Fruitland Baptist Bible College awarded degrees and certificates to 50 graduates during a commencement ceremony held Friday, Sept. 4, at the school’s main campus that was also streamed online. The class included students from Romania and the Dominican Republic, along with a large group of Hispanic graduates. Of

Fruitland Baptist Bible College awarded degrees and certificates to 50 graduates during a commencement ceremony held Friday, Sept. 4, at the school’s main campus that was also streamed online. The class included students from Romania and the Dominican Republic, along with a large group of Hispanic graduates.

Of the 50 total graduates, 46 received the Associate of Religion/Christian Ministries degree, and six received the Certificate in Religion and Christian Ministries at Fruitland’s Hispanic campuses. Two students — Joel Antonio Cepeda-Cruz of the Dominican Republic and Jose Salgado of Chicago — received both an associate degree and a certificate. Two students at the Hispanic campuses also earned the English associate degree.

Andrei-Victor Pop, an online student from Romania, flew to Hendersonville to take part in the ceremony. Pop’s connection to Fruitland interim president Marty Jacumin came as a surprise to both men. Pop attends Emanuel University in Oradea, Romania, where Jacumin taught approximately 25 years ago while in seminary.

“When I told him that I had been on campus there and started naming people that I personally knew, there was an instant connection,” Jacumin said. “It brought about the biggest smile on his face because he had come all this far probably thinking, ‘I’m really not going to know anybody.’”

Jacumin, who delivered the commencement address, preached from 2 Timothy 4:5-18, challenging the graduates to fulfill the calling God has placed on their lives.

“Each one of these students has a call of God on their life,” Jacumin said, pointing to the Apostle Paul’s charge to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:5 to “Fulfill your ministry.”

Jacumin told the graduates that their ministry path would not always be easy, noting that Paul warned Timothy that some would be apathetic or hostile toward the gospel, but, Jacumin added, “the Lord always stood with him.”

Jacumin pointed to the diversity and size of the graduating class as a picture of the church.

“You’ve got Latino students, you’ve got Anglo students, you’ve got Romanian students,” Jacumin said. “This was a beautiful picture of the family of God that we got to celebrate.”

It was also a day to celebrate Fruitland’s continued mission.

“To be able to celebrate that many graduates from literally around the world is a reminder that God’s not done with Fruitland,” Jacumin said. “That’s something North Carolina Baptists can celebrate.

“Fruitland is still educating men and women who have a call of God on their life, and Fruitland has been part of their journey that God will use.”

Fruitland is a ministry of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Founded in 1946 as Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute, the school has served N.C. Baptists for 80 years by providing biblical and practical ministry training to equip Christian leaders.

By Chad Austin, BR Managing Editor