To Sit with People Like Jesus Did

It’s no small thing to receive financial support when you’re pursuing education. Three-time Heart of the City Foundation scholarship recipient Frances Gray couldn’t be more grateful for how people like you have come alongside her as she goes to school to become a nurse: “I don’t even have words to really describe it.”

Despite thoroughly enjoying her years as a Student Ministry leader at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, Frances Gray started to feel God calling her to a new realm of service: nursing. Many questions gnawed at her as she considered what her next steps might be, a major one being, “What does this look like financially?” Because of the generosity of people like you, she’s had the utter joy of receiving Heart of the City Foundation scholarships the last few years, alleviating her financial worries as she becomes a nurse. 

Before Frances started nursing school, there was a lot to consider. She says, “I could probably cry talking about it, but as I think about the financial piece, that probably felt the most scary to me.” Thanks to the generosity of people like you, Frances’s HOCF scholarships have covered nearly all of her schooling expenses so far!

Frances asked herself, “What are people going to think about this? What do I even think about this?” She had worked in Student Ministry for six years and had truly thrived. There was so much about Student Ministry she loved, especially the special relationships she had nurtured with students over the years. She ached thinking about what she might lose. Still, she couldn’t help but feel God was tugging her towards a new adventure. 

Frances asked herself, “What are people going to think about this? What do I even think about this?”

From Clemson University, she had first come to First Pres as an Orlando Fellow. She says, “Coming in as a 22-year-old and having so many people in different life stages just wrap their arms around me has been such a huge blessing.” So luckily, she had wonderful people around her to help her sense if she was making the right decision in pursuing nursing school. 

One rainy morning, she went over to Bret and Kim Allen’s house. At the time, Bret was her boss, but he and Kim were also her friends. Frances confided in them, “This is where I feel that the Lord is leading, but I’m just having a really hard time actually saying ‘yes.’” They prayed together. A couple days later, Kim encouragingly told Frances, “We aren’t God, but Bret and I both think this is what you should do.”

With theirs and others’ support, Frances started making moves towards her new vocation. She became an intern at Middleton Pediatrics, registered for her prerequisite courses for nursing school, and emotionally prepared herself for the intensity of nursing school. Now that she’s in the midst of nursing school, she jokes that she’s had to trust that her friends will still be there on the other side.  

One of the biggest pieces yet to come together was how she would pay for school. With nursing school being so expensive, she was anxious about it. She knew about Heart of the City Foundation’s scholarship program from being an Orlando Fellow and from writing many scholarship recommendations for students in Student Ministry. Now she was the one applying.

When Frances found out she would receive a scholarship, she was elated and relieved!

When Frances found out she would receive a scholarship, she was elated and relieved! In fact, her first scholarship exactly covered her expenses for her prerequisite classes. “For people to put aside a generous gift for someone they don’t even know, so that I’m able to do this thing God is calling me to,” she explains, “I just think that it reflects the Lord’s kindness and generosity in a way that’s just so tangible.” 

“I love people. I have always been drawn to people and how God has made people, and as I think about my Student Ministry experience, I would say some of my favorite moments were getting to sit with high school girls in some of their most vulnerable moments—this authentic, honest relationship—to where, from that place, I was able to point them forward.”

While nursing school is living up to its reputation—“all-consuming”—Frances truly feels like she’s in her stride, learning new skills and exercising her natural giftings and convictions. She’s always loved people, everything about them. What she’s most looking forward to as a nurse is being able to give patients extra time, attention, and care as she meets them in some of their most sensitive circumstances, reflecting the love of Jesus.

“When I think about Jesus, I think about how He sat with people.”

“When I think about Jesus,” shares Frances, “I think about how He sat with people. He was available and He moved towards people and was with them really in their vulnerable moments. A lot of that is lost. It’s just so easy to be busy and to go on to the next thing. To embody who He is within me to somebody else makes me excited.” 

Thank you for investing in people like Frances through this scholarship program. Whether you are a Foundation Champion, a Legacy Society member, a Fund Sponsor, or give otherwise, you are making these God-given callings possible for so many students. 

Frances says, “With so much gratitude, I want to say thank you to everyone who has chosen to make a really significant, eternal impact on the people who are receiving these scholarships, including myself. It feels like this ripple effect. I’m getting to experience this first-hand because of your financial gift, but thinking about the number of patients and people who will be impacted through this gift as well—that is just incredible.”