Three Columbia students receive scholarships from His House Ministries

Roger Weaver, assistant pastor of His House Ministries, presented the scholarships. With him is Erin Gray, one of the Columbia-area recipients.

Zachery Baker

Blake Furtick

June 1 was an important date for 13 of Columbia’s high school graduates – they were the recipients of a $35,000 gift from His House Ministries for college scholarships. Of those 13, three are members of South Carolina Baptist churches in the Columbia area: Blake Furtick, a member of Lexington Baptist and graduate of Lexington High School, who plans to study for medical missions; Zachery Baker, Gateway Baptist, Dutch Fork High, who plans to study church visual communications; and Erin Gray, Springdale Baptist, Airport High, who plans to be a museum curator. Each of the three received $2,500 to further their education.

To be eligible for the FCA scholarships, students must be involved in FCA at their school and active in church and community service, must prove a financial need, and must sign a Drug-and-Alcohol-Free commitment card.

Founded in 1974, His House is an interdenominational ministry in West Columbia that ministers to and houses recovering alcoholics. Most of its support comes from items sold in four area thrift stores. In 1998, Garland Ramsey, a Baptist minister and founder of His House, had a dream to expand the outreach of the ministry. “God gave me an idea last night when I couldn’t sleep,” he told his staff at the time. “We ought to give college scholarships to Fellowship of Christian Athlete (FCA) students.”

This is the 12th year that His House Ministries has issued college scholarships to Columbia-area students.