IMPACT A P U B LICAT IO N O F R EGE N T UN I V E R SI T Y
VOL. 5 ISSUE 12 DECEMBER 2014
A HEART FOR
AFRICA The success of Regent’s Business Development Center in Rwanda is a model for impacting nations around the world
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ost of the news about Africa recently has been focused on the devastating Ebola outbreak in the western part of the continent. But in the east, an up-and-coming nation is making news for all the right reasons. Regent University has strategically invested in Rwanda for years, and that investment is reaping significant dividends. “In response to the devastating genocide of 1994, Rwanda has been focused on rebuilding every aspect of the nation,” says Dr. John Mulford, a professor in Regent’s School of Business & Leadership and the founder and director of the university’s Center for Entrepreneurship. “Their visionary president, Paul Kagame, has led
C H R I S T I A N
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the nation from 150th in the world (out of 189 nations) in 2008 to 46th on the World Bank’s ‘Doing Business In’ rankings — an unprecedented leap.” In addition to cleaning up government corruption, Mulford says President Kagame has transformed the Rwandan capital of Kigali into a lush, modern, safe and clean city. Those conditions have made it possible for Regent’s Business Development Center (BDC) to thrive there over the past four years.
INSIDE: AN AMERICAN FIRST
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READY FOR THE WORLD
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Kindergartners at a Christian school founded by a BDC graduate in Kagali, Rwanda A HEART FOR AFRICA — CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“We have definitely seen the Lord’s hand in every step of BDC Rwanda’s development,” Mulford explains. “We had no experience in Rwanda when we started. We can only credit God with bringing the first cohort, which included the seeds of future success — a mix of young, aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned leaders with significant business experience.” A major initiative of the Center for Entrepreneurship, the BDC launched in 2010 and has since completed 12 cohorts, or sessions, with more than 270 graduates. Each one of these “Emerging Leaders” has been trained in the basics of how to start and grow a business. Three of their many success stories include: • Peter is a pastor who founded a Christian school with 50 kindergarteners in a makeshift, open-air classroom with mud walls and a tin roof on the edge of Kigali. • Mathilde, a mother of six with a heart to serve the poor, was equipped to pursue her idea of delivering fresh, organic groceries to people’s homes.
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• Fabrice, a pharmacist, launched a company that distributes rapid-diagnostic test kits throughout Africa. Their low cost, fast results and ease of use will transform rural medicine by enabling quick diagnosis and treatment of HIV/ AIDS, malaria and other diseases. “We support the graduates with mentoring, coaching and consulting,” Mulford says. “The success of our graduates has blessed the nation economically and spiritually, while bringing further growth and prominence to the BDC.” The BDC’s God-inspired curriculum brings spiritual encouragement and biblical truth in what Mulford calls “a plain glass” package, rather than “stained glass,” teaching directly from the Bible. He says, “BDC graduates are multiplying Regent’s ‘kingdom effect’ by doing kingdom business, preaching its message, and training others in kingdom business principles.” The final component to the BDC’s success in Rwanda is something Mulford refers to as the Center for Entrepreneurship’s “secret sauce” — visiting executives. “Christian business people from many developed nations testify
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about how God has guided and blessed them in their businesses and their lives. In addition to inspiring testimonies, they bring wisdom, business expertise, mentoring and prayer support to the BDC entrepreneurs.” But Mulford and Regent University aren’t just targeting Rwanda. The Center for Entrepreneurship has developed a license program to help start and grow Business Development Centers in other countries: “Currently, we have three licensed sites — Bangalore, India; Kampala, Uganda; and Stellenbosch, South Africa. BDC Rwanda’s success has attracted interest from people who want to do something similar in other nations. Our vision is to see hundreds of BDCs in dozens of countries.” In order to achieve RCE’s “God-sized goal,” Mulford says Regent will need lots of help: “Prayer is key. The more success we see, especially on the spiritual front, the more we see attacks from Satan to cause confusion and undermine our work. Pray for a hedge of protection around the work.” He adds that “kingdom-business volunteers” are another key need: “As we expand, we need more Christians with a heart for kingdom business in the nations to go to the BDCs as visiting executives and to work from home as distance
consultants, helping the graduates launch and grow their businesses.” Finally, Mulford says, financial resources are needed to support the Center for Entrepreneurship’s work worldwide: “We are funded by gifts and grants made specifically to support the work of the center. We are not covered by the general university budget. We require about $400,000 annually in core funding, plus extra funding for special projects.” The Regent professor’s heart and passion for Rwanda and the BDC were born out of personal experiences and observations that date back 20 years: “As I saw the conditions in many developing nations, God gave me a vision for a network of business development centers to transform people and nations through business. With each trip to Rwanda (15 since 2008), I feel as though I am going home to see family. I can’t describe how fulfilling it is to see Regent’s small investment in Rwanda bring forth spiritual and economic fruit that leads to flourishing families and communities.”
To learn more about Regent’s Center for Entrepreneurship and how you can support its life-changing work, visit regententrepreneur.org or call 757.352.4502.
CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP TO CHANGE THE WORLD
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Don Monteaux Photography
AN AMERICAN FIRST
REGENT ALUM, REP. SCOTT RIGELL (R-VA), PREPARES TO BUILD MORE BRIDGES IN HIS THIRD TERM AS A U.S. CONGRESSMAN
Scott Rigell ’90 (Business & Leadership) put his Regent MBA to work shortly after graduating when he founded Freedom Ford in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1991. He spent the next two decades successfully building that business into Freedom Automotive, while raising four children with his wife Teri.
a compromise in principle, and a principled compromise, and have the political courage to reject the former and vote for the latter.”
The 2014 midterm elections revealed a deeply divided America both politically and socially. Rigell explained that it’s important for both major parties to work together so the country In 2010, Rigell “threw his hat in the ring” can stay on the right track: “It starts with and won a seat in the U.S. Congress reprethe recognition that failure to find common senting Virginia’s ground hurts every second congresAmerican, regardless of “An emphasis on servant sional district, which Then [we must] leadership, a true Regent party. includes parts of move to shared values, Virginia Beach, distinctive, was what made sound facts and spirited Norfolk and the my experience so rewarding debate tempered by Eastern Shore. civility.” and enjoyable. I know it Re-elected to the made me a better political Impact also asked the House of Reprethree-term Virginia sentatives in 2012 and business leader, as well now lawmaker about the and again this year, as a better husband, father current leadership crisis the Republican has in America and how and American.” forged a reputation important it is for Regent over the past four to keep training Christian years as a bipartisan legislator willing to leaders to change the world. “Regent reach across party lines to find solutions for University equips men and women to lead our nation’s problems. based on powerful fundamental principles,” Rigell said, “including a deep respect for When teaming with three other lawmakers others and seeing leadership and positions of to launch the Fix Congress Now Caucus authority as opportunities to serve, not to be in May 2012, Rigell said, “The American served. This is a unique perspective that leads, people recognize that Washington is broken. in my view, to more effective leadership.” … It is a sobering reality that Congress is, indeed, in need of reform, and it’s time Rigell added that his Regent education we do something about it. … Each of us is continues to impact him in almost every firmly rooted in our principles, but we are aspect of his life: “Regent University prepared also committed to seeking the common me academically in the fields of finance, ground that Americans expect us to find to accounting, management and leadership. An address this nation’s great challenges.” emphasis on servant leadership, a true Regent distinctive, was what made my experience so Impact reached out to Rigell shortly after his rewarding and enjoyable. I know it made me a re-election to ask him what he sees as the better political and business leader, as well as a biggest challenges facing the United States better husband, father and American.” and the 114th Congress. He emphasized the importance of understanding that we’re fellow Americans before we’re members of a political party: “We must elevate what’s best for America, long-term, above all else. We have to make the distinction between
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For information about Regent University’s School of Business & Leadership, visit regent.edu/sbl or call 757.352.4550.
REGENT UNIVERSITY
READY FOR THE WORLD Regent students need your support to become leaders who change the world
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ince Regent’s founding in 1978, the university’s focus has been on equipping Christian leaders to change the world. That mission to impact lives on a global scale is alive and well today, as Regent consistently delivers excellent, biblically grounded graduate and undergraduate programs both online and on campus. The university’s Christ-first approach prepares students to pursue lives of service, purpose and Juliana Melton significance both before and after graduation. But for many, embarking on that journey wouldn’t be possible without the help of Regent donors, who enable the university to provide $17 million in annual tuition assistance to students.
“My lifelong love of history, particularly that of the founding era, led me to take an introductory course on constitutional law,” Meredith explains. “On the first day of class, it was as if a light bulb turned on, and I knew exactly what I was made to do: practice law.” Now a third-year law student who will graduate in May with a joint degree in law and government, Meredith says “a large weight was lifted from my shoulders” when she received scholarships from both the Robertson School of Government and the School of Law. Meredith encourages scholarship donors to keep giving in order to equip even more Christian leaders: “Those donations are an investment in believers who will go out and change the world person by person, community by community. And when communities are changed, the world will be changed.”
“I am being trained and equipped in order to become a Christian Leader who changes the world.”
Juliana Melton is a graduate student from North Carolina pursuing a master’s degree in government with a concentration in international relations. Fully understanding what it means to be a Regent world changer, Juliana looks forward to using her degree to impact nations for Jesus Christ: “I view my time at Regent as a season of preparation. I am being trained and equipped in order to become a Christian leader who changes the world.”
As a recipient of the Don and Judy Warrington Endowed Scholarship, Juliana says she has been “both honored and blessed” by the generosity of others: “(It) has allowed me to focus more time on Meredith McCarty my studies, get more involved on campus, and overall increase my experience at Regent. It has helped me very much.” Becoming a lawyer wasn’t Meredith McCarty’s first career choice. Growing up, she thought God was calling her to become a doctor. But something changed for the Washington-state native during her freshman year of college.
College of Arts & Sciences student Grant Reynolds says his journey to Regent was an easy one: “God simply told me this is where I was meant to be. … The moment that I stepped on campus, God just spoke to my heart and spoke to my spirit and said, ‘This is where I have you. This is where my plan is for you.’ … It was a no-brainer after that.” A freshman pursuing an undergraduate degree in communication, Grant is on course to finish his Regent education “completely debt free” as a result of his World Changer scholarship. “I want to be able to go wherever God calls me without the noose of debt around my throat,” he says.
Grant Reynolds
But Grant knows that donating to the university won’t just benefit him: “The importance of giving to Regent is simple. … We need that financial support in order to change student lives so they can go out and become Christian leaders who change the world.” To learn how you can sponsor Regent World Changers like Juliana, Meredith and Grant, call 800.335.4409 or visit regent.edu/worldchanger.
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Regent World Changers
The Promise of Hope for a Better Tomorrow
Is America headed in the wrong direction? Seventy percent of Americans think so. The good news is that Regent University offers hope — training thousands of leaders who are taking a stand for what is right and good in our nation and our world.
REGENT WORLD CHANGERS
Kimberly Phillips, Esq. & Corrynn Peters, Esq. Attorneys at Law
In 2010, Regent School of Law alums Kimberly Phillips ’05 and Corrynn Peters ’03 founded Phillips & Peters, PLLC in Norfolk, Virginia, to focus on the practice of domestic relations law. “We are a family law firm, and we’re dealing with folks at some of the worst times of their lives,” Phillips says. “Regent prepared us for that.” Both attorneys have been recognized as “Rising Stars” by Super Lawyers of Virginia. “Regent helped solidify my desire to serve other people through the law,” Peters says. “We want to elevate the practice of family law and thereby help all of our clients move forward during the challenging moments of life.” Please join the entire Regent community in praying for Kimberly Phillips and Corrynn Peters, December’s alumni World Changers.
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Become a World Changer Sponsor Today! regent.edu/worldchanger 800.335.4409
YOUR CHANCE TO CHANGE THE WORLD How would you like a chance to change the world? When you donate to a Regent World Changer scholarship, you help equip a new generation of Christian leaders to make a global impact. Call 800.335.4409 or visit regent.edu/ worldchanger to make a taxdeductible gift of any amount.
DONATE BEFORE JANUARY 1! Donating to Regent by December 31 is a win-win for you and the university. Your best gift now lowers your tax burden for 2014, while also helping Regent end the year stronger. Visit regent.edu/give or use the envelope at the center of this newsletter to make your year-end gift by either check or debit/credit card.
REGENT UNIVERSITY
A Message From the Chancellor Dear Friend, The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:12, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him” (KJV ). At Regent University, we are training students to believe in God and to put their hope and faith in Him. When these men and women do that, even though there’s going to be some bumps in the road, they can be a source of leadership for the future. Regent’s responsibility is to help keep their faith grounded in the Lord as they become equipped to change the world. That’s why we tell our students, “This is a cause. This is a calling. You are training yourself to be a leader. You’re not here to drink and party. You’re here to become a Christian leader to change the world.” I want to see people trained in constitutional law. I want experts in biblical understanding and reasoning. I want great scholars to come out of this university. And at the same time, I want many more students. I want as many young people as possible to be exposed to the teaching we have at Regent, so they can be trained as Christian leaders. In order to do that, we need scholarships that will make a Regent education affordable. As 2014 comes to a close and you prepare to make year-end gifts to various causes and nonprofit organizations, I ask you to please consider donating to Regent University. Your faithful prayers and generous financial support ensure that future World Changers receive an outstanding, biblically grounded education from one of the most influential and transformational Christian universities in the world. Sincerely,
Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson Founder, Chancellor & CEO Regent University
“GENEROUS HANDS ARE BLESSED HANDS ...” PROVERBS 22:9 (MSG)
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Don Monteaux Photography
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