Academics, Affordability, Campus Wide, College of Christian Studies

New $17k Christian studies scholarship available to 25 recipients this fall

By Jenna Johnson | February 2, 2023

Students walking on the Charleston Southern campus. Photo by Ty Cornett

The College of Christian Studies at Charleston Southern University has a new scholarship opportunity for prospective students interested in Christian ministry degrees. The Call to Ministry Scholarship is an annual award of $17,000 and will be offered to 25 recipients in fall 2023.

Dean of the College of Christian Studies Dr. Ben Phillips said this scholarship is the newest, most exciting way in which Charleston Southern is showing the world what CSU is about. “We are a Christ-centered university that exists to serve the church and the world with the gospel,” he said. “It is our way of helping those who are hearing the call of God into vocational ministry to focus on the ministry and not just cost.”

“CSU is committed to helping train the next generation of pastors, missionaries, and other parachurch ministry leaders to go out into the world to share the Gospel,” Dr. Anthony Turner, vice president for enrollment and marketing, said. “This scholarship aims to reduce the financial burden so students can launch into ministry quickly after graduation.”

In order to be eligible for the annual amount, applicants must declare a traditional major from the College of Christian Studies, and recipients must commit to remaining at CSU and studying in the College of Christian Studies for all four years (or until graduation). Ultimately, a student may receive $68,000 in total from this scholarship program.

“College is expensive, and no one goes into ministry to make big paychecks, so the cost of college is an even bigger concern for families sending their student into full-time Christian ministry,” Phillips said. “This new scholarship will enable students to answer God’s call to prepare for ministry without the need to take on more debt.”

According to Phillips, 30% of Southern Baptist churches have an opening for full-time ministerial staff that remain unfilled. Nationally, the number of college students preparing for full-time vocational ministry has been trending lower. However, the number of students in the College of Christian Studies has increased.

Phillips explained that the scholarship will help maintain that trend within CSU’s Christian studies degree programs.

“At CSU, students who are called to ministry will find themselves surrounded by students and faculty who are the kinds of Christ-like servant leaders our new students want to become,” said Phillips. “They will build relationships and skills that will encourage, support, and challenge them for the rest of their lives, no matter where God takes them.”

For some CSU students, that path may take them to seminary. CSU offers a partnership with six Southern Baptist seminaries where CSU students may reduce their seminary degree courses by as many as 33 hours (or one year).

Interested applicants should submit for the Call to Ministry Scholarship by March 17, 2023, to be eligible for the 2023-2024 academic year. Only new, first-time entering freshmen will be invited to apply upon acceptance to CSU. To complete an admissions file, click here. Students may apply to CSU for FREE at charlestonsouthern.edu/apply.