Nearly a decade ago, Bill Hairston received a brochure in the mail advertising the Lay Academy of Theology at Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School.
As a longtime Sunday school teacher, he knew he could benefit from classes on a variety of subjects taught by Beeson faculty.
“I went to the first one, then went to another the next spring or fall, and I got hooked,” Hairston said. “I started doing two classes a session, and then I got my wife involved and she started going.”
Along the way, Hairston realized he ought to give back to Beeson for all the school provides for the community. He and his wife, Lynn, began an annual scholarship awarded to a Beeson student to encourage the school to continue pursuing its mission and vision.
The Hairstons’ generous giving has enabled students like Zack Clemmons, MDiv ’23, to focus on preparing for ministry rather than making ends meeting during their time at Beeson. Clemmons came to Beeson with a wife, two children, and a third child on the way. Two more children followed during his time at school.
“While ministry was what God had called me to, I knew it would be years of hustling to both attend to my studies and provide for my family,” Clemmons said. “From donors making my first few scholarships available to the Hairstons, they made my academic career possible. I didn’t have to factor tuition into our family budget, which was a great gift.”
Clemmons came to Beeson pursuing ordination in the Anglican church, seeking to deepen his understanding of Scripture and historical Christian theology.
“It was a time to tie a lot of things together that had maybe been disparate pieces of my undergraduate theological education,” he said.
Clemmons now serves as associate rector at Christ the King Anglican Church in Birmingham.
“We’ve been impressed with the students who received the scholarship,” Hairston said. “Zack has been wonderful. One of the highlights for us this year was being invited to an Anglican barbecue and seeing Zack again. It was wonderful to see him and see how he’s progressed and what he’s been able to do.”
Hairston is now experiencing Beeson as a student, beginning his Master of Arts in Theological Studies this fall, building on the foundation that was laid with Lay Academy classes.
“I believe in Lay Academy and believe it’s a worthwhile thing, and now I’m seeking more instruction,” Hairston said. “Both Lay Academy and my classes thus far have tremendously benefited my teaching. When you’re trying to self-instruct, you are easily deceived. It’s necessary to have someone more knowledgeable than you to at least chart a path.”
GIVE: Learn more about funding Beeson scholarships.