FULFILLING THE CALL

The Ethridge Family

FULFILLING THE CALL

Alove for Southeastern is what has kept the Ethridge family coming back for three generations. It all started in 1975, when OSCAR and SHIRLEY ETHRIDGE would frequently drive by the campus. Originally from Auburndale, Fla., the couple owned a phone refurbishing company at the time.

“We would pass by Southeastern and Oscar would say, ‘Oh it would be wonderful to take care of those grounds,’” said Shirley.

Unbeknownst to them, one of their friends, RITA MEADOWS ’67, submitted an application on behalf of Oscar to work in the maintenance department at the college.

“In October of 1976, Southeastern called us about an interview and it blew us out of the water. We knew it was God,” added Shirley. That same month, Oscar was interviewed and hired by DWIGHT REDUS who was the supervisor of grounds. For the next seven years, Oscar worked in the maintenance department. During his time there, Oscar transitioned from maintenance into the supervisor of grounds. In maintenance, Oscar would service anything inside and outside of the buildings. Then, as the supervisor of grounds, he oversaw irrigation and the overall look of the campus.

“Southeastern was his calling. That was his ministry,” said Shirley.

The couple first heard of the college from Oscar’s cousin, CHARLES ETHRIDGE ’77, when he enrolled in the early 1970s.

Early into Oscar’s time at the college, Shirley got involved at Southeastern as well. She enrolled in a few classes and then started working in different departments. In 1977, she started out in the administrative building. From there, she worked in the bookstore and in the

The Carl Ethridge Family mailroom. In the summertime, she would help in the maintenance department, even helping to paint the dorms. She had a brief stint working in housekeeping in Spence Hall before transitioning back to work with ORTON QUEEN ’62 in the bookstore.

For Shirley, Southeastern was special because of the move of the Holy Spirit on campus. Shirley remembers the powerful chapel services and two instances where she clearly felt the Holy Spirit move on people’s hearts to tell her something. One of those moments was when missionary Mark Buntain told her that she would one day be a missionary. Later in her life, when she would go on to work at Walt Disney World in Orlando, she believed that was her mission field.

“There were so many miracles because of the move of God. That’s what makes Southeastern so special,” said Shirley.

While working at Southeastern, in 1983, Oscar was diagnosed with cancer and passed away a year later.

Oscar and Shirley Ethridge

“Southeastern took care of us that whole year. There were times he could go in and work, but not full time. They were wonderful,” added Shirley.

CARL ’93, Oscar and Shirley’s second son, remembers how staff members from Southeastern took care of their family during that time. He recalls that one day they received a knock on the door and there were several staff members who had brought bags of groceries to their house.

“My mom sat us down and said it was because of us being faithful to God and our parents’ service to the school that we were receiving these blessings. The school and the staff, they were there for one another; it really impacted me,” added Carl. “My dad really loved Southeastern.”

Some of Shirley’s fondest memories at Southeastern were the chapel services and watching Oscar interact with students. Shirley recalls the many times that Oscar would bring students home for dinner.

“He was always helping the students. I didn’t realize how much he was involved with students until he was in the hospital. All of these cards came in from students telling us all about the things he had done for them,” said Shirley. Soon after Oscar’s passing, Shirley went on to work as a hostess and trainer at Walt Disney World part time in addition to working at Southeastern. She saw Disney as her mission field as God brought people from all over the world to her that she connected with and had opportunities to minister to them.

“I remember her receiving letters from Japan, England and France from people thanking her for her words of encouragement and her prayers,” said Carl.

Oscar and Shirley Ethridge Family

During her time at Disney, Shirley recalls a man coming up to her while she was eating lunch in the employee cafeteria.

“The man stopped and said, ‘The Lord told me to tell you that your three sons are going to carry on their father’s calling. But, your middle son will be the main one,’” said Shirley.

Together, Oscar and Shirley had three sons, LAVON, Carl and AARON. All three of their children attended Southeastern. Lavon currently owns a business in Tennessee. Carl is serving as a children’s pastor in Ohio, and Aaron works for an irrigation company in Bartow. Oscar had two older sons from a previous marriage, Darrell and Raymond. Darrell worked on Southeastern’s campus for two summers. He is now a truck driver and helps haul supplies during the coronavirus pandemic. Raymond works as a mechanic for an airline.

Similar to his father, Carl went on to be heavily involved in ministry, particularly in Royal Rangers, an Assemblies of God activity-based, small group church ministry for boys and young men in grades K-12.

“My dad drove the bus for our church. He was also a Royal Ranger commander. My mom helped in children’s ministry. I always remember seeing them involved in the church,” said Carl.

At five years old, during a church service, Carl felt called to be a missionary. When it came time for Carl to enroll in college, he didn’t look at any other schools.

“I had always wanted to go to school at Southeastern because of the connections my parents had,” said Carl.

Carl enrolled in the fall of 1987 as a missions major. He even met his wife, LINDA ’93, in a missions theology class. The two were married a month following graduation. Linda graduated with a degree in education, but also

Linda and Carl

Linda and Carl dressed up for BGMC

sensed a call to missions. After they were married, the couple went on to serve in ministry as children’s pastors in Kentucky, Florida and North Carolina.

In 2001, Carl’s and Linda’s callings were fulfilled, as the couple moved to Dresden, Germany, as fully-appointed missionaries with the Assemblies of God (AG). Although born in the U.S., Linda’s family was from Germany and she was a dual-citizen of the country. The couple ministered primarily to children during their time there.

“Dresden is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. We helped with a couple of church plants as they established their ministries. We also held Vacation Bible School (VBS) and witnessed on the streets of the city,” said Carl.

Five years into their ministry, they were brought back to the U.S. Since then, Carl has served as the children’s pastor at Harvest Ridge Church in Cleveland, Ohio. In addition to serving alongside Carl in children’s ministry, Linda also works at a city school as a records and attendance administrator. Within the Ohio Ministry Network, Carl served as the director of BGMC (Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge), an AG program for kids that teaches them to support missions through prayer, giving and going on trips. Carl has also been highly involved with Royal Rangers. In Royal Rangers, Carl helps engage children in missions and projects that are being done overseas.

“In these last 13 years of ministry, my greatest job is being able to lead BGMC here in Ohio. Being a missionary, we experience first-hand how those funds make a difference. A lot of our children don’t grasp it. One of the coolest things Linda and I have been a part of is BGMC,” said Carl.

Although Carl and Linda have enjoyed serving in children’s ministry in the U.S., they felt God calling them back to missions overseas. In March of 2020, they were re-appointed as missionaries with the Assemblies of God. As missionaries, the couple will be working under International Ministries with Royal Rangers to create resources and materials for parents overseas to be the spiritual leaders of their homes and to equip them to raise their children to be lifelong followers of Jesus. They will also help create and establish a Royal Rangers missions education program that will be used by churches, and they will organize and facilitate missions trips for rangers under the age of 18.

“God has brought it back full circle for us. We never thought we would go back, but God has other plans,” said Carl. Now, Carl and Linda are seeing their son ALEX ’20 follow in their footsteps of serving in missions. Before graduating, Alex applied to be a missionary associate to Cambodia with the Assemblies of God.

“When I was young my family served as missionaries, and it was at this time I felt and heard a call that I would continue to serve in missions,” said Alex. “It seems so natural that having seen both previous generations live out their lives for God that I would in turn want to do the same. The example they have been and the lives I’ve seen them touch is incredible and something I want to be a part of.”

Alex at AG Headquarters

Reflecting back on their time at Southeastern, Carl is grateful for the many relationships he and Linda made.

“The connections we have made over the years, from childhood, meeting and knowing the former professors, those relationships should always be held on to. I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for Southeastern. God really blessed me. My dad’s heart has been a blessing for us,” said Carl.

BRY ROBBINS ’20 W ith tears in my eyes, I stood in the last session of SEU Conference, reflecting. I reflected on how this school has played such a big role in not only my life but in the lives of so many of my family members as well. My ties to this school began when both of my parents went to what was then called Southeastern Bible College. They were not allowed to wear shorts until after 5 p.m., they could not step foot in a movie theatre, and their mascot was the Crusaders, so it is safe to say that a lot has changed.

I vividly remember my parents, JEFF ’91 and SHARI (DUNAVENT) ’93 ROBBINS, walking me and my sister around sharing all of their memories from various spots on campus. They showed us Bethany room 209, where my dad would throw rocks at my mom’s window to get her attention. Because, you know, they didn’t have phones. They took us to the academic building, which was then the cafeteria, and talked about all the times my dad made my mom laugh so hard that milk poured out of her nose. And lastly, my dad took me to the chapel where he felt the tug to run for, and eventually win, the position of student body president — a position that I would later hold.

I was amazed at all of the stories that they had recalled from their four years, but never imagined how many of my own I would have one day. Many years later, as I attempted to move my stuff into my room on the first day of my freshman year, JOSH SCHULTE, a football player with arms the size of my head, started removing items from me and my parents’ hands. I assured him that he didn’t have to help us, but he insisted. It was on my first day as an official student that I realized the beauty of this campus.

I’ve learned many life-changing lessons in my time as a student at Southeastern. I learned that the college experience, in fact, wasn’t all about me, and the faster I was able to figure this out, the faster I was able to make an impact on campus. I learned the importance of having a mentor guide me through some weighty life decisions. Most importantly, I learned that in the midst of a crisis or the unknown, we as Christians can lean on our Comforter and come out of the storm even stronger.

Southeastern University’s response to COVID-19 taught me an immense amount about faith and courage. The response to the coronavirus from the students, professors and leadership team showed me what it means to be SEU strong. Being SEU strong is not knowing the future, but knowing that God holds it. SEU strong is living a life of courage in a country surrounded by consternation. SEU strong is staying calm in the midst of a storm knowing that I have Jesus in my boat. No matter the challenges that life or even the coronavirus throws at me, I know that because of my four years at Southeastern, I will be prepared to run the race God has called me to.

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