Retired Bishop Julius C. Trimble and Racelder Grandberry-Trimble are celebrating their 40-year journey in pastoral ministry by honoring another important milestone: the 30th anniversary of the opening of Africa University.
The Bishop Julius C. Trimble and Mrs. Racelder Trimble Endowment campaign will provide $300,000 to fund scholarships for Africa University students in perpetuity. The fundraising effort invites contributions from across The United Methodist Church, with particular focus on individuals, churches and communities that have been blessed by the couple’s service and leadership contributions.
As the chair of the Africa University Advisory Development Committee and the Development Committee of the AU Board of Directors, Bishop Trimble shares responsibility for helping Africa University to grow its missional engagement.
As a teen, he attended lay speakers’ school and expressed an interest in ministry.
Several years after graduating from G-ETS, he traveled to Zimbabwe and was hosted by his former classmate Elias Nhamo Mumbiro.
In 1996, he began raising student scholarship funds for AU as the Cleveland District superintendent in the East Ohio Conference.
He cherishes his partnership in marriage and ministry with Racelder Grandberry-Trimble.
“We have been on a mission that has spanned over 40 years of encounters of young people who inspire us, and we are privileged to encourage,” the bishop said.
Grandberry-Trimble concurs as she strives to serve God and positively influence as many lives as possible.
An alumna of the Methodist Theological School of Ohio, she holds a Master of Arts degree in counseling ministries. She graduated from the School of Business and Administration at Illinois State University and is a Doctor of Ministry candidate in global health and wellness at Saint Paul School of Theology.
Raised in the Baptist tradition, Grandberry-Trimble said, “I have never worked as hard for the Lord as I have in the United Methodist faith.” Over the years, she has served in many roles, working alongside her husband in the East Ohio, Indiana and Iowa annual conferences.
Grandberry-Trimble’s first visit to the continent of Africa was in 2000. “I participated in leadership and activities for a retreat with women from across the globe,” she said. “This experience further strengthened my understanding of how individuals throughout the continent truly value education.
“I am committed to scholarships for those I may never meet and those I have known personally,” she said. “Bishop Trimble and I believe that we do not have a choice when it comes to the ability to assist a student in reaching their highest potential.”
Leaders and members of the Indiana Conference, where Bishop Trimble has served since 2016, are excited about the endowed scholarship.
“The request to create the endowment to honor upcoming retirement,” said D. Manet Shettle, “illustrates how [the bishop and his spouse] prioritize the ministry of AU. They were the first donors to the current campaign.” Shettle is president of the United Methodist Foundation of Indiana.
“The changing of lives and preparation of leadership for the future is happening at AU,” said Bishop Trimble. “Every dollar is well spent. During this time of angst and concern for the future of The United Methodist Church, it is important to remain steadfast in supporting this disciple-making and transformative ministry.
“If we want to transform the world, we must invest in Africa University.”
excerpt from a story by Barbara Dunlap-Berg, freelance writer and editor in Carbondale, Illinois.
A World Service Special Gift is a designated financial contribution made by an individual, local church, organization, district or annual conference to a project authorized as such by the Connectional Table. Current World Service Special Gifts projects include the Africa University Endowment Fund, the Leonard Perryman Communications Scholarship for Ethnic Minority Students, the M
