Ruth McWhite, women’s ministry director, retiring after 16 years
Alyssa Waller, Staff Writer & Abigail Dickerson, Staff Photographer
Ruth McWhite, head of women’s ministry at North Greenville University has been part of the NGU family for 16 years – but at the end of this semester, she is retiring.
Before she came to NGU, McWhite stayed home and took care of her kids. When the McWhite family moved to South Carolina in 2002, she worked at Greer Christian Learning Center for three years and taught Biblical Worldview to the students at Greer High School.
She was already discipling the girls from NGU’s Act II at the family’s house. Then, she asked the former president of NGU, Dr. Eptine if he would give her a job in campus ministry. McWhite made up the job and handed it to him. She even asked Eptine to pay her.
NGU truly feels like McWhite is family. She considers NGU her community, which has been a loving environment for her. She still keeps in touch with tons of her students. She said, “A whole world of friends for me.”
NGU has taught McWhite that relationships are the most important thing and figuring out how to have time for other people. McWhite said there were 35 girls who worked in the chaplin ministry and came to the family’s house about once a month. She said, “Pulling the girls from here into my home, that’s probably what I love the most.”
In February 2021, McWhite called her good friend, Becky Walker, who shares the same position at Anderson University. Both McWhite and Walker met for lunch. When McWhite spoke of retirement, Walker immediately told her, “Ruth, if we do not get out of the way and let this younger generation step up, they will never learn to lead.” McWhite said that it was just what she needed to hear.
She still gets together with the girls she has mentored over the years on her family’s little porch. McWhite said, “It is a place where that door is open a lot for people to come.” She said she imagines that she will still be doing a good bit of having people over and doing life with them.
Several years ago, McWhite started to commit Scripture to memory, which has been a discipline of hers. Her husband, Allen McWhite said, “As she has grown in her own walk and in her own faith, she has really developed a ministry for pouring into the lives of others, particularly women and in these last years, particularly into female students.”
There are a lot of women who consider McWhite to be their best friend. Allen McWhite said Ruth gets calls all the time from former students, former church members and ladies that she led retreats for. People come to the McWhite’s house all the time, looking for counsel and encouragement. He said, “Her accomplishments are really measured in the vast numbers of lives she has impacted.”
Rachel Lanter, a junior Christian Studies major has always known her as a sweet lady. McWhite always made sure that campus band was taken care of. Lanter has been discipled and inspired by McWhite, who she said lives like Christ.
Lanter had learned about grace and acknowledging God’s sovereignty, as in Romans 5. McWhite taught the importance of humbling oneself and submitting God’s will. Lanter said she also learned about hospitality and memorization.
Lanter said she is excited for McWhite and knows that Christ will still be exalted. While Lanter is excited, she is also sad that she will not have a mom figure here on campus. Lanter said, “We are for her and she isn’t alone. Ruth has embodied a godly woman and she has been a good example.” She believes that McWhite will follow God anywhere.
Hannah Rankin, senior Christian Studies major, knows McWhite because she is the women’s ministry leader on campus. Rankin also knows McWhite because of the chaplaincy, which was a group on campus where girls would work in the dorms, and McWhite was the director of the chaplaincy.
The first time Rankin met McWhite was when she was doing an interview for chaplaincy over the phone. With chaplaincy, McWhite showed the girls grace and taught them the Word of God. Rankin said, “Mrs. Ruth has impacted me in so many different ways.”
Rankin said McWhite has taught her that it’s okay to be who you are in Christ. She added, “She’s one of the coolest people that I know. She’s super sweet, super loving, encouraging and joyful.” Rankin said McWhite lives her life to serve God, which she thinks has really influenced her.
When Rankin heard about McWhite’s retirement, he was sad at first, but Rankin knows that God is going to use her outside of NGU. Rankin said, “I know that whenever she leaves, that is not going to end. So, her ministry is going to continue to older ladies, younger ladies. Not even just ladies, but she is going to continue to influence people after.”
Rankin wants McWhite to know that she has shown love and grace to everybody, but specifically those she calls her girls. Rankin said, “It just changes us for the better. Her example of how she loves Christ and just serves the Lord with joy that is something that will always influence us.”
Rankin added, “She’ll never be forgotten. I just know that God is going to use her outside of herd for the rest of her days that God has assigned her. I know that she’ll use them for Him and that He’ll be honored.”
Makena Newsome, sophomore Christian studies major, knows McWhite because she is Newsome’s teacher. Newsome gets to be in her Women’s Ministry class every Monday and Wednesday.
McWhite has made such a big impact on Newsome, just from this semester. She said McWhite gives so many good little nuggets of truth. Newsome said, “One of my favorite things that she said that I don’t think I’ll forget ‘keep a home Bible’ means keep everything that you learn in the Bible, so when you go back in a couple years later, you can see what you have learned in that point of your life.’” Newsome thinks that it is so cool to be able to go back and just keep it in the Bible.
Newsome has learned so much through her Path Finder’s book, how to study God’s Word and through the things she has talked about in her life.
Newsome feels sad to see McWhite go because she has made an impact on so many girls’ lives. Newsome said, “I hate to see her and her wisdom go, but I’m excited for her to be able to hang out with her grandkids all the time.”
Newsome would like McWhite to know how thankful she is for her leadership in the Women’s Ministry class. Newsome likes that McWhite is able to share the truth and be honest about her life with her students.
Newsome said, “You can just tell how much of a Godly woman she is and how much knowledge and truth she has. I love that and I would her to know that I’m just so thankful that she is teaching the class and that she is just pouring into us.”
When Makena Witt, junior Interdisciplinary major came to NGU, she met McWhite through a mutual friend. Witt met McWhite when she was in a very tough season in her life. Witt knew that coming to NGU it was going to be hard, but she said it was a lot harder than she thought it would be.
McWhite showed Witt that it’s okay to think outside of her parents’ shadows. Witt said, “She’s one of the most godly women that I’ve ever come across. She has gone from a mentor to a friend and now she’s between a mentor and a mother.”
McWhite has shown an example of a godly woman that Witt strives to be. McWhite, along with Witt’s parents, have pulled her off the cliff more times than she can count. No matter what Witt does, McWhite will not think of her in a different way. Witt said, “She has shown me the Godly women, that I strive to be.”
Witt selfishly hates that McWhite is retiring. It makes sense for McWhite to retire considering she will be 65 in September, but Witt made the joke that she wanted to wrap Ruth in bubble wrap. Witt said, “I know whatever God has planned for her, it’s got to be far better.”
Regardless, Witt is thankful for the time that she has had with Ruth. Witt said, “To know her is to love her.”
Witt had said, “Mama Ruth, I think of you as way more than a mentor, you’re very much a mom to me. It’s sad to see you go.”
*Featured Image: Left Sarah Wylie, senior, Ruth McWhite center, Hannah Rankin, senior right. Students from Ms. Ruth’s Women’s Ministry Class.
