After nearly 40 years, Pat (Cawood) Gray-bill has retired from leading the weekly women’s Bible study.
The women’s study began in 1980 during the University’s first academic year at the Langhorne campus. The idea to create this group came from Dr. Sherrill Babb, president emeritus, who believed that the weekly Bible study would be a good way for the University to connect with women from the community that surrounded the new campus.
What was originally conceived as a small-scale, short-term group evolved into a group of over 100 women coming from as far as New Jersey and Delaware to study under Pat for nearly 40 years. This free Bible study, which for many years also included free childcare from School of Education students, united women of all ages and backgrounds as they grew in their love and knowledge of the Lord.
“No ministry has blessed me as much as this ministry. I loved teaching this class. I looked forward to each Thursday for 39 years because I was so blessed to be involved.”
At their last Bible study in April, the women celebrated Pat and her ministry with a cake and flowers at their end-of-the-year luncheon. Pat received a neck-lace, a journal, and a photo album full of encouraging photos and notes from the women she served and loved so well. The Bible study will continue this fall under the direction and teaching of Dawn Williams, wife of President Todd Williams.
“No ministry has blessed me as much as this ministry,” says Pat. “I loved teaching this class. I looked forward to each Thursday for 39 years because I was so blessed to be involved.”