make a difference in people’s lives, too.” ---Student Amanda Huerta
	Here’s how it works: Each Mennonite Church USA college/university will match the first $1,000 of congregational student aid dollar-for-dollar. Beyond $1,000 from the congregation, the colleges and universities will provide $1 of matching aid for every $4 provided, up to full tuition. When we really look at the issue of mutual aid, we can see just how important congregational support is.