Some people refer to them as “preacher’s kids.” Josefa Bethea Wall prefers to call herself a “theological offspring.”

The daughter of a preacher and a teacher, Bethea Wall’s parents served The United Methodist Church for nearly 40 years. It was one of many legacies they passed on to their daughter.

“I am a child of the Central Jurisdiction,” Bethea Wall laughed. “I grew up connected to church and to church-related schools. You could say I was born to be a servant leader in the church.”

If there is a legacy as strong as the Methodist roots Bethea Wall inherited from her parents, it is her connection to Bennett College for Women, one of 11 historically Black United Methodist colleges and universities. Located in Greensboro, N.C., Bennett was a second home for the young Bethea Wall. It’s also where her mother, grandmother and godmother attended and graduated.

The decision to make Bennett her college home was easy. It made geographical—and historical—sense.

“I understood the significance of continuing the legacy,” Bethea Wall said. “And I knew at a small, historically Black college I would be nurtured.

“When there are 500 of you instead of 5,000, you have more opportunities to put your hands on people and experiences that impact your life,” she added. “At Bennett, I got to see the world first hand—not just from someone else’s eyes.”

Bethea Wall is a graduate of Bennett College for Women. She works in nonprofit management with a focus on education.

Please encourage your congregation to support the Black College Fund apportionment at 100% so young people like Ms. Wall can make a difference in our future.

For more information visit our website at umcgiving.org/BCF.

Lladale Carey
Web Coordinator
UMCGiving.org
United Methodsit Communications