Know a Retired Alumnus Who Could Use Some Help with Medical Costs?
Last Spring, Asbury Theological Seminary launched a new program called the Shepherd’s Fund. We are collaborating with a friend of the Seminary to honor our retired alumni for their service by ensuring they have their medical needs met in their retirement years. We understand that our alumni often serve the Body of Christ sacrificially and do not have the savings, retirement, and insurance options many people have in the secular marketplace. If you or a loved one is a retired alumnus or the spouse of a retired alumnus who was formerly engaged in vocational ministry and needs assistance with medical costs, you can apply for assistance by filling out the electronic application here or requesting a paper application by emailing us at alumni@asburyseminary.edu, or by calling us at 859-858-2085. We will even send you a postage-paid envelope, so you won’t even need a stamp to return it!
In order to be approved for this fund, you MUST be a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary, and you MUST be retired and in good standing with your denomination/church.
Costs that may be covered include:
- Doctor and hospital bills
- Diagnostic Imaging and tests
- Hearing aides
- Dentures and Dental work
- Surgeries
- Prescriptions
- Wheel chairs,walkers, and other mobility assistance devices
- Ramps, pull bars, and other home modifications that are medically needed
- Medical equipment, including life alert services
- In-home care, nursing care, and hospice
- …and more!
If all this sounds too good to be true, we would like to update you with the status of the fund so far. As of January 1st, 2019, The Asbury Shepherd’s Fund has received 40 applications, 38 of which were approved. Our applicants requested a total of $266,362, but were actually approved for MORE than they asked for! Shepherd’s Fund page here. Our applicants were actually approved for $322,000, which is an additional $55,638 more than they requested. To date, the fund has successfully paid out a total of $190,011.78 of the total $322,000 that has been approved. It is out intention to serve at least 75 more alumni through this program this year. Help us get the word out! For more information, visit our or get in contact with us!
Thank you SO much for setting up this fund! How nice to have something to lean on in time of need, since as was stated, clergy “often serve the Body of Christ sacrificially and do not have the savings, retirement, and insurance options many people have in the secular marketplace”. My husband, Rev. Sheldon Reese, a 1983 graduate of ATS, had to leave ministry a few years early back in 2016 due to Parkinson’s disease. (He had served the UMC for 33 years at that point.) So far, we are managing his medical bills, but it is nice to know that this fund is available if/when we might need it!