59-year-old pastor earns college degree to inspire others in community

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — A 59-year-old pastor recently earned his bachelor’s degree in religion from Wingate University, proving it is never too late to earn one.

The Rev. Merv Massey said that at a time when the country faces political and racial divisions, he wanted to go back to school to become a more effective leader for his community and church.

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“God did not call the church to go run and hide from those things,” Massey said. “He called us to be in the middle of them.”

Massey enrolled in January 2020.

He started his day at 4 a.m. packed with preparation, preaching and counseling then off to campus for class, more studying and homework.

The pandemic hit and his congregation needed him even more.

Massey got COVID-19 and spent five days in the ICU when his pancreas failed.

He spent a long time recovering and didn’t know if he could stay in school.

“The real shock was that I felt like I would not be able to physically finish, because of my eyes and my brain were still recovering,” Massey said.

Massey said he got a lot of support from his professor that helped him persevere, which is something the pastor is familiar with.

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He grew up western Union County in a home without running water.

“There was no indoor running water,” he said. “It was run out to the well with a bucket and (we would) run back. That was running water.”

His second-grade class was among the first to integrate in the 1960s.

Massey joined the U.S. Air Force after a few semesters in college.

After his service, he got married, had a family and became a pastor.

He felt a calling to return to college to get a degree in hopes of inspiring others.

“I really want to inspire and encourage our young men,” Massey said. “Especially our young Black men who are operating out of a lack of hope where they really don’t believe that hard work will pay off. They really don’t believe. Well, I’m a living witness that it does.”

Massey said it is time to put his education to work in the community.

(Watch the video below: Family Focus: Single mother works to earn college degree)

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