>> by sleep apnea that had strained the arteries around his heart, making it less efficient in pumping blood. “A doctor told me in 2005 the only way he would be cured is for him to get a new heart,” Falwell, Jr. said. “I don’t think I was supposed to hear that. I think Dad knew more than he was telling us.” He knew that Jerry Falwell, Jr. had been groomed to lead Liberty University and the younger son, the Rev. Jonathan Falwell, was called to be a pastor and believed he was ready
to assume that role at Thomas Road Baptist Church. Falwell, Jr. had served as General Counsel and Vice Chancellor at Liberty since 1988 and Jonathan had served as the Executive Pastor at TRBC for over 10 years. The good news was that the year before he died, Falwell, Sr. got to see the university’s online program take off and savor the fact that the once staggering university was now on sound financial ground. “He would say, ‘Just look at what the Lord has done,’” Godwin said.
“He got to look over into the Promised Land,” Falwell, Jr. added. Just a year before Falwell, Sr. died, Thomas Road Baptist Church had moved into a new church building adjacent to Liberty’s campus, which had always been one of his goals. On May 15, 2007, Falwell, Sr. woke for breakfast and went to his office, where he collapsed and never regained consciousness. His death set off a firestorm of media coverage across the nation and around the world.
“Just look at what the Lord has done.” - Dr. Jerry Falwell, Sr. LES SCHOFER
DEC. 2009
AUG. 2009
Liberty receives the highest accreditation, Level VI, from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Snowflex Centre opens
SEPT. 2009
Liberty welcomes advancement in technical degrees, research for School of Aeronautics and School of Engineering and Computational Sciences
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W W W. L I B E R T Y. E D U
APRIL 2010
Economic impact study released; Liberty contributed $217 million in direct spending to Lynchburg in 2009
FEB. 2010
Enrollment hits 50,000 students residential and online combined
MAY 2010
Chancellor appointed to governor’s Commission on Higher Education Reform