Chowan University Worship Center Brochure

Worship Center

Letter from the President "To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Galatians 1:5

Chowan University was founded in 1848 as a Baptist college, designed to further the knowledge and the spiritual foundation of our students. As President of Chowan University, I am embarking on a renewed emphasis and energy as a Christ-centered University that places equal emphasis on the educational and spiritual growth of our students.

For nearly 175 years, Chowan has been a Christian-based institution, but we have not had a dedicated building to worship Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Our mission of providing a Christ-centered education has encouraged our Board of Trustees to approve fundraising for the Chowan University Worship Center. The Worship Center will be the most important building we ever erect on campus. It will be a place that is inviting to the students, where they can worship, pray, sing, and praise our Lord. It will be a place where we can introduce Jesus to students and baptize new Christians.

The new building is beautifully designed to be the focal point of our Christian heritage and teachings for the next 100 years. I am sharing some of the architectural renderings of how the Worship Center will appear. The building will be next to McDowell Columns and will overlook Squirrel Park. There are still many details to be completed but we hope to start construction in the fall of 2021. I hope that you are encouraged by our focus on our Christian heritage and the new Worship Center.

Please join me in bringing this building to completion. I invite you to be part of making this Worship Center project a reality. It will be a wonderful celebration.

With faith in Chowan’s future,

Kirk E. Peterson

This Chowan University Worship Center provides a restful sanctuary where students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends can meditate, reflect, pray, worship and surrender their lives to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Why now?

The Chowan University Worship Center on the campus of Chowan University is not just a building, but a place where a body of believers with a specific nature and purpose may gather. The Worship Center can lay the foundations in worship, edification and evangelism.

Worship is expressing love for our Creator and our Savior. We are to praise and glorify God in worship. Every Christian needs to be a part of regular fellowship and worship. A Chowan University Worship Center will allow students to have corporate worship in a safe and inviting environment. It will be a place where we can help students build a firm foundation for their future by teaching biblical principles and values.

1848 Chowan was founded by Dr. Godwin Cotton Moore in 1848 as Chowan Baptist Female Institute, a four-year women’s college.

1910 Named Chowan College

1949

1938 Chowan became a junior college.

Male students were admitted.

1931 The McDowell Columns building, which currently houses the administrative offices, was constructed.

1851

Chowan College closed during World War II.

1943

Chowan College reopened as a coeducational two-year institution.

Greatest expansion of campus buildings.

1970s-80s

Edification is also a role of the Chowan University Worship Center. It involves edifying believers, but also nurturing, building up and helping believers to mature in Christ. To this end, the Chowan University Worship Center provides a location where various ministries such as Bible study, continuing education in related areas, praying for one another, acts of genuine hospitality and more can take place.

Evangelism is also a key role of the Chowan University Worship Center. The building provides a permanent place to reach the world with the Good News about Jesus. Since people often have questions or doubts about Christ and Christianity, knowing the truth and being able to defend it (apologetics) is also part of the role of the Chowan University Worship Center.

In following Christ’s example to love others, the Chowan University Worship Center will seek to make a real difference in the world while sharing the message of Christ. The Worship Center will be the centerpiece of our faith-based education and will leave no doubt as the University’s commitment to being Christ-centered institution of higher learning.

2006 The name of the institution was changed to Chowan University and the mascot to Hawks.

1971 Highest enrollment achieved: 1,545 students.

2021 Chowan University will enroll students in two new masters programs: Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Organizational Leadership.

1994 First baccalaureate degrees conferred.

Chowan will celebrate its 175th Anniversary.

2023 Returned to four year status.

1992

Chowan University enrolled students in its first masters program: Master of Education.

2010

The exterior of the building is designed to compliment existing architecture on campus, while maintaining a traditional church architecture.

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.�

Matthew 18:20

The location of the Worship Center will be between the historic McDowell Columns Hall and Green Hall (art galleries).

The Worship Center entrance will face University Drive, greeting all who enter campus.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Matthew 7:7

The foyer will greet guests as they enter the Worship Center.

It will also display the donors who made this vital building possible.

The sanctuary is designed to be an inviting place for reverence and worship.

“Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!�

Psalm 100:2

The stage will have an altar that compliments the wood architecture. Piano music will fill the sanctuary as the Center’s guests praise in song.

A baptismal pool will be at the rear of the stage.

Side doors will allow the Worship Center to interact with the landscape around it. Guests will be able to overflow into the beautiful area of the iconic Kerr Gazebo and Alumni Walk.

“That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

1 John 1:3

Upon entering the Worship Center guests will be immediately drawn to the stunning beauty of the sanctuary. A Bride’s Suite and Groom’s Room will be to the left with restrooms to the right.

Total fundraising project cost is $3.5 million.

You can support the chapel through: • • • • • •

Outright Gifts Gifts in Kind Planned Gifts Memorial or Honorary Gifts Real Estate Gift Pledged Gifts (3-5 years)

Chowan University has launched the fundraising for the Worship Center and is actively engaging those who want to be a part of this special project. The cost to construct the building is estimated at $2.5 million. We are seeking an additional $1 million for an endowment to help maintain this Worship Center for many generations to come.

Outright Gifts (cash gifts) are immediately available to the University for both donor-designated or undesignated purposes. Cash gifts tend to be the most common means of philanthropy.

Memorial or honorary gifts provide you with the opportunity to recognize those who have made an impact on your life.

A gift of real estate to Chowan University is a unique way to provide a Gifts in Kind are an important way of benefiting Chowan University lasting benefit to the University. It is also a convenient way for you to through a charitable gift. enjoy a charitable deduction based on the current fair market value of your property and to reduce the size and complexity of your estate.

Planned Gifts or bequests are gifts made through a will or living trust Because a gift of real estate will usually be sold as soon as practicable to provide support for your favorite charitable organization(s), such as after it is gifted, the real estate must be free of debt and must be Chowan University. Life insurance, Charitable Lead Trusts, Retained Life readily marketable. An added benefit is that all aspects of its sale are Estates, and Retirement Plan Gifts are also considered planned gifts. handled by the University.

Office of Advancement One University Place, Murfreesboro, NC 27855 development@chowan.edu | 252-398-1233 chowan.edu/worshipcenterproject