I am so grateful for the support for my seminary studies. Those three years have deepened my love of the Bible and the church. I have now begun as a pastor, along with my husband, Benni, at the Frankfurt Mennonite church. I am also passionate about teen discipleship, having worked at Anabaptist camps in the US, Canada and now Germany. – Rianna Isaak-Krauss, MACF, 2020, Germany (originally from Canada)

One of the gifts of my studies at AMBS was learning to trust my own eyes, experience, and intellect when encountering the biblical text. Like many, I found the Bible simultaneously interesting and scary - "how do you know what it really means?" The wisdom and generosity of the Biblical Studies professors equipped me to engage with and exegete the text bringing it more alive for me, furthering my love for the text. One of my joys as a pastor is helping people see that they, too, have the skills to engage with the text without running to a study guide or the Internet first. I am grateful for the strong financial aid, which includes scholarships like the Olen & Irene Britsch Scholarship, that made seminary affordable. – Rachel Siemens, MDiv, 2007, Carman, Manitoba

This scholarship has been an enormous blessing to me. By the time I graduated from college with a psychology degree, I knew that I wanted to continue on to seminary with the hopes of becoming a pastor in a few years. Although I felt called to do this, I was not sure that seminary would be a financially viable option right away, because of my preexisting student debt. But thanks to the generosity of this scholarship, I have the opportunity to pursue a pastoral education without waiting or sinking further into debt. Thank you for your support which is making this education possible for me and so many others! – Anna Ressler, MDiv, 2023, Hagerstown, Maryland

It was important to me to receive a theological education, given that I intend to serve Christ’s church as a minister of God’s word. Yet doing so without financial aid would have been impossible, or at least unwise. I almost did not attend seminary due to the anticipated financial barrier, but went prayerfully nonetheless. To be able to have dedicated time to learn without significant financial burden was an incredible gift. For the legacy of Olen & Irene Britsch, I am grateful to God. They were an answer to prayer. – Andrew Austin, MDiv, 2017, Palmyra, Missouri

I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to study at AMBS and to have received my Master of Divinity in 2012. The professors, students, administration and experiences both on and off campus all contributed to a well-rounded theological education that has served me well as a chaplain in medical settings and now as a pastor of a local Mennonite congregation. I thank God for the Olen and Irene Britsch Scholarship that helped support my education. Thank you for your ongoing, generous commitment to help fund seminary education for students in financial need. – Terri Geiser, MDiv, 2012, Elkhart, Indiana

During my time at AMBS, I grew in my understanding of scripture and ministry, and came to understand myself in an Anabaptist context. As a church administrator and a new church plant lay leader, this has helped me encourage and respond to people more effectively and compassionately. The financial support of the Olen and Irene Britsch scholarship was essential in allowing me to study at AMBS, and I hope to continue honoring their legacy of mission and service. – Rachel Joy, alumna, 2016-2020, Portland, Oregon

Thanks to the nudging of family and friends, I was seriously considering seminary for about 10 years before I finally took the plunge and did it. The biggest hurdle for me was always financial - I felt the call to ministry but was unsure how I'd be able to afford a seminary education. Thanks to funds like the Olen & Irene Britsch Scholarship, I was able to set aside that particular barrier and pursue a Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies online, which I completed in May of this year. – Danae King, CTS, 2021, Orrville, Ohio