A United Methodist church in Livonia, Michigan, awarded 21 higher-education scholarships and 7 camperships this year, proving that a congregation’s generosity can change the trajectory of a young person’s future.
Newburg United Methodist Church in Livonia continues to put its faith into action by awarding 21 higher-education scholarships and 7 camp scholarships this year. This is a testament to the generosity of a congregation that believes in supporting young people at every stage of their journey — whether they are chasing a dream, finishing a degree, learning a trade, or starting something new.
Each higher education scholarship recipient received $4,000 to put toward school-related expenses. In addition, camperships were awarded to kids who will spend part of this summer at camp, unplugged from the noise and open to something bigger than themselves. Newburg covered the full cost of attendance for all seven camp recipients, ensuring that cost was never a barrier to a summer of growth, faith, and fellowship.
That’s not a small thing. That’s this church doing what it does best. At a time when the cost of college continues to climb and many young people feel the weight of that burden, Newburg UMC’s commitment stands out. These scholarships are more than just checks — for many families, the awards help cover immediate costs such as textbooks, tuition deposits, and housing.
“Newburg didn’t just hand these students a check. We handed them a cheer,” said Ali Belsky, Director of Youth Ministry, Young Adults, and Communications at Newburg UMC. “Every person in these pews who has given to this fund was essentially saying, ‘We’re rooting for you. Go do the thing.’ And when it gets hard, and it will get hard, remember that a whole community is behind you.”
This year’s scholarship totals were made possible by the continued generosity of the Newburg UMC faith community. Over the past several years, donations to the church’s scholarship fund have grown steadily, allowing the committee to increase award amounts and reach more students than ever before. What started as a modest program has become a meaningful source of support for families across the congregation.
“This is who we are at Newburg,” Belsky added. “We’re witnessing how we show up for each other, investing in each other’s futures. We believe that what God is doing in one person’s life has ripple effects we can’t even imagine yet.”
Whether a student is headed off to a four-year university, a trade program, or a week at camp, Newburg UMC’s scholarships reflect a simple but powerful idea: that education and experience, in all their forms, are worth investing in.
The publication of this article was made possible thanks to generous financial gifts from local United Methodist churches in Michigan through Ministry Shares. Thank you! Learn about the impact of Ministry Shares on mission and ministry in Michigan and around the world.
Last Updated on September 2, 2026