1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2015
Contact: Emily Shaw, Public Relations Intern
Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations
Baseball Player Spreads Faith to Mount Olive Community
MOUNT OLIVE- For University of Mount Olive baseball player Robert Shipman, the road to a
college degree has not been an easy one. After two years of college and financial struggles, he
was forced to sit out of school for two years and help his family. His experiences have only made
him stronger in his faith.
Shipman, a Brooks County, GA, native, fell in love with baseball at an early age. His father,
Robert Shipman, Sr., was a former 10th round draft pick to the Detroit Tigers in 1987. He later
was traded to the Minnesota Twins and ended his career shortly after, so baseball has always
been in the family’s blood. Shipman’s brother, Aaron, also signed with Mercer University before
becoming a 3rd round draft pick to the Oakland Athletics in 2010.
“I was blessed enough to play for my father from t-ball all the way through high school,” shared
Shipman. “After playing for Brooks County High School, I signed with the University of
Georgia to start my college journey as a student-athlete.”
After two years at the University of Georgia, Shipman had to put his pursuit of a college degree
on hold. His family faced financial struggles and needed his help. Shipman took two years off of
college and baseball before hearing about a second chance at the University of Mount Olive.
“I had been praying for another chance to play college baseball somewhere,” said Shipman.
“UMO has transformed my life because it gave me a second chance to redeem myself as a
person, student, and athlete. I’m blessed to be here and I feel God choose this place for me for a
reason.”
Shipman also attributes his return to college and baseball to Coach Carl Lancaster.
“I’m humbled by the opportunity Coach Lancaster gave me to be part of a powerhouse
program,” he said. “He provided me with a chance to pursue a degree in sports management,
receive scholarships, and be in a winning program.”
Lancaster was impressed with Shipman from the start. “Shipman is one of the finest young men
to come through our baseball program in quite some time,” revealed Lancaster. “Ship, as we call
him, has been forced to take a much different path than most student athletes to obtain his
education. Thankfully, his former coach contacted us. Otherwise we could be seeing Ship in the
batter’s box against us!”
Shipman is also a devoted Christian and is a member of Stay in the Word Ministries.

2. “Jesus Christ has played a vital role in my academic journey,” Shipman said. “Even through all
of the changes and ups and downs in my life, Christ’s foundation has remained solid in my life.
He is by far the head of my life.”
Recently Shipman spoke at the Faison Baptist Church Celebrate Recovery Program and reached
out to the members in need. Inspired by his second chance at UMO, he decided to spread his
faith onto others that are in need of a second chance in their recovery.
“The experience was amazing. I have spoken before in other places, but never in a recovery
program. One thing I noticed right away was the pure honesty of the people who are in the
program. It’s one thing for a person to have a problem, but to be able to face other people and
admit the problem is big,” said Shipman. “I just wanted to encourage them to continue to fight
every day and recover.”
Shipman’s hard work in the classroom, on the field, and in the community has not gone
unnoticed. Lancaster shared, “Ship has been a model for the rest of us to follow. He has been
strong in his faith, always tries to do what's right, and is a genuinely fine person. The way he
lives his life has impacted his teammates as well as our coaching staff.”
Shipman is set to graduate in May of 2016 and hopes to receive the chance to play professional
baseball.
“I would love an opportunity to play professional baseball. Also, I would like to minister. The
Bible says in John 9:4 ‘I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night
cometh, when no man can work.’ As long as I am able, I need to be attempting to reach and lead
people to Christ.”
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with
defining Christian values. The University, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will
Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Seymour Johnson Air Force
Base, Research Triangle Park, Washington, Jacksonville, and in Smithfield at Johnston
Community College. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.