A story of one of our many students who has benefited from the generosity of our SEU donors. Learn more about Giving Day 2026 here.
Jorgie Marshall followed what she knew was God’s call to enter a career in ministry after spending years in the corporate world. She served faithfully in ministry for three years, and then at 43, she was ready to begin her MA in Ministerial Leadership degree at SEU. However, one month before classes were about to start, her world shifted. The ministry campus where she was working suddenly closed, leaving her with big questions about what came next and how she could afford to continue with her educational plans.
“When the campus closure happened, it would have been easy to see it as a sign to stop,” Jorgie said. “But I knew my calling hadn’t changed, even though my circumstances had.”
The Gift That Made Education Possible
Jorgie’s path into ministry unfolded slowly, shaped by experience, prayer, and the courage to walk away from a long-time career to say yes to something deeper.
During that difficult season, Jorgie learned she had been selected as the very first recipient of the Graper Family Scholarship Endowment. The timing couldn’t have been more meaningful.
To her, the scholarship felt like a reminder that she wasn’t walking this road alone. “Sometimes when you feel like you don’t know where financial support is going to come from, and then you feel chosen, and you feel reminded that God sees you,” she said.
Returning to school after 20 years was no small adjustment, but Jorgie was determined. What kept her moving forward was a sense of responsibility, not just to herself, but to the people who had invested in her journey. The financial support made it possible for her to pursue her education, but the encouragement behind it mattered just as much. Knowing that the Graper family and SEU believed in her calling gave her the resolve to keep going.
Ministry That Meets People Where They Are
That perseverance opened the door to her next chapter. Jorgie accepted a role as a campus staff minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, where she focuses on discipleship and small group ministry. This relational, faith-driven work has given her an opportunity that fits both her experience and her heart for walking alongside others.
A Journey That Came Together in God’s Perfect Timing
Jorgie’s story exhibits both patience and trust in God. Today, she sees her journey as complete in a way that feels right. The Graper Family Scholarship Endowment supported her education, steadied her in a moment of doubt, and carried her forward into the work she believes God was always calling her to do.
SEU Giving Day 2026
Giving Day 2026 is an opportunity for Southeastern University’s community of alumni, donors, and friends to come together and make a lasting impact. Contributions made on Giving Day support students through scholarship provision and campus-wide initiatives, including new program opportunities, all to empower students to pursue learning, answer God’s call, and make a difference in the world. Your generosity helps shape the leaders of tomorrow by fostering faith and expanding access to education at SEU.
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