2021 Towel and Basin Award Winners
Wilmore Campus: Linda Coots
The Towel and Basin Award is an award presented by the Alumni Department of Asbury Seminary to a graduating student who has shown throughout their time at the Seminary a loving attitude, and caring actions toward others. Their example has proven that they have a heart to serve the people around them. This prestigious award allows students, staff, and faculty to recognize someone who has displayed a servant’s heart in our community, and in all areas of life. Through this person we in this academic community have been able to reflect upon the heart of Christ and how embodying Christ’s heart can impact our world.
This person is a servant leader on campus who has gone out of her way to serve others. She has served as a student chaplain for three years and many students will attest to her loving support. In April of 2019, she went above and beyond the call of duty when one of our beloved students was killed in a horrible car accident and two others were seriously injured. Linda repeatedly visited the students who were hospitalized and helped them transition back to life in the dorms as they were recovering. As a chaplain, she was an absolute rock for other students as they grieved their loss, even as she herself grieved. She has modeled her life after the example of Christ and is often seen on campus listening, praying with students, or helping to meet practical needs to help students along with their transformational journey.
She has been a consistent servant on our campus from her first day here. As a student chaplain she has cared tirelessly for women in the dorms and brought humor and joy to many people. She’s had many struggles during her Asbury career, but has consistently turned her attention to helping others. Not only is her helpful and compassionate attitude displayed toward fellow students, but Linda could often be seen lending a hand in staff offices and at events. No matter where she is or what she is doing, she is always available and helpful. Every interaction with Linda is characterized by genuine love and good humor. She never hesitates to do whatever is needed without a thought to herself. We believe she is a servant through and through, and we will miss her life-giving presence as she graduates! Asbury Seminary’s Towel and Basin Award Kentucky campus winner for 2021 is Linda Coots.
Florida-Dunnam Campus: Linda Chislom
One of the truths we have always acknowledged here is that, “Life doesn’t stop just because you are in seminary.” This year’s Florida campus recipient of the Towel and Basin Award has been living proof of that over her six-year journey at Asbury. Like many Orlando students, she came to Asbury later in life, living out the calling God placed on her to return to school and earn her MDiv. With so many years between her earlier education and graduate education, she faced some uphill challenges. In writing about her journey, she recently said: “I did not quit! Despite the obstacles, hurdles, mountains and valleys I experienced. I give God the glory for sustaining me.” Those words may sum up her journey at Asbury better than any others.
During her years here she has been a constant encourager of others, a friend to so many, a consistent presence in Chapel – sometimes volunteering to help, other times encouraging others to worship. She has affected many in her journey and been affected by much in her time at Asbury. She has had to persevere through re-learning how to write all those papers, read all those books, and find the discipline to juggle her responsibilities at her real estate job, her work and ministry at Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, and the challenges of life. This year’s recipient of the Towel and Basin Award has not only survived but thrived in seminary.
She has overcome obstacles few have had to face in this journey. Fourteen months ago, as we all attempted to adjust to a worldwide pandemic, she faced the ultimate loss – that of her husband and best friend of more than three decades. On March 13, 2020, after 33 years of marriage, her husband Rufus passed away and she faced a more uncertain future than most in the burgeoning COVID-19 world. A month after his death and, after having to postpone the funeral service because of COVID, she wrote: “I sat many days after work in a stupor. I moved about life in a robotic fashion. Through it all, I never questioned God by asking, ‘Why?’ but continued to serve as best I could even in great pain.” Statements like this reveal her servant’s heart and her faith shining through her tears.
Recently, on the one-year anniversary of her husband’s death, and with her typical courage and fortitude, she wrote, “Today I woke up at the same time I did last year, but today was different. I had the privilege of reminiscing on the good times, the rough times, and the lonely times I have experienced. Yet I had a spirit of admiration and praise for the man God loaned me.” In view of the obstacles, she has overcome in both the classroom and the home; in view of the faith and courage she has shown in the face of struggle and grief; in view of the servant’s heart and perseverance she has shown in the face of such great loss, it is our pleasure to announce the winner of Asbury Seminary’s Towel and Basin Award for the Florida-Dunnam campus is Linda Chislom.
Leave a Reply