Cara Brewer, a 2010 graduate of Howard Payne University, was thrilled recently to learn that she will receive a full-tuition scholarship to Texas Tech University School of Law this fall. She gratefully acknowledges, however, that this is not the first time she has experienced God’s provision for her education.

During her first year at HPU, Cara applied for a major scholarship through the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation. When Cara found out she received the $22,000 scholarship, she was very grateful and quickly went home to share with her parents. Unbeknownst to her, this was an answered prayer for her parents from four years before.

Cara’s father, Shawn, is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Eastland and, when Cara was a freshman in high school, their church entered into a large building program. Shawn and his wife, Lauri, prayed fervently over the amount of money that God would have them give toward the program. They felt God asking them to give the money they were planning to set aside for Cara’s education. Not knowing how God would provide, but trusting His sovereignty, the couple pledged their money.

When Cara came home as a freshman in college and told her parents about the scholarship she had been awarded, her parents started crying and shared with her this story.

The scholarship was the exact amount of money that they had pledged to the building program at their church four years earlier.

“I was so in awe of our faithful God,” Cara said. “We pray to God who is able to do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. God used my parents’ faithfulness to help build a gym in Eastland, Texas. Through this gym and the basketball program that is held there, young men can learn about God and experience a father figure in their lives. All the while, God had a plan to provide for my education.”

A graduate from HPU’s Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom multidisciplinary honors program, Cara was highly involved during her time on campus. She was a member of the HPU Moot Court team, garnering many awards including second place for individual speakers and being named the first place team for the Texas Undergraduate Moot Court Association this year. Cara and her moot court partner, Lauren Teel, also advanced to the Round of 16 at the American Collegiate Moot Court Association National Tournament earlier this spring.

Through her involvement in moot court, Cara learned the ability to communicate with an end goal in mind. She also gained a great amount of legal knowledge, which she will put to use when she begins law school this fall. Her future career plans include becoming a prosecuting criminal attorney.

Having seen God’s provision throughout her life, Cara looks with anticipation to what her future holds.

“God is big,” she said, “and I can rest assured, knowing He is in control.”

Pictured above:   Dr. William N. Ellis,Howard Payne University president, greets Cara Brewer during the university’s Commencement ceremony in May. (Photo by Dumas Designer Portraits)