- [Narrator] Meet Dr. Tariku Fufa.

In spring of 2019,

he achieved what had onetime seemed impossible,

earning his doctorate degree

from Regent University Schoolof Business and Leadership,

and he was voted theschool's outstanding student.

He says he did it for one purpose.

- This is what I'm gonnado, revival for every heart,

gospel for every sinner,discipleship for every believer,

and leaders for every nation.

- [Narrator] But as a youngboy growing up in Ethiopia,

he was far from a respectedstudent and leader.

When he was three,

Tariku became an outcast amonghis family and his village

because he was abandoned by his Mom.

Although his father took him in,

Tariku never went to school.

Instead, he became a sheep herder

from the age of four to nine years old.

- But when my dad told me

that I would never, ever go to school,

I thought my life is over,

and it was so painful.

- [Narrator] But when Tariku turned 10,

the government made hisfather send him to school.

Tariku excelled, but at 13,

he learned something from his half brother

that would change his life,the love of Jesus Christ.

- For the first time,

I knew there is somebodyinterested in me, loving me.

So, that day, Christ came into my life.

- [Narrator] When his father found out,

he and his stepmotherbeat Tariku unconscious

and left him on the streets to die.

For the next six years, he didwhatever it took to survive.

- I was like those donkeys,I carried stuff for people.

They would pay me maybe like a penny.

I buy food with that.

- [Narrator] He was also asthmatic.

One day, when he was 15 years old,

he was cooking over an open fire,

he suffered an asthma attack so severe,

he knew he was going to die.

- As I was crying and yelling to God,

I heard the silent and thequiet voice of the Lord.

And very clearly saying,"Tariku my son, don't cry,

"you are not without help.

"Count three months, I willheal you from this asthma.

"Once you are healed,count another three months,

"I will take you to another town

"and open door of education for you.

"You will go to university

"and move on to preach mygospel all over the world,

"in the language thatyou have never spoken."

- [Narrator] Months later,

Tariku says he was healed of his asthma.

He was also attending high school,

where he earned a governmentscholarship to college,

as one of the top students in his country.

As Tariku neared graduation,

his father learned he was still alive

and went to see him toask for forgiveness.

- I said, "Dad, Jesus, whomI followed, took care of me.

"He healed me of the asthma.

"Jesus gave me hope."

I said, "Yes, Dad, I forgiveyou because I follow Jesus."

- [Narrator] Tariku returnedhome with his father

and shared his story of survival.

As a result, the entirevillage, including his father

would give their lives to Christ.

- Seeing them, receiving Christ,

it is the highest fulfillment in life.

- [Narrator] Tariku wenton to earn his masters

and join the staff ofCampus Crusade for Christ,

where he met Bizunesh,and they later married.

He also became

the national director ofstudent ministries in Ethiopia.

He preached the gospel all over the world

and help lead thousandsto faith in Christ.

It was at a Jesus Filmconference he met Tom Kiely,

who invited Tariku toshare a story in ministry

in the Tidewater area.

While there, Tarikudiscovered Regent University.

- I just felt everything I saw,

like the trees, thefountain, the building,

preached of presence of God to me.

- [Narrator] In 2015, Tariku enrolled

in Regent's doctorate schoolof Business and Leadership.

- The reason why I came

to the School of Business and Leadership

was also to get more skills

on how to lead from the word of God.

I want to get all of this

so that I can develop moreleaders who can lead like Jesus.

- [Narrator] Tariku was able

to take his Regent classes online,

while working full timefor Campus Crusade,

training leaders in 24 countries.

- They made it flexible.

So as I travel, as longas I have internet,

I'm always connected.

The curriculum is there,

the professors are available online.

And so, it made it convenient for me.

- Tariku Fufa Gemechu.

- [Narrator] After four years,

Tariku graduated with a 4.0from Regent on May 11th, 2019.

He received the outstandinggraduate award for the PHD

in organizational leadership.

- Regent will help you succeed.

You will definitely experience God.

You will be exposed tothe best professors.

Regent is simply the bestschool that you ever dream of.

Praise God!

I'm going to be calledDr. Tariku Fufa Gemechu.

♪ Great is thy faithfulness ♪

♪ Great is thy faithfulness ♪