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Snapshot from the Annual Meeting of the SBC:
Oxford Family Helps Campbell Student

Eddie Ferguson of Central Baptist Church in Henderson, NC, sat in the Indianapolis Convention Center on the first day of this year’s Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and sipped Dasani water, his red leather Bible nearby, and waited for his wife, Debra. He was one of nearly 8,500 messengers from SBC churches across North America.

The Fergusons, along with children, Lindsey, 19, and Sarah, 15, of Oxford, NC, voted in their first convention on June 15 in between a workout at the Marriott Hotel gym and a presentation by women’s ministry speaker Beth Moore.

“We support a student at Campbell University,” Mrs. Ferguson said, pausing from her workout using Nautilus-like equipment when she overheard a conversation about North Carolina higher education.

In addition to their participation at the convention, the Fergusons are involved with a non-profit educational ministry to support students such as David Karcha, a Ukrainian who is studying international business at Campbell.

Karcha is working this summer at Henderson, NC’s Carolina County Snacks, not far from the Fergusons’ home.

“We met with Dr. (James) Ellerbe about David’s internship,” Mrs. Ferguson said, adding that Karcha speaks English very well. Ellerbe is vice president for Business and treasurer at Campbell.

“We see Dr. Ellerbe at tennis matches,” Mr. Ferguson explained, adding the families have a connection to Kerr Vance Academy and St. Mary’s School.

Karcha is one of about 1,200 undergraduate and graduate students at Campbell’s Lundy-Fetterman School of Business.

Dr. Shahriar Mostashari, associate dean and director of the MBA program at the school, met with Karcha last week on his business program, the largest of Campbell’s programs.

“David is very, very focused,” said Mostashari. “That’s very good at this age.”

David Karcha comes to the United States following a mission trip by the Fergusons’ friends, Sam and Susan Newton. They invited David and his mother, Luba, now a student at a community college, to live with them. David met the Newtons’ son, Mike, a Campbell student in the 1990s. Based on Mike’s experience, David determined that he wanted to study at Campbell, but he didn’t have the financial resources.

“Mike had a great experience,” added Mr. Ferguson.

That’s when the Fergusons stepped in and used their foundation to help.

“God has blessed us and we were in a position to give,” explained Mr. Ferguson. As for the convention, Mr. Ferguson sat at his table still waiting for his wife and family, and stood periodically to shake hands with old friends.

“I’m learning about my denomination,” he said, “and it is re-energizing me.”


Bulletin 0188-06/23/04

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