Hello! I am very excited to be applying to this scholarship as I feel I relate a lot to Thomas and his passions. From a young age, I had to learn how to work hard and make ends meet. Coming from a family where I lived with my father after he got out of jail and my parents split, my father couldn't get a job as a felon. I learned how to make money on the streets. I wasn't selling drugs, I would sell raffle tickets, or simply go around and ask if I could have money for food. I worked hard in high school and was able to get a full ride academically to go to Fresno State. I ran the Relay for Life branch, a part of the American Cancer Society. I led teams of people to fundraise for cancer research and treatment for 5 years. I was able to go to Fresno State for one year until Covid hit. I then dropped out to start working to help support my father again. I never knew Jesus, until someone shared the Gospel with me back in 2020. I never had a Christian community in my life, never had such deep relationships. I never had people truly be there for me, and when they said it, they meant it. I found a church down in San Diego, I had moved from Fresno to San Luis Obispo, and I decided to send it on a prayer and move down to San Diego. I started to have deep relationships. I thought to myself, this is what relationships were supposed to look like. I hadn't let people get too close to me because all the people that were close to me left me and walked out on me. These relationships were different, it brought healing, depth, and restoration and gave me something I never knew I needed. I have been so abundantly blessed and grateful for the people in my life today. Fast forward to today, I am currently working full time at my church. I get to mentor and disciple and love on the young adults. I get to preach and teach the Bible to them. I love it. I am also getting married on July 25th to my beautiful fiancee, Liza! She is way cooler than me. With all of this going on, I am also a full time student at GCU online. This has been a hectic and expensive season, financial support would quite literally change my life. I have been working two jobs and just recently had my first day off last week in 27 days. I appreciate you taking the time to read this letter!

Hello! My name is Trenton Ford, I am excited to be applying to Arthur and Elana Panos Scholarship. To give a shortened version of my testimony, I’ll cover the big points in it. Every home is broken in its own unique ways, and I was also raised in a broken home. My mom was and still is a severe anorexic, she wasn’t very present in my life. My sisters were a basket full, having the cops over at our house in what felt like a lot. My father was a good man who made a life changing mistake that sent him to jail for a bit. When he got out, my parents divorced, because part of what he did was had an affair. I decided to live with my father. You might be wondering, where is Christ in all this? Not in our family, we would go to church sometimes. We were the family that would fight on the way to church, pause and act like everything was fine at church, then fight on the way home. I will fast forward a lot to get to where Christ calls me out of my darkness. Living with my father was rough, no money, bills were hard, hot water would not be there, he married a rough woman who molested me. Times were hard. I got a full ride to Fresno State when I graduated high school and dropped out when covid happened that year in 2020. I moved and started working in sales. I started hanging out with the wrong crowd and started pursuing avenues with women I hadn’t before. It wasn't long before I gave up what was meant for marriage. I remember writing letters to myself saying how much I hated myself. Not long after, someone shared the Gospel with me, and like the scales falling off of Paul’s eyes, I could see. I could hear. Now it was time to figure out this journey as a new Christian. I didn’t have much guidance, so with my heart being pure, but coming from a lot of chaos, I had bad execution. It took a lot of humbling and biblical counseling from a few Godly men, my pastors. I started leading, did an internship, and to continue to fast forward to today, I am so honored and humbled that the Lord allows me to preach His Word and Gospel to our Young Adults ministry at the Grove. I disciple young adults and kids. I run the Outreach Ministry, I get to teach Sunday school to God’s beautiful children, I get to write curriculum for my church. My full time occupation is running the facilities ministry at the church. I am getting married on July 25th to my beautiful fiance, Liza. My end goal is to become a pastor, I currently go to GCU studying Biblical Studies, emphasis on Theology. After that, I will continue on to seminary to get my MDIV. God has always been faithful to me, when I haven’t been faithful to Him. I am simply a messenger of His Good News. Thanks for reading. Glory to God alone!

Hello! My name is Trenton Ford, I am excited to be applying to the Forever90 Scholarship. To give a shortened version of my testimony, I’ll cover the big points in it. Every home is broken in its own unique ways, and I was also raised in a broken home. My mom was and still is a severe anorexic, she wasn’t very present in my life. My sisters were a basket full, having the cops over at our house in what felt like a lot. My father was a good man who made a life changing mistake that sent him to jail for a bit. When he got out, my parents divorced, because part of what he did was had an affair. I decided to live with my father. You might be wondering, where is Christ in all this? Not in our family, we would go to church sometimes. We were the family that would fight on the way to church, pause and act like everything was fine at church, then fight on the way home. I will fast forward a lot to get to where Christ calls me out of my darkness. Living with my father was rough, no money, bills were hard, hot water would not be there, he married a rough woman who molested me. Times were hard. I got a full ride to Fresno State when I graduated high school and dropped out when covid happened that year in 2020. I moved and started working in sales. I started hanging out with the wrong crowd and started pursuing avenues with women I hadn’t before. It wasn't long before I gave up what was meant for marriage. I remember writing letters to myself saying how much I hated myself. Not long after, someone shared the Gospel with me, and like the scales falling off of Paul’s eyes, I could see. I could hear. Now it was time to figure out this journey as a new Christian. I didn’t have much guidance, so with my heart being pure, but coming from a lot of chaos, I had bad execution. It took a lot of humbling and biblical counseling from a few Godly men, my pastors. I started leading, did an internship, and to continue to fast forward to today, I am so honored and humbled that the Lord allows me to preach His Word and Gospel to our Young Adults ministry at the Grove. I disciple young adults and kids. I run the Outreach Ministry, I get to teach Sunday school to God’s beautiful children, I get to write curriculum for my church. My full time occupation is running the facilities ministry at the church. I am getting married on July 25th to my beautiful fiance, Liza. My end goal is to become a pastor, I currently go to GCU studying Biblical Studies, emphasis on Theology. After that, I will continue on to seminary to get my MDIV. God has always been faithful to me, when I haven’t been faithful to Him. I am simply a messenger of His Good News. Thanks for reading. Glory to God alone!

Hello! My name is Trenton Ford, I am excited to be applying to Pastor Thomas Rorie Jr. Christian Values Scholarship. To give a shortened version of my testimony, I’ll cover the big points in it. Every home is broken in its own unique ways, and I was also raised in a broken home. My mom was and still is a severe anorexic, she wasn’t very present in my life. My sisters were a basket full, having the cops over at our house in what felt like a lot. My father was a good man who made a life changing mistake that sent him to jail for a bit. When he got out, my parents divorced, because part of what he did was had an affair. I decided to live with my father. You might be wondering, where is Christ in all this? Not in our family, we would go to church sometimes. We were the family that would fight on the way to church, pause and act like everything was fine at church, then fight on the way home. I will fast forward a lot to get to where Christ calls me out of my darkness. Living with my father was rough, no money, bills were hard, hot water would not be there, he married a rough woman who molested me. Times were hard. I got a full ride to Fresno State when I graduated high school and dropped out when covid happened that year in 2020. I moved and started working in sales. I started hanging out with the wrong crowd and started pursuing avenues with women I hadn’t before. It wasn't long before I gave up what was meant for marriage. I remember writing letters to myself saying how much I hated myself. Not long after, someone shared the Gospel with me, and like the scales falling off of Paul’s eyes, I could see. I could hear. Now it was time to figure out this journey as a new Christian. I didn’t have much guidance, so with my heart being pure, but coming from a lot of chaos, I had bad execution. It took a lot of humbling and biblical counseling from a few Godly men, my pastors. I started leading, did an internship, and to continue to fast forward to today, I am so honored and humbled that the Lord allows me to preach His Word and Gospel to our Young Adults ministry at the Grove. I disciple young adults and kids. I run the Outreach Ministry, I get to teach Sunday school to God’s beautiful children, I get to write curriculum for my church. My full time occupation is running the facilities ministry at the church. I am getting married on July 25th to my beautiful fiance, Liza. My end goal is to become a pastor, I currently go to GCU studying Biblical Studies, emphasis on Theology. After that, I will continue on to seminary to get my MDIV. Trying to afford all of this on a church paycheck has been challenging! I am trying to use all of my resources and to lean on the church for support in times of need, and I am in times of need! God has always been faithful to me, when I haven’t been faithful to Him. I am simply a messenger of His Good News. Thanks for reading. Glory to God alone!

Hello! I am taking a twist on this question, I hope you still take the time to read and listen to my heart in this answer. My best friend is Jesus Christ. It is something that will exclude me from being considered from a lot of my scholarship applications, and that is okay. I am in dire need of financial assistance to go back and finish my degree, but not at the expense of proclaiming to be someone I am not. I have lived a rough life, I was raised in a broken home, cops over, cps cases, parents in rehab and jail. When they divorced, I decided to live with my dad and the woman he was to marry. I didn't know that would be full of financial hardships of using a cup to take a shower, eat the cheapest foods, be molested, take care of suicidal adults, and grow up at a young age. I wanted out. I went to Fresno State on full academic coverage from my grades. I worked hard for a year and saved up about $20,000 to get out of the living situation I was in. I pursued money, partying, women, and hookup culture. I pursued everything the world told me would heal me, yet it only ever caused more grief. Someone shared the Gospel of who Jesus Christ is, what He did for mankind. Not as a fantasy, but as a reality, as one of the most historically backed events to ever take place. I was turned upside down. My life had purpose to it, given new hope. My original plan to become an orthodontist was shattered with an unwavering burning desire to be a part of this Great Commission. I did an internship at my church, where I learned what it means to disciple, lead, love, and so much more. I started preaching to a young adult ministry of about 150 people. My love for the ministry has only ever grown. Pastoral ministry isn't a job you just do, it's a calling, and mine is irrefutable. I am now beyond excited to sharpen my mind and my skills to be as effective as possible in my realm work. I can't do it alone though. I need help. Something I told myself when I was younger was no one was going to help me through life, not my parents, step parents, it was only going to be me. It was a lie, we were put on this planet to walk together in unity. I have learned a lot of grit, adaptation skills most people will never learn, Jesus is bringing use and healing to these skills. Thank you for taking the time to read this. If I am not selected for this scholarship, so much more importantly than any monetary reward or any satisfaction of being able to bless others. I pray you would be encountered by the Spirit in the same way I was. I hope with my life in the Pulpit, to have had an impact on those who hear the Good News of Jesus Christ

Hello! What interests me most is going to always be my faith in Jesus Christ. It is something that will exclude me from being considered from a lot of my scholarship applications, and that is okay. I am in dire need of financial assistance to go back and finish my degree, but not at the expense of proclaiming to be someone I am not. I have lived a rough life, I was raised in a broken home, cops over, cps cases, parents in rehab and jail. When they divorced, I decided to live with my dad and the woman he was to marry. I didn't know that would be full of financial hardships of using a cup to take a shower, eat the cheapest foods, be molested, take care of suicidal adults, and grow up at a young age. I wanted out. I went to Fresno State on full academic coverage from my grades. I worked hard for a year and saved up about $20,000 to get out of the living situation I was in. I pursued money, partying, women, and hookup culture. I pursued everything the world told me would heal me, yet it only ever caused more grief. Someone shared the Gospel of who Jesus Christ is, what He did for mankind. Not as a fantasy, but as a reality, as one of the most historically backed events to ever take place. I was turned upside down. My life had purpose to it, given new hope. My original plan to become an orthodontist was shattered with an unwavering burning desire to be a part of this Great Commission. I did an internship at my church, where I learned what it means to disciple, lead, love, and so much more. I started preaching to a young adult ministry of about 150 people. My love for the ministry has only ever grown. Pastoral ministry isn't a job you just do, it's a calling, and mine is irrefutable. I am now beyond excited to sharpen my mind and my skills to be as effective as possible in my realm work. I can't do it alone though. I need help. Something I told myself when I was younger was no one was going to help me through life, not my parents, step parents, it was only going to be me. It was a lie, we were put on this planet to walk together in unity. I have learned a lot of grit, adaptation skills most people will never learn, Jesus is bringing use and healing to these skills. Thank you for taking the time to read this. If I am not selected for this scholarship, so much more importantly than any monetary reward or any satisfaction of being able to bless others. I pray you would be encountered by the Spirit in the same way I was. I hope with my life in the Pulpit, to have had an impact on those who hear the Good News of Jesus Christ

Hello! What interests me most is going to always be my faith in Jesus Christ. It is something that will exclude me from being considered from a lot of my scholarship applications, and that is okay. Hello! What interests me most is going to always be my faith in Jesus Christ. It is something that will exclude me from being considered from a lot of my scholarship applications, and that is okay. I am in dire need of financial assistance to go back and finish my degree, but not at the expense of proclaiming to be someone I am not. I have lived a rough life, I was raised in a broken home, cops over, cps cases, parents in rehab and jail. When they divorced, I decided to live with my dad and the woman he was to marry. I didn't know that would be full of financial hardships of using a cup to take a shower, eat the cheapest foods, be molested, take care of suicidal adults, and grow up at a young age. I wanted out. I went to Fresno State on full academic coverage from my grades. I worked hard for a year and saved up about $20,000 to get out of the living situation I was in and I moved to San Diego. I pursued money, partying, women, and hookup culture. I pursued everything the world told me would heal me, yet it only ever caused more grief. Someone shared the Gospel of who Jesus Christ is, what He did for mankind. Not as a fantasy, but as a reality, as one of the most historically backed events to ever take place. I was turned upside down. My life had purpose to it, given new hope. My original plan to become an orthodontist was shattered with an unwavering burning desire to be a part of this Great Commission. I did an internship at my church that I now work at, where I learned what it means to disciple, lead, love, and so much more. I started preaching to a young adult ministry of about 150 people. My love for the ministry has only ever grown. I am now beyond excited to sharpen my mind and my skills to be as effective as possible in my realm work. I can't do it alone though. I need help. Something I told myself when I was younger was no one was going to help me through life, not my parents, step parents, it was only going to be me. It was a lie, we were put on this planet to walk together in unity. Thank you for taking the time to read this. If I am not selected for this scholarship, so much more importantly than any monetary reward or any satisfaction of being able to bless others. I pray you would be encountered by the Spirit in the same way I was. God Bless You!