At Clemson University in South Carolina, I earned a Master of Architecture degree, watched some pretty good college football, and—most importantly—met my wife, Kim, in 1984. Following graduate school, Kim and I had our first child, Kelli, and moved back to Kim's hometown of Orlando, where I joined a firm that specialized in educational design and became a member of FPCO. Kim had grown up as a member there, as did her mom and grandparents.
Our time in Orlando was blessed with career advancement, deep friendships and the gifts of two more daughters, Jennifer and Jamie. It was during those years of growth that I began to seriously consider a calling to go into full-time pastoral ministry. In part, that discernment came through my involvement at our wonderful church. I was actively involved in a variety of ministries until 1993, when I entered seminary.
For three years, I was the recipient of the Howard Edington Seminary Scholarship. The amount covered my tuition, fees and books, and helped pay for a significant portion of our living expenses. This was especially significant for a second career student attempting to balance studies, a calling and family responsibilities. The HOCF scholarship allowed me to respond to God's call to full-time ministry and to complete my seminary training debt free. The HOCF Scholarship was a critical resource that helped me fulfill God's call for my life, a blessing for which I am ever grateful.
Today, I am the Senior Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas. My daughter Kelli also received a HOCF undergraduate scholarship. I am regularly reminded of the difference these scholarships have made to prepare leadership for the church around the world.
Doug Ferguson
Growing up, FPCO was truly my second home. Mission trips, children's choirs, youth group, Sunday school and summer camps were programs that built and grew my personal faith in the promises and love of Jesus Christ. The staff and volunteers of FPCO showered me with love in both the good and the challenging times.
When I turned 5, my father passed away from brain cancer. The support the church community gave to my mom, brother and I will never be forgotten. Many of the church members who gathered around us during those dark hours are our greatest friends today.
Throughout my college years, including four years of undergraduate studies and two years of graduate school, I received various scholarships from the Heart of the City Foundation, such as the Irene Miller Scholarship. The scholarships entrusted to me helped offset the exorbitant costs of six years in higher education. After graduate school, I felt called to move to Africa and serve the poor. The Mission Department at FPCO gave me the honor of serving as a missionary in Nairobi, Kenya. Nearly 75 percent of the financial support I was given for the year I spent there came from members of the congregation.
I am so grateful to the HOCF Board Members and the individual contributors and donors of each scholarship trust. Many thanks to those involved for believing in me and investing in my future through the blessing of these scholarships. Today, it is my privilege to be an active member of this body of believers and to try to give back a portion of what I have been blessed to receive over the last three decades.
Scarlett Stewart
