American gospel music singer and songwriter Jonathan McReynolds is now ready to give two $5,000 scholarships for those who are in need of educational assistance through his nonprofit organization, Elihu Nation.
This announcement was made last Thursday in a social media post by McReynolds. He also announced that the application for the said scholarship is on July 1, letting the students know ahead of time for them to prepare the requirements needed.
"The only way this doesn't work is if nobody wants $5000 #Geeked Follow @elihunation. More info is coming," McReynolds wrote.
The nonprofit organization started back in 2013 and inspired by McReynolds' graduate studies at the Moody Bible Institute, where he earned his Master of Arts degree in Applied Biblical Studies two years ago. After witnessing the lack of encouragement to the African-American people to develop their talents in college, the singer went to Columbia College in Chicago, Illinois, where he later became an adjunct instructor.
As seen on Elihu's website, McReynolds hopes that through his nonprofit organization, he can encourage the growth of artistic talent in higher education.
"In his opinion, the African-American community and the African-American Church do not adequately encourage its musicians, preachers, and, quite frankly, any of its spiritual leaders to pursue higher education for the development of those gifts and talents,"
In McReynolds' website, it describes the inspiration behind the said scholarships, "He immediately wanted to be able to celebrate the young people that did take the plunge into art school or seminary with the purpose of using their gifts to more effectively communicate the Gospel and Christian wisdom."
McReynolds also previously spoke how much college played a contribution in his career. "I wrote my first album as a college student. [The] second album, as a college teacher," he said in a previous interview with Detroit radio station Praise 102.7.
"My life has changed, different pressures, more revelation, more musical ideas. The one thing that hasn't: my approach to songwriting ... still aiming to be transparent and genuine. Message first." He added.
