The Christian Ministry Scholarship Fund at North Greenville University recently celebrated 10 years of service assisting students studying for full-time Christian ministry.
Buddy FreemanAbout 300 students are being equipped to serve as pastors; missionaries; ministers of music, youth, education, or senior adults; directors of missions; chaplains; counselors; teachers and more.
In 1997, the school recognized the need many of these students have for tuition assistance.
The idea to start a scholarship assistance fund came from vice president for admissions and financial planning Buddy Freeman. Freeman came to North Greenville in 1997 from Gardner-Webb, where he and the late Thurman Lewis had created a Christian service organization to assist ministerial students with tuition expenses.
The scholarship fund started with 88 charter members and now has more than 255 members with an endowment of almost $2 million. This year, more than $50,000 was awarded to 45 students.
Steve Crouse, vice president for campus ministry, said, “Only God knows the number of people who will receive Christ, grow in discipleship, raise up other believers, and give their lives in Christ’s service around the world through the ministry of these scholarship recipients.”
Freeman, who is retiring, was recognized for 11 years of service. He was given a plaque and an honorarium from the CMSF members to name a scholarship with a $20,000 gift.
“That scholarship will help at least two students each year until our Lord comes again,” Freeman said. “I could not believe that a group of people could show so much love and appreciation. They are why the CMSF has been so successful.”