Christian Ministry Scholarship

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Christian Ministry Scholarship Fund

The Christian Ministry Scholarship Fund (CMSF) supports students who want to earn traditional undergraduate degrees related to Christian ministry. Founded in 1997 by 85 charter members, the CMSF endowment has surpassed $5 million, with 100% of proceeds applied to scholarships.

Today, graduates are making a difference worldwide as pastors, youth ministers, missionaries, church planters, worship leaders, chaplains, counselors, and more.

  • How do students benefit from the CMSF?

    Every scholarship dollar awarded to students through the CMSF offsets their tuition costs and minimizes student debt accumulation typically accrued over a four (4) year period. While North Greenville University strives to keep education affordable, many students who choose to attend the university have little in the way of family resources. Your gift truly makes a difference.

  • How much difference can your gift make?

    More than you can imagine! Your gift, large or small, is combined with the gifts of others into an ever-growing fund that is preserved in the form of an endowment. The endowment earns annual interest, which is used to fund that year’s scholarships.

    Together, these cumulative gifts increase the number of students we can help prepare for ministry. With over 400 ministry students studying at NGU each year, CMSF is a blessing and influencing the next generation of ministry leaders.

  • How does a student apply to receive a scholarship?

    CMSF is guided by a Board of Directors consisting of 36 men and women. This Board interviews each student who applies and then awards scholarships on an annual basis. Every applicant is asked to give his or her Christian testimony and discuss their specific call to ministry.  Applicants must also be a full time student and maintain a minimum 2.50 GPA.

Christian Ministry Scholarship Requirements

  1. Students applying for a Christian Ministry Scholarship must be born again Christians who are answering God’s call into full-time Christian ministry. These students plan to be salaried full-time ministers.
  2. Scholarship applicants are required to have been accepted by the Office of Admissions to North Greenville University or they are currently enrolled students at the University in a traditional undergraduate degree program. Students pursuing an Online or Graduate level program are not eligible for this scholarship.
  3. Applicants must submit a letter of recommendation from their pastor along with this completed application.
  4. Recipients are expected to live godly, moral lives at all times.
  5. Recipients must study to show themselves approved unto God (2 Tim 2:15), maintaining at least a 2.5 GPA while at North Greenville University. Students who fall below this 2.5 GPA threshold at the end of spring semester will lose their scholarships. They may reapply for the scholarship after their GPA rises to a 2.5 or above.
  6. Recipients are expected to be involved in worship and ministry at a local church.
  7. All recipients are expected to attend the three Christian Ministry Scholarship Fund (CMSF) dinner meetings (in September, January, and April) of each academic year. Members of the CMSF will pay for the meals of all recipients and their spouses. Recipients bringing guests (other than their spouse) must pay for their guest’s meal.
  8. Scholarship recipients, out of appreciation for the financial assistance received from the CMSF, will share the ministry of the organization with friends and churches encouraging them to become members of the organization.
  9. Out of appreciation for CMSF and its help in making their education possible, recipients are expected to become members of the organization when they complete their education. As members, they will join in the mission of equipping the next generation of ministers to prepare for the work that God is calling them to do.
  10. Any recipient that drops out of the University should contact the Financial Aid Office and drop the scholarship.
  11. Recipients who no longer feel called to the ministry should call the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible to drop their Christian Ministry Scholarship. These students are responsible to repay all the Christian Ministry Scholarship funds received in order to help other students who are called to the ministry. This is the ministry of the CMSF.
  12. Recipients are expected to keep the organization aware of their current contact information (address and telephone number, etc.) after leaving North Greenville University.
  13. ALL FIRST-TIME RECIPIENTS MUST HAVE AN INTERVIEW WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CMSF. FAILURE TO APPEAR FOR THE INTERVIEW WILL RESULT IN AUTOMATIC FORFEITURE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP.
  14. CMSF Applications must be submitted by January 15, 2024.

Do you qualify for the Christian Ministry Scholarship?

Ways to Give

You can choose to make a one-time gift to the Christian Ministry Scholarship Fund. Or become an annual member, donating $150 or more per year.

Annual Membership Levels

  • Sharing Member:  $150.00 – $ 499.00
  • Supporting Member: $ 500.00 – $ 999.00
  • Sustaining Member: $1,000.00 – or more annually

Cumulative Membership Levels

  • Life Club: $ 5,000.00
  • Life Fellowship: $15,000.00
  • Life Alliance: $25,000.00
  • Life Society: $50,000.00
  • Life Endowment: $100,000.00

Make contributions by check or online through the secured payment portal. Your gift is tax-deductible. To include the CMSF in your legacy planning, contact Phil Gardner at phil.gardner@ngu.edu or 864.977.7014.

For more information about the program or to arrange other giving options, contact Marty O’Gwynn.

According to page 6 of IRS publication 526 (2016), charitable contributions made to a qualified organization for the benefit of a specific individual is not tax deductible. You can deduct a contribution to a qualified organization that helps needy and worthy individuals if you don’t indicate that your contribution is for a specific person.

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North Greenville University (NGU) admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.