I have just retired after 43 years in the ministry with the past 33 years working in Christian higher education. I was most happy serving the last 11 years at North Greenville University, which is one of our three Baptist universities. NGU is the type of institution that I have always believed all Baptist colleges and universities were meant to be: an arm of the Baptist churches to reach young people for Jesus Christ with a Christian academic education. NGU has gone back to her roots and is fulfilling her purpose.
Buddy FreemanWhat a joy to see so many of our students receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord each year during our fall revival, chapel services, and other programs on campus. It has been a thrill watching our students go on mission trips in our country and foreign countries to come back and proclaim, “God has called me to the mission field.” I credit Dr. Jimmy Epting, president of NGU, for his commitment to doing what he believed God was asking him to do at NGU. Dr. Epting has proven that evangelism and academic education can go hand in hand. It is only when a student knows Jesus Christ that the student can have a complete education. Dr. Epting was not only my president, but he was my boss, mentor and personal friend.
It was a joy to have a staff of 14 employees in the admissions and financial planning office. All of these people are dedicated Christians. They were hardworking individuals committed to improving the enrollment and academic quality of our student body. We broke new records almost every year in recruiting. My staff really made me look good. I must give them the credit for all we accomplished, for they deserve it. I certainly will miss them.
The faculty at NGU is top-notch, second to none. I stand amazed at the Christian commitment of all the university faculty along with the expertise, knowledge and love for our students. NGU has an amazing faculty.
I am blessed because of the directors who served on our board of the Christian Ministry Scholarship Fund and the more than 200 members who have been so faithful in giving to make scholarships available for students preparing for the ministry. This past year, these good people helped 47 students with more than $50,000 in scholarships. It is yet to be seen what the Christian Ministry Scholarship Fund will continue to do in the future.
I also want to thank the South Carolina Baptist Convention for providing to me the enrichment from attending the state convention annual meetings, the evangelism conference and the Pastor’s Conference. It was at these meetings that I heard good preaching, music and testimonies, along with seeing many of my pastor friends and former students who are now in the ministry. How good it was to attend a state meeting where the brothers and sisters were in unity as the Bible teaches us to be.
What a joy it is to receive The Baptist Courier to read about what God is doing in South Carolina along with their work around the world, instead of reading so much criticism, disunity, fussing and fighting that one reads in other Baptist convention publications. Don Kirkland has done an excellent job in promoting the kingdom in The Baptist Courier. I have already subscribed to The Baptist Courier since moving back to North Carolina. I look forward to reading every issue.
Thank you, North Greenville University and South Carolina Baptist Convention, for blessing me with the opportunity of working with you. My prayers will continue for God’s blessings upon you. I have experienced God at work through you.
Freeman is former vice president of admissions and financial planning, North Greenville University.