Asbury Theological Seminary
ATS » Give to Asbury Seminary » Nancy Lagow Dumas
Nancy Lagow Dumas
Nancy Lagow Dumas is a strong Texas woman. Born in Dallas, she reigns from a long line of settlers that ventured to the harsh conditions of the Lone Star State from southern Illinois. A neighborhood of all boys taught her to hunt, fish and play football as a little girl, and though she is a classic Southern lady, the ease of which she cleans a fish hints at her resilient upbringing.
She doesn’t credit this strength as her own. In fact, what used to be “walls of blue steel to keep my heart of stone” is now the loving power of Christ. And through her revelation for His plan to impact the worldwide Kingdom through her as a donor, she’s found herself with a passion for Asbury Seminary, located in Kentucky, Florida and online.
Nancy’s relationship with Asbury is not unique, although her circumstances are. In January 2003, Nancy and her husband were invited by the late Bill Hinson, a past member of Asbury’s Board of Trustees, to attend Asbury Theological Seminary’s President’s Retreat, which for both of them was a life-changing experience.
“The thought racing through my mind was, ‘Oh, Bill, why did you call me?’ This year is my year. I had just retired from a career…and felt that I was so tired that I could not possibly…keep a schedule or make a commitment.”
But Nancy did. And she and her husband, Jerry, went. Her first memory of arriving at the retreat defines her ‘Asbury experience.’ “My first impression [of Asbury Seminary] was overwhelming in that everyone greeted me as though they had known me for years. It was an enveloping experience for me.” This community stayed close later in the weekend, too, when Jerry became ill and subsequently, had surgery to replace a valve in his heart. She explains, “This is when I began to experience the blessings of a spirit-filled community of followers. Each day someone called. No one left us alone.”
For Nancy, this work of the Holy Spirit in Asbury helped give her heart healing and tore down “the blue walls of steel.” And today, she's a part of this community and living out her calling by investing in Asbury Seminary students who are taking the message of Love to the world. As a result, through the Lord and Asbury Seminary, she’s stronger than ever.