Chris Gash teaching Sunday School

Christian Service

Christian Service Organization

The CSO provides scholarships to students answering God’s call on their lives to full-time vocational ministry.

Our History

In 1971, two members of the Gardner-Webb family, Dr. J. Thurman Lewis and the Reverend Charles W. “Buddy” Freeman, had a vision to provide financial assistance for students preparing for ministry. That dream gave birth to an organization of individuals, businesses and churches who has shared their passion for assisting students in preparing for ministry.

Whom we Assist

Our recipients exhibit excellent moral character and are answering God’s call to prepare for full-time Christian service. Scholarships are provided for both undergraduate students and students in the GWU School of Divinity.

How it Works

Gifts to CSO are placed in our endowment, part of the larger Gardner-Webb endowment. From the investment earnings, we provide scholarships to students. Gifts to the CSO are diverse and range from cash to stocks, real estate and other appreciated assets. Estate gifts and gifts of trusts provide opportunities for individuals to be stewards of their resources beyond their lifetimes for the training of ministers for the future.

It is impossible to fully gauge the effect that CSO has on these ministers—no device can measure the eternal implications of their work to share the Gospel of Jesus.

Will You send them to prepare?

Questions?

For further information about the Christian Service Organization or the Mission Endowment Fund, contact Aaron Hinton by phone at (704) 406-4101 or by email.

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Engaging students in service is a highlight of my job. I love seeing them serve our community, while also growing in their understanding of who Christ is and what it truly means to “love your neighbor."
— Mindy Robinson. Coordinator for Community Engagement and Student Ministries
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Every dollar given to the CSO helps to fund much-needed scholarship aid. CSO scholarships sustain the call for students to pursue and prepare for fulltime ministry—no matter their stage of life. These scholarships show undergraduate and divinity students that there is a diverse community of believers behind them every step of the way.
— REV. Chris Gash ’07, ’16
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Medical missions allow us to plant spiritual seeds for future growth while meeting physical needs. We are blessed to serve the global community in this capacity and pray for our future endeavors.
— Dr. Nicole Waters, Associate Provost College of Health Sciences
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Our clothes, food and the Gospel is all we carried with us while backpacking to remote villages in Honduras. Seeing students share the Gospel, minister to others and grow in their faith is the most fulfilling thing I get to do at Gardner-Webb.
— Neil Payne, Assoc. Minister to University for Student Ministries