Liberty Journal Fall/Winter 2023

FALL/WINTER 2023

Next Chapter INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT DONDI COSTIN SPECIAL GUESTS VA. GOV. GLENN YOUNGKIN DR. DAVID DOCKERY MICHAEL W. SMITH

ONWARD

INTO THE DARKNESS

TIME TO DINE

TOBYMAC

ADVANCING THE MISSION FOR LIBERTY’S FUTURE

FIGHTING THE EVILS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

NEW DINING HALL OPEN FOR SERVICE

BACK WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 3

MESSAGE FROM

S E N I O R M A N AG I N G E D I TO R Mitzi Bible

THE PRESIDENT

G RA P H I C D E S I G N E R Carrie Mitchell

As I write these words, we have just celebrated a wonderful Homecoming Weekend on Liberty Mountain. It is always a joy to see our family members come home for this annual reunion. For me and my wife, Vickey, this weekend was extra special. We have been celebrating our own homecoming since moving to Lynchburg this summer, and I have been routinely reminded why Liberty is such a spectacular place.

Serving as the sixth president of my alma mater is an honor I could never have imagined. Liberty has been instrumental in shaping my life since the day a church staff member handed me a Liberty University brochure in support of my call to the Air Force chaplaincy in 1987. As a two-time graduate, I know firsthand what it means to be a Liberty-trained Champion for Christ.

In the pages that follow, you will read about the university’s recent inauguration ceremony, which was an incredibly meaningful opportunity to honor the Lord with a room full of friends, family, and colleagues who have invested so heavily in me through the years. It was especially humbling to be in the company of many longtime Liberty employees who helped build this university into the powerhouse it is today. Through thick and thin, God used these faithful warriors to lay the

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Kristin Conrad Ryan Helfenbein Amanda Stanley WRITERS Ted Allen Mitzi Bible Bryson Gordon Ryan Klinker Christian Shields PHOTOGRAPHERS Joel Coleman KJ Jugar Brooke McDuffee Matt Reynolds Chase Gyles Jessie Jordan Jacob Summersgill Kendall Tidwell CREATIVE DIRECTOR Josh Rice PUBLISHING STAFF Rebecca Beem Quinn Chapell Ashley Deanda Kerry Hogan Dawn Neal Brian Shesko ON THE COVER President Dondi Costin takes the oath alongside his wife, Vickey, who is holding the first Bible that Liberty University founder Dr. Jerry Falwell owned, during the inauguration on Oct. 26 at Thomas Road Baptist Church.

PHOTO BY MATT REYNOLDS Contact the Liberty Journal at news@liberty.edu, (434) 592-4955, or write to: Liberty University Office of Communications & Public Engagement 1971 University Blvd., Lynchburg, Va. 24515 Liberty remains one of the largest private, nonprofit universities in the nation and the largest university in Virginia. Located near the Blue Ridge Mountains on more than 7,000 acres in Lynchburg, Va., Liberty utilizes its world-class infrastructure and Christian faculty to offer more than 700 unique programs of study from the certificate to the doctoral level. Over 600 programs are offered online.

For information on Liberty’s academic programs, the admission process, alumni, or athletics, call (434) 582-2000.

KJ JU GAR

Liberty University is not affiliated with the Department of Defense or any military service.

Liberty University does not engage in unlawful discrimination or harassment because of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability, or military veteran status in its educational programs and activities. Liberty University maintains its Christian character and reserves its right to discriminate on the basis of religion to the extent that applicable law respects its right to act in furtherance of its religious objectives.

groundwork. Now we stand on their shoulders and extend their legacy for the good of others and the glory of God. As I shared on inauguration day, my primary obligation is to be a minder of the mission established by our founder, Dr. Jerry Falwell, in 1971. As always, Training Champions for Christ is job one. Not surprisingly, in our brief time here Vickey and I have seen these champions in action.

A few weeks ago, we joined our students in Florida with LU Serve Now, following their lead to help clear debris and repair damage left in the wake of Hurricane Idalia. It was moving to watch them serve as the hands and feet of Jesus to that broken community. Their spirit of service is alive and well around our campus and across our community as faculty, staff, and students daily affirm that we are on mission for God’s Kingdom here.

Echoing the final words of my inaugural address, there is only one King of the Hill on this Mountain, and His name is Jesus.

Please keep us in your prayers as we follow His lead. With the God of all creation at the helm of both His universe and His university, the best is yet to come!

Dondi E. Costin | President

INSIDE THIS INSIDE ISSUETHIS ISSUE FEATURES 2| NEXT CHAPTER The Liberty community and many special guests formally welcomed Dr. Dondi Costin as the university’s sixth president on Oct. 26.

20| TIME TO DINE

37| FAITH IN FOCUS

A look inside the new Reber-Thomas Dining Center, which opened to students at the start of the fall semester

Evangelism professor Dr. David Wheeler shares what it means to embrace empathetic living.

22| HERE TO SERVE

ATHLETICS

8| ONWARD: THE MISSION ADVANCES

For LU employees, keeping campus running smoothly is more than a job; it’s a calling.

Under new leadership, Liberty sets its course with a strategic plan for the future.

24| A WAY WITH WORDS

Liberty celebrates the Flames’ arrival in Conference USA.

10| FROM THE FOUNDER’S BACKYARD

Author Angela Hunt (’80) uses her Christian worldview to shape her awardwinning career.

40| SPORTS & SERVICE

Grammy Award winner TobyMac (’88) talks career success, clinging to his faith, and how it all began as a student at LU. 14| WORK OF HEART From the devastating wildfire in Maui to hurricane damage in Florida, disaster relief teams answer the call.

18| INTO THE DARKNESS Heather Fischer (’06), former U.S. czar on human trafficking, fights the evils of forced labor here and abroad.

NEWS & VIEWS 29| CHANCELLOR’S COLUMN Jonathan Falwell encourages students to grow in the knowledge of who Jesus Christ truly is — the Messiah, the Son of the living God. 30| CEO SUMMIT

38| STARTING STRONG

Profiles of three student-athletes who make serving their community a top priority

ALUMNI

42| CLASS NOTES & ALUMNI NEWS Read about the accomplishments of your fellow alumni and learn more ways to support future Champions for Christ.

Hundreds of industry leaders, including Fortune 500 CEOs, converge on campus for the annual summit.

This year’s Homecoming, held Nov. 3-5, welcomed more alumni than ever before to Liberty Mountain with over 11,000 registered. Alumni and their families joined students in celebrating many of LU’s rich Homecoming traditions across campus, including the bonfire, parade, and football game, where they cheered the Flames to a 56-30 victory over Louisiana Tech, joining a crowd of 21,647 fans, the largest in Homecoming history and the sixth largest attendance in Williams Stadium history. Alumni were also invited to a family carnival, alumni breakfast, and alumni tailgate. (See more photos on Page 46.)

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Presidential Inauguration

K E NDALL TI DWE L L

Next

CHAPTER Ce re mo n y h o n o r s Li b e r t y’s p as t as l e ad e r s m arc h

in t o t h e f u t u re h o l d i n g fas t t o t h e o r i g i n al m i s s i o n Liberty University formally marked the beginning of a new chapter in its leadership and praised God for His faithfulness throughout its 52-year history during the official installation of its sixth president, Dondi E. Costin, Ph.D., on Oct. 26.

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Faculty, staff, students, friends, and special guests attended the inauguration ceremony at Thomas Road Baptist Church, where figures of the university’s storied past and current leadership, including co-founder Dr. Elmer Towns and Chancellor Jonathan Falwell, shared

in the special moment of charging Costin as the next leader of the university.

Honored speakers included Dr. David Dockery, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, who delivered the keynote address, and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Christian

M ATT R EYNO LDS

Dr. Elmer Towns, Co-founder

K ENDALL TI DWELL

Michael W. Smith

C HASE GYLE S

M AT T R E YNOL DS

Chancellor Jonathan Falwell presents Dr. Dondi Costin with the President's Medallion, the badge of office for the presidency of Liberty University. The medallion is worn by the president when participating in formal university ceremonies.

Dr. Scott Hicks, Provost; Daniel Hostetter, Student Government Association President

music artist Michael W. Smith, executive director of Liberty’s Michael W. Smith Center for Commercial Music, led a time of praise and worship. Liberty also welcomed members of the Board of Trustees, several state and local government officials, civic leaders, and presidents and representatives of several colleges and universities.

The board unanimously appointed Costin as president and Falwell as chancellor in March. Costin officially began serving as president on July 1, returning to Liberty, his alma mater, after

for Christ. In the opening remarks, Falwell said the same vision of his father, Liberty founder Dr. Jerry Falwell, will drive the school into its new era.

“In 1971, when my dad started this university, he started it with a vision and with a passion,” he said, “... and today, in 2023, I can assure you that is still the vision, and it will remain the vision until Christ returns.”

Youngkin described the ceremony as a celebration of a “bold, inspiring next chapter of a university that is a Champion for Christ.”

“What originally began with a >>

five years as president of Charleston Southern University. Costin is a retired Major General with 36 years of service in a military career that culminated as a senior leader in the Pentagon, where he served as the 18th Air Force Chief of Chaplains. An ordained Southern Baptist minister, Costin was endorsed by the Liberty Baptist Fellowship during his 22 years as a chaplain. He holds five graduate degrees, including two from Liberty (M.A. in Counseling, M.A. in Religion).

The ceremony honored Liberty’s original mission of Training Champions

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>> mountain and a dream has ascended to an extraordinary university, and I couldn’t think of a better, more prepared leader than President Costin to stand at the helm and continue to lead that ascension,” Youngkin said. “I can attest to you that he will bring leadership, he will bring vision, he will bring energy. But most importantly, he will bring his unwavering faith in Christ Jesus to this role.”

Youngkin said he was “inspired” by the Great Commission that is happening on campus, and that as LU “blazes the path forward for us all,” that path will be one “not of convenience, but a path of conviction.”

“Today marks a moment of celebration, a moment of acceleration, and a moment

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Maj. Gen. Charlie Baldwin (retired), former U.S. Air Force Chief of Chaplains

of even loftier aspiration,” Youngkin said.

“And we know that when we serve and lead in the name of Christ, we can do anything.

Every mountain can move, every heart can be changed.”

Youngkin closed by leading the crowd in prayer for Costin and his leadership at the university.

Costin then introduced Dockery, someone he calls a mentor and his “hero.”

In academics, he said Dockery could be the “dean of Christian higher education” and noted his passion for the integration of faith and learning.

In his address, Dockery challenged Liberty leadership, faculty, staff, and students with three points: to “lead Christianly,” “teach Christianly,” and “live

DID YOU KNOW?

M ATT R EYNOLDS

JOEL COLEM AN

M ATT R EYNOLDS

Dr. David Dockery, President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Chancellor Jonathan Falwell

and serve Christianly” in everything they do during a time where the need is high for Christian education.

“Let me urge the Liberty community on this day to use the marvelous resources the Lord has providentially provided for you to recruit the finest faculty, the most talented staff, the brightest students, and to develop challenging academic programs across the board ... doing so in order to bring glory to our majestic triune God.” Dockery also challenged Costin to channel the “goodwill” that surrounded him that day and to “shower this goodwill back to the entire Liberty community.”

“When the goodwill ebbs and flows in the coming days, as it inevitably will,” he said, “I urge you to remain thankful for the

Dr. Dondi Costin is Liberty’s sixth president

DR . A. PIERRE GUILLERMIN

DR . JOHN M. BOREK JR .

1971–1997

1997–2004

DR . JERRY FALWELL

MR . JERRY FALWELL JR .

DR . JERRY PREVO

2004–2007

2007–2020

2020–2023

“Today marks a moment of celebration, a moment of acceleration, and a moment of even loftier aspiration, and we know that when we serve and lead in the name of Christ, we can do anything. Every mountain can move, every heart can be changed.”

V I R G I N I A G OV. G L E N N Y O U N G K I N

M ATT R EYNOLDS

wonderful and rare privilege that you have been given, to provide leadership for such a significant institution as this one.”

After Dockery’s address, Board of Trustees Chairman Tim Lee administered the oath of the presidency to Costin. As Costin raised his right hand, he placed his left hand on a Bible held by his wife, Vickey. Lee told the history of that Bible: it was the first Bible Dr. Falwell owned;

he purchased it the day after he accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of 18.

After being formally installed as president, Costin spent a large part of his presidential address recognizing and thanking everyone in his life who had prepared him for the opportunity to serve as president, starting with his late parents and going all the way through to his recent colleagues at Charleston

Dondi and Vickey Costin met at her home church while Dondi was serving at Eglin Air Force Base near Fort Walton Beach, Fla. They married in 1989.

Vickey earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from The University of Southern Mississippi and a Master of Education degree from Texas Christian University. Her career as a public elementary school music teacher spanned more than 23 years with teaching assignments in six states.

President Costin was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in 1986. He then served successively as an industrial engineer evaluating air-toground precision-guided munitions, chief of scientific analysis on a major command headquarters staff, and assistant professor of aerospace studies at Texas Christian University. After 10 years as a line officer, he became an Air Force chaplain in

JOE L COLE M AN

Meet the Costins

1996. In 2015, he was promoted to Major General and appointed Air Force Chief of Chaplains, a senior position at the Pentagon, where he established guidance

Southern University, many of whom were in attendance at the ceremony.

“I’m a turtle on a fencepost,” Costin said, a refrain he said he’s used each time he has addressed a crowd during a ceremony that commemorated a milestone in his career. “... Because anytime you see a turtle on a fencepost, you know at least two things: that turtle didn’t get up there by himself, and that somebody had to do it.” >>

and provided advice on all matters pertaining to the religious and moral welfare of Air Force personnel and their families. He led an Air Force Chaplain Corps of 2,000 chaplains and Religious Affairs Airmen and was the senior pastor for more than 664,000 personnel. As chairman of the Armed Forces Chaplain Board, he advised the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff on religious, ethical, and quality-of-life concerns for the entire U.S. military.

President Costin is an avid runner, having completed four of the six “major” marathons — Boston, Chicago, New York, and Tokyo.

Although he said he’s adjusting to life in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, President Costin calls himself a “flatlander” who loves the beach. He grew up in Wilmington, N.C., to Christian parents who taught him to know Jesus and His saving grace.

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JOEL CO LEM AN

Meredith Andrews (’07) and Charles Billingsley

DID YOU

KNOW?

Costin’s new fencepost, he said, is Liberty University.

He spoke about the numerous miracles and significance of mountains found throughout the Bible, charging faculty to continue sending forth Champions for Christ from Liberty Mountain.

“God has called us to make a difference in this world, and from this mountain we Train Champions for Christ who will not stay on this mountain but will go down the mountain and serve every single mountain of influence and valley in between.”

The president also charged himself with three tasks: to be the “minder of the mission,” the “keeper of the culture,” and the “steward of the strategy.”

“We Train Champions for Christ and have done so since 1971. We’ve done so

K ENDALL T I DWE L L

This is not Dr. Costin’s first time to be featured in the Liberty Journal taking an oath for a new job. He was interviewed for the Fall 2015 issue, shortly after he was appointed Air Force Chief of Chaplains.

when the culture is for us, and we’ve done so when the culture is against us. But we’ve always done so,” Costin said. “We’ve done so when there were no resources, and we’ve done so now when we have extra resources.

The mission, though, never changes.”

Costin recalled a conversation he had with a Marine trooper at the Pentagon about a line in the Air Force fight song, “We live in fame or go down in flame.” The trooper told him, “That’s a pretty incredible thing you’ve got there. You’re surrounded by a bunch of people who are so committed to this thing that they are willing to either ‘live in fame’ or ‘go down in flame’ because they’re so committed to the defense of this nation.”

That mantra, the president said, is applicable for the university today.

“Liberty University does not have the option of crashing and burning,” Costin said. “And you’ll notice in our alma mater (“Champions Arise”) that the Liberty Flames never go down. Liberty Flames rise. That’s what this day is all about: God doing amongst us what only God can do for His glory and others’ good from Liberty Mountain.”

Costin closed by noting the difference between a coronation and an inauguration.

“Inaugurations are about saying, ‘next man up, next steward up…’” Costin said.

“Coronations are about sovereigns. Ladies and gentlemen, if you remember nothing else about today, you remember this: There is only one King of the hill on this mountain, and His name is Jesus.”

Full Circle

Dr. Dondi Costin began his chaplaincy training with Liberty University. When God called him to ministry, he said a youth pastor at his church handed him a brochure for Liberty’s distance learning program. “Even way back then, Liberty University was on the cutting edge of educational innovation and brought both counseling and theological education to me before the internet and before

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cellphones,” he told students at the first Convocation of the semester. “God knew that Liberty University was exactly what I needed, and he put Liberty University right in my lap just as he has done for you.” Costin earned two master’s degrees from LU, in counseling and in religion. An ordained Southern Baptist minister, he was endorsed by Liberty Baptist Fellowship during his 22 years as a chaplain.

President Dondi Costin with Liberty founder Dr. Jerry Falwell in the late 1990s

Welcome TO THE

MOUNTAIN PRESIDENT & MR S. COSTIN

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ONWARD

A DVA NC I NG T H E M I S S I O N W I T H L I B E RTY U N I V E R S I TY ’S ST R AT E G I C P L A N Since 1971, Liberty University’s mission has remained unchanged: Training Champions for Christ. This fall, Liberty embarked on an intentional, comprehensive, university-wide effort to ensure that all areas of the institution are well-equipped to take Liberty into the future while holding fast to its original mission.

Under the direction of President Dondi Costin, and in cooperation with all members of Liberty’s administration, faculty, and staff, the university has begun a multifaceted research, analysis, and goal-setting exercise that will culminate in the 2024-29 Strategic Plan, scheduled to be published by the end of the 2023-24 academic year.

Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Scott Hicks is working with a core team to oversee the project. He said the university values input from all employees in this “genuinely community effort.”

“This planning process encompasses every constituency that ought to have a voice in Liberty University’s future," he said, “from current students and family members, alumni, faculty, staff at every level, the Board of Trustees, and our generous supporters, plus the host of outside government agencies, civil entities, accrediting bodies, and higher education experts whose voice will help Liberty reach our full potential.”

A survey was disseminated to gather information from both inside and outside the Liberty community for the purpose of assessing Liberty’s status, identifying

new opportunities to extend its reach as a leading institution of Christian higher education, and defining what it means to be a Champion for Christ.

As the data is being aggregated and analyzed and themes are solidified, Liberty will march forward with a shared

“We will determine how to execute that plan, our marching orders, so we can successfully fulfill more and more of Dr. Falwell’s original vision. The mission doesn’t change. We always have and always will Train Champions for Christ, but our methods in this next season will be best suited for what lies ahead.”

PRESIDENT DONDI COSTIN vision and plan to navigate the cultural and higher education landscapes that continue to evolve. Preserving and securing Liberty’s distinct Christian culture is the top priority, with a dependency on God’s divine guidance for the future of the university that He has built.

“An effective strategic plan for any institution should include the fundamentals of organizational and operational best practices,” Costin said.

“Liberty’s plan should do all that, of course,

but it should be conducted in the unique context in which God has placed us.”

“Everything that the university does from the moment the Strategic Plan is published will be driven by this plan,” he continued. “We want to make sure we’re all on the same page as we march from where we are to where God wants us. The strategy portion is developing the path to get from here to there, leveraging the resources God has given us — for the good of others and the glory of God.” The process comprises five phases: 1) Environmental Scan; 2) SWOT Analysis — identifying Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats; 3) Goals and Objectives; 4) Publication; 5) Action Plan. The full plan is expected to be completed by early spring and presented to Liberty’s Board of Trustees for review and final approval.

All departments across the university were involved in the first phase by conducting a thorough analysis of the internal and external factors that impact their operations, programs, and services.

All employees were encouraged to actively influence the process through research and input on how they can play a unique role in the success of the university. The phase involved over 1,500 administrators, faculty, and staff who contributed over 5,800 hours and resulted in over 3,700 findings. As part of the SWOT Analysis, all members of the LU community and over 500 strategic partners were invited to take a survey on what defines a Champion for Christ.

Currently, the administration, faculty,

CHASE GYL ES

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and staff within each department are reviewing the emerging themes from the Environmental Scan findings and finalizing SWOT Analyses. They will then create specific, measurable goals and objectives as well as action plans to track progress.

Costin stressed the vital importance of the final phase, the Action Plan.

“Many organizations stop the process after the Strategic Plan is published, but the true measure of a plan’s success is not the pretty graphics or who quotes it down the road — it is the execution. We will determine how to execute that plan, our marching orders, so we can successfully fulfill more and more of Dr. Falwell’s

original vision. The mission doesn’t change. We always have and always will Train Champions for Christ, but our methods in this next season will be best suited for what lies ahead.”

As Liberty’s new president, Costin emphasized that the current planning cannot be carried out without acknowledging the steadfast work of those who have led the university before him.

“We’re doing all of this on the shoulders of the giants who came before us — our founder, Dr. Jerry Falwell, who realized the vision; co-founder Dr. Elmer Towns; past presidents Dr. Pierre Guillermin, Dr. John Borek, and Jerry Falwell Jr.; and in the very significant interim period served

by President Emeritus Jerry Prevo. I’m grateful for all of their work as we build upon the past and march into the future.”

He said he is confident in Liberty’s current leadership team, who have been charged to be both the “minders of the mission” and “keepers of the culture.”

“They have been handed the baton,” he said, “and we will run however many laps around the track we’ve been called to run.

We hope when we hand the baton off to the next leadership team that we will have done our part to advance the university to the next level. Just as the previous leadership has set the conditions for future victories, with God’s help we hope to set up our successors for success.”

BY THE NUMBERS 135,000+

20 NCAA

15,000+ residential students and 119,000+ online students

590 total NCAA student-athletes 40+ Club Sports teams with 700+ student-athletes

TOTAL STUDENTS IN THE 2022-23 ACADEMIC YEAR;

DIVISION I ATHLETIC PROGRAMS

Liberty remains one of the

NATION’S LARGEST

700+

300+ residential programs, 600+ online programs

3,877

FACULTY MEMBERS;

18:1 student-to-professor ratio (combined residential and online)

ALUMNI

INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITATION Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

private, nonprofit universities

UNIQUE AREAS OF STUDY FROM THE CERTIFICATE TO THE DOCTORAL LEVEL

285,000+

Residential students from

ALL 50 STATES AND MORE THAN 70+ NATIONS Online students from 100+ nations Military-affiliated students: 40,000

MORE THAN

7,000

TOTAL ACRES

Over 7.5 million square feet of building space and 175 buildings and structures

PROGRAM ACCREDITATION EXAMPLES

• College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) — Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) • School of Law — Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (ABA) • School of Business — Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) • School of Education — Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) • John W. Rawlings School of Divinity — Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS)

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CONVOCATION

FROM THE FOUNDER’S BACKYARD TO THE WORLD STAGE A l u m n u s To by M a c s h a re s u p s a n d d ow n s o f h i s fa i t h j o u r n ey a n d m u s i c c a re e r Grammy Award-winning musician and Liberty University alumnus Toby McKeehan (’88) — better known as “TobyMac” — returned to campus on Sept.

8 to reminisce about his time as a student and provide advice to those sitting in the same seats he once sat in.

Through his time as both a member of the Christian rock and hip-hop group dc Talk (which formed at Liberty) and launching his solo career, McKeehan has continued to grow his platform and fan base. The singer-songwriter has earned seven Grammy Awards and continues to release new music; his latest album, “Life After Death,” came out last year.

During a Q&A session with Chancellor Jonathan Falwell, a friend and former classmate, McKeehan shared some fond memories from his college years as well as the role that Liberty played in launching his successful career. “(Liberty) is so beautiful now.

Congratulations to (the students) for coming to a wonderful university.

Welcome,” McKeehan said to the freshmen in the crowd. “It’s mindboggling what a place it has become, and it’s attributed to (Liberty’s leadership). Thank you for pouring into students.”

McKeehan originally attended Jacksonville University on a golf scholarship but said he transferred to Liberty his sophomore year after convincing Liberty founder Dr. Jerry Falwell (with the help of his former neighbor Joe Gibbs) to start a golf team.

Despite studying business as a student and playing golf through college, he soon found his true passion in making music.

“I loved it here,” he said. “(Liberty) changed my life. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I had plans, but God had other plans.”

While attending Liberty, McKeehan

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started dc Talk alongside classmates Michael Tait and Kevin Max. He shared that Dr. Falwell contributed heavily to the band’s success on campus and after graduation, providing venues for performances and even writing letters recommending the group to churches and youth groups in Nashville.

“One of our first gigs was in Dr. Falwell’s backyard,” McKeehan said. “That’s kind of crazy to think about. He obviously was a visionary, but he even had vision for us. He got what we were doing. He understood.

“This could be a pivotal moment in your life like it was for me.

Look for the doors that God opens.”

TOBYMAC

Toby McKeehan (TobyMac) and Michael Tait at a party at Liberty founder Dr. Jerry Falwell's home in the 1980s

He said, ‘I don’t know what this is, but I know they’re talking about my King. And if they’re talking about my King, it needs to be out there.’ So, he helped us get out there.”

“(Falwell) saw the bigger picture,” he added. “He knew (Christian hip-hop and rock music) wasn’t his language, but he knew it was truth.”

McKeehan spoke about his individual work following the dissolution of dc Talk, sharing how he not only continues to make music of his own but also supports upcoming artists through his record company Gotee Records. In 2021, he signed Liberty student (now alumnus) Joseph O’Brien to the label.

McKeehan, who suffered the loss of his oldest child, Truett, in 2019, shared about dealing with the trials of life and the importance of maintaining a strong relationship with God. There was a time in his grief when he couldn’t pick up his Bible, he said, but he eventually did.

“I’ve never been sorry that I knocked on God’s door, and you won’t be either,” he said, referencing Psalm 9:9-10. “No matter how hard your life is right now and who’s hurting you, knock on God’s door. You’ll never regret it.”

McKeehan told the students to use their gifts and talents for the sake of the Gospel instead of “self-indulgence.”

“One of the things I’ve learned along the way, which we know, is we (as Christians) are servants. If we dare call Him our Lord, there’s only one position for us, and that is (as) His servants. A servant’s job is to wait on the request of the Lord.”

As someone who found success in both his career and personal life by waiting on God’s timing, McKeehan encouraged students to follow God’s leading. Although he originally planned on playing golf professionally or pursuing a career in real estate like his father, through placing his faith in God, McKeehan found success behind the microphone. He urged the next generation of Liberty students to trust God to do the same in their lives.

“For all you guys here, you have a chance right now. This could be a pivotal moment in your life like it was for me. Look for the doors that God opens,” he said.

He concluded by urging students to follow the apostle Paul’s example of living a life that makes people around you curious about the Gospel.

“Wherever you go, whatever you do, make them curious.”

DID YOU

KNOW?

Toby McKeehan, shown here in the 1988 Selah yearbook, was one of Liberty’s first golfers. He aspired to be a professional golfer before music became his true passion. At the September Convocation, he was presented with a new Liberty golf bag.

KJ J UGAR

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CONVOCATION

‘WE ALL FALL SHORT OF GOD’S GLORY’ N B A’ s J o n a t h a n I s a a c o n s t a n d i n g u p f o r y o u r f a i t h

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“I put everything that I had into creating this identity as a basketball player, to the point that I was the No. 1 player in the state of Florida, but what nobody knew was that I was struggling so much behind the scenes with anxiety,” Isaac said. “This thing on the inside of me was growing. The more and more people expected of me, the higher I got as a basketball player; I was having this dichotomy of working so hard for love and trying so hard not to lose it by playing badly.”

Isaac grew up in church, but he didn’t have a relationship with Christ when he entered the NBA in 2017. Through the persistence of Christians around him who sought after him, Isaac eventually found a new purpose: the one God has for him.

“I was so used to clinging to the perception that other people had of me and striving to be loved, (but) I started to rest in the love that God has for me. I’ve had so many ups

and downs, I’ve been injured, I’ve trusted God, I’ve walked with God, and there are a few things I know to be true. I know that the world is changing, and the necessity of you being able to stand up for your faith is only going to become more paramount, (yet) harder to do.”

He charged the students to stand up in their own ways.

“God is trying to equip each and every one of you with purpose, and you’re going to carry out something for the Kingdom of God. It’s going to be a stand in one way or another, if it’s before the Lord or in your everyday life, and you’re going to have to do it or you will not be who God has created you to be.”

JESSIE JORDAN

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac shared how he learned to stand boldly for God in his career and in life, even when others encouraged the opposite, during Convocation on Sept. 1.

Following the death of George Floyd in 2020, teams across the league were kneeling during the national anthem and wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts. Games were being held in the NBA bubble due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Isaac was the first player to stand during the national anthem, a decision that was followed by support from some and backlash from others. When asked if he would participate by kneeling and wearing the shirt, Isaac told his team that he saw the movement differently.

“I found myself in this moment not really understanding my place in it,” he said. “I started to explain to them, ‘I see the problem, I just have a different solution. We all fall short of God’s glory, and I don’t want to point fingers at an individual person — or an entire race for that matter — because I need grace and mercy just like (everyone does).’”

The night before the game, he called his pastor and explained his concerns about taking this stand for his views, and his pastor simply told him, “You cannot stand for God and God not stand for you.”

The next day, Isaac stood for the national anthem and did not wear the shirt, making national headlines and getting “plastered” online.

“The heartbeat of what I was trying to do was (share) that I believe that we all fall short of God’s glory, and if any of us are throwing stones at any person or anything, we are throwing stones in a glass house,” he said. “If we would love each other the way that God loves us, which is in spite of our sins and shortcomings, there could be real change between white and black people, for all people.”

Born in The Bronx, Isaac moved to Naples, Fla., in middle school, and he struggled to fit in due to standing out as a tall, black student among mostly white classmates. He developed anxiety, which would continue into his college career and early NBA years.

FALL 2023 FEATURED GUESTS THE NORWOOD FAMILY Michelle Norwood and her son Hunter, owners of the A Little Something Extra Ice Cream truck, shared the story and mission behind their business on Aug. 30. They started the ice cream truck in 2018 and use it to provide job opportunities for people with Down syndrome in their home state of Alabama. Hunter, who has Down syndrome, serves as CEO. The truck was parked on the Academic Lawn and served long lines of students for most of the day.

GRANGER SMITH The former country music artist preached on Sept. 6 about the importance of denying oneself for Christ. After 24 years of touring, he felt called to ministry at his local church in Austin, Texas, and performed his last set on Aug. 26. He read from Mark 8:34-36 about sacrifice and “taking up the cross” to follow God. He said music, for him, had become too much about his own glory, and through trials, including losing his 3-yearold son, he has found peace in surrendering his life’s work to Christ, Who overcame the world so that we can find joy in the suffering.

JAELENE DANIELS Former professional soccer player Jaelene Daniels spoke about moments of personal conviction in her career with the North Carolina Courage and as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team. During the Oct. 27 Convocation, Daniels shared how she was ridiculed for refusing to wear rainbow gay pride jerseys in USWNT games and at a Courage gay pride-themed event, ultimately leading to the end of her pro career. She urged the students to “build that conviction now” and “be prepared to step into any atmosphere where your faith is going to be challenged.”

DR. BILLY KIM The world evangelist and humanitarian brought The Korean Children’s Choir to the Sept.

27 Convocation and delivered a sermon about choosing to live for God. Citing Joshua 24:15, which says to “choose whom you will serve,” Kim talked about the choices he has made that have led to his global ministry, including his decision to follow Jesus as a young man studying and working abroad in America in the 1950s. He encouraged students to choose to live a life of prayer that seeks to help others find Christ.

SEN. MARCO RUBIO U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) brought his experience working in Washington to the student body at the Oct. 11 Convocation, where he spoke on the intersection of faith and politics. He said anti-Israel protests reveal “a deeper rot — a war on truth” and challenged students to stand on their truths when it comes to political issues rather than dividing others with more hatred. Rubio’s visit coincided with the third annual CEO Summit, where he spoke to both students and business leaders about using their faith as the “anchor of our truths” no matter where they go in the world.

Watch Convocations live on Liberty’s Facebook page.

View past Convocations at Watch.Liberty.edu or on YouTube.

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A Liberty Serve Now team built temporary homes for residents of Lahaina, Hawaii, Sept. 17-24.

SARAH WOF FOR D

WO R K OF

HEART

D I S A S T E R R E L I E F T E A M S T R AV E L TO H AWA I I , F LO R I DA Wildfires, hurricanes, floods. All of these disasters have the power to destroy whole neighborhoods and towns, leaving families in dire need. Several Liberty University students have seen the destruction these disasters can cause firsthand this school year, traveling with the university’s Serve Now disaster response program to bring comfort and relief to homeowners who never thought they’d see all their belongings wiped away in a single day.

These students left Lynchburg with hearts to serve those who are starting to rebuild

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their homes and their lives.

When junior Grace Weaver arrived in Lahaina, on Maui, Hawaii, in late September, she was not expecting to see complete devastation. She described rows of houses that had been leveled from the wildfires, displacing thousands of Hawaiian residents, and streets that had been shut down and abandoned.

“Seeing that side of the devastation with people who don’t know if they will be able to recover from what’s happened was sobering,” she said. “It was so amazing to

be a part of the construction work and lay a new foundation, even if it’s a temporary 8-by-12 home, for these people to restart their lives.”

The Maui wildfire has been deemed the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century, causing 97 deaths. In the historic town of Lahaina, the fire is estimated to have affected more than 3.4 square miles, destroying or otherwise damaging over 2,200 structures.

Weaver was part of a 12-person team from Liberty that partnered with Samaritan’s

The Serve Now team poses with Liberty leadership, including President Dondi Costin and his wife, Vickey (center), in Perry, Fla., on Sept. 29.

Liberty President Dondi Costin uses a chainsaw to clear debris from a rooftop in Perry, Fla.

Purse and Hui Homes to construct temporary housing units. They also sifted through ashes for personal possessions.

In addition to the physical labor, the team members used their time to share the Gospel. They distributed Bibles provided by Samaritan’s Purse and wrote encouraging notes inside.

“It’s great to be able to serve people and provide some type of relief, assistance, and physical and emotional care to them, but when you add the Gospel to it, it provides the real reason into why you’re doing all

JOEL COLE MA N

SARAH WOF FORD

Liberty students assemble walls in Lahaina, Hawaii.

of that,” said junior James Gengaro, who was on his third trip with Serve Now after assisting with hurricane cleanup in Englewood, Fla., in January and tornado cleanup in Mayfield, Ky., last fall.

Serve Now conducts several trips each semester to serve the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of individuals and communities, working alongside worldclass organizations and leaders. The trip to Lahaina marked Serve Now’s first trip this school year. A week later, another team of 12 headed to Perry, Fla., to help with

cleanup from Hurricane Idalia. A third team deployed Oct. 8-13 (over Fall Break) to Jackson, Ky., to help residents rebuild after historic flooding last fall.

In Florida, the team was excited to see more volunteers show up one day to move brush and logs, tarp roofs, and repair damage to a woman’s home. Among the familiar faces were Liberty President Dondi Costin and his wife, Vickey; Chancellor Jonathan Falwell and his wife, Shari; Vice President of Spiritual Development Josh Rutledge; and Executive Director of LU >>

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>> Serve Lew Weider. Also lending a hand were Samaritan’s Purse COO Edward Graham and his brother, William Graham, executive vice president and evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and vice chairman of Liberty’s Board of Trustees.

“Liberty University has done what God has called us to do, to go to the ends of the earth and every sphere of influence and be a witness for Jesus Christ as Champions for Christ,” Costin said.

“Samaritan’s Purse and Liberty University go way back — and they’re all

about creating Champions for Christ,” Edward Graham said in a Samaritan’s Purse news release. “LU Serve gives them the opportunity to serve communities in need and to strengthen the local church.”

Falwell said the group’s goal was to let the homeowners know that “Liberty loves Florida, but far better said, God loves them.”

Sophomore Phil Zettlemoyer said he was proud to serve alongside Liberty and Samaritan’s Purse leaders.

“You see those people on stage talking about Jesus and what it’s like to be a

Christian, but to see them come down here and live that out … it showed how much they genuinely care about not only LU Serve Now but also the homeowner who had their life impacted by this hurricane. It was cool to see that they’re not just talking and are really trying to make an impact.”

He said the trip gave the students a true perspective on serving others.

“It’s really made me consider my calling in life and what it means to be a Christian and to have that joy to evangelize. I’m not a chaplain, but I can move sticks and minister to these people.”

Building homes in Lahaina in Maui, Hawaii

SARAH WOF FOR D

Liberty Chancellor Jonathan Falwell and President Dondi Costin haul away debris.

JOE L CO LEMAN

JOE L CO LEMAN

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(From left) Will Graham (’97), executive vice president and evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; Falwell; Samaritan’s Purse COO Edward Graham; and Costin

CLOSE TO HOME Nursing students deliver care packages to nursing home residents Students from the community care nursing course in the School of Nursing brought care packages filled with lotion, coloring books, blankets, and other basic items to residents at Runk & Pratt Senior Living Communities in Lynchburg, Va., in September. The project was organized by the URLUved Campaign, started last year by nursing professor Dr. Dana Woody as a way to show love to the local community. Junior nursing student Josie Camiola conceived the idea after visiting her great-aunt in a nursing home and learning how some residents can feel isolated. The boxes were funded through an ILLUMINATE grant from Liberty’s Center for Academic Development.

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DID YOU

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Falling in line with Liberty’s longstanding dedication to serving the community, students at LU provided the Greater Lynchburg community with 466,303 hours of volunteer service in 2021-22, which translates to more than $5.1 million worth of volunteer service hours to the Lynchburg MSA.

EYE ON HEALTH Public health team serves remote and poor communities on trip to Central America A group from the Department of Public & Community Health traveled to Guatemala and Honduras in July, part of an ongoing project to screen and treat those in Hispanic communities affected by poor nutrition, water quality, and sanitation. Department Chair Dr. Oswald Attin and online Master of Public Health (MPH) Program Director Dr. Gineska Castillo led the trip with MPH student Nicole Durham and junior Grace Sibert. The trip was supported by Liberty’s Center for Research & Scholarship. Sibert and Attin wrote an article about the project for the Virginia Journal of Public Health.

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Into the Darkness ALUMNA COMBATS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND FORCED LABOR FROM THE HALLS OF THE WHITE HOUSE TO THE STREETS OF THAILAND

BY CHRISTIAN SHIELDS Twenty years ago, if you had told Liberty University alumna Heather (Dolbear) Fischer (’06) that she would one day be the United States government’s highest-ranking senior official on human trafficking, she would not have believed you. But throughout her illustrious career combating human trafficking, including serving in the White House under the Trump administration, Fischer has used the education and inspiration she received at Liberty, along with her passion for serving God and others, to change the world.

“During my time at Liberty, I would have probably been least likely to be on a federal task force and least likely to work in the White House, but I have learned that God has a sense of humor, and He has exceeded my every expectation all along the journey of me being obedient to the next thing that He was calling me to do,” she said.

Fischer, originally from Syracuse, N.Y., earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Liberty and went on to work jobs primarily in education after graduation.

While she said she was always drawn to community-based services, caring for children and family needs and even

“The Judeo-Christian principles we are taught state that people are Imago Dei, they’re created in the image of God and are entitled to dignity and respect as such. For me, that’s really the underpinning of a lot of this work. Second, even as Americans we have principles that people are entitled to: liberty, justice, and freedom.”

H E AT H E R F I S C H E R

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supporting friends in their work fighting human trafficking in Southeast Asia, it wasn’t until she heard Love146 CEO and co-founder Rob Morris speak at an event in New York that she was spurred into action. She became heavily involved in fighting on the front lines with Love146, volunteering at first and then holding various leadership roles within the organization.

“At the time (of graduation), I thought, ‘I wish I could have something to offer (to fight human trafficking),’ but I just didn’t see the on-ramp to engagement for me. I also felt like human trafficking and child sexual exploitation was a really dark issue.

As someone who is a total empath, I thought that I couldn’t wrap my mind around that and enter into that darkness,” Fischer said.

“But when I understood that I could use my vocation and my giftings to be a part of the anti-trafficking movement, that’s when I had a clear picture of how I could engage beyond just writing a check or hosting a fundraiser.

And that’s something that I learned from Love146. Their posture and mentality is that everyone has a role to play, and they gave me that on-ramp to engagement.”

In 2018, Fischer joined the McCain

Institute as the Combatting Human Trafficking Program Manager. A year later, she accepted a position with the U.S. Department of State as a special advisor for trafficking in persons before transitioning into a role with the U.S. Department of Justice and eventually being called on to take the lead role of Human Trafficking Czar under the Trump administration.

In the White House, she said she was encouraged by many of those she worked with who shared her passion for fighting injustices, including former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.

“Anytime Vice President Mike Pence was included in these conversations (on human

Fischer (left) participates on a Human Trafficking Panel with Liberty School of Law Dean Morse Tan, Safe House Project CEO Kristi Wells, and Professor Larry Presley during the Helms School of Government’s annual Public Policy Conference in April.

trafficking), it really wasn’t a conversation,” Fischer said. “It was, ‘This is the right thing to do. You’re going to protect vulnerable people from human exploitation.’ We had a consensus about that. So many people I worked with shared the belief that people shouldn’t be commoditized and that they are entitled to being treated with dignity and respect just by virtue of who they are.”

As Human Trafficking Czar, she oversaw the president’s task force on human trafficking, which included 22 federal agencies, and organized a White House roundtable on human trafficking.

Fischer said her Christian faith was a driving factor in all of that work.

“The Judeo-Christian principles we are taught state that people are Imago Dei, they’re created in the image of God and are entitled to dignity and respect as such. For me, that’s really the underpinning of a lot of this work. Second, even as Americans we have principles that people are entitled to: liberty, justice, and freedom.”

Fischer currently serves on the executive leadership team for Thomson Reuters Special Services, where she advises on the intersection of human rights and national security, serving as a brand ambassador.

The four main pillars of her daily work are combatting human trafficking, safeguarding children from online exploitation, pursuing human rights violators, and promoting peace and security.

Fischer was selected as a 2023 USA Fellow by the Eisenhower Fellowship, which enabled her to travel to Malaysia and Thailand over the summer to research forced labor. While there, she had an opportunity to interact with several high-ranking officials, including a Malaysian prince and the former prime minister of Thailand, as well as human rights leaders and slavery survivors.

She spent time developing relationships and hearing testimonials from individuals who had escaped sea slavery (a practice in which

people are tricked into boarding fishing ships and then kidnapped and forced to work).

“While overseas, for one, I saw the progress that has been made on forced labor and making sure that workers are being protected,” she said. “I also saw the capacity building efforts; it’s incredible to see Thai and Malaysian leaders at the helm, pushing for this human rights agenda. The third thing was seeing major corporations take this issue seriously and really weaving it into their corporate due diligence process from the top.”

Fischer had visited Thailand 10 years ago while working for Love146, and she said she was encouraged to see the tremendous progress that the country has made toward protecting its people from unfair treatment.

“The amount of awareness-raising on the issue in both Thailand and Malaysia is bearing fruit,” she said. “For sure, government leaders are very aware of the situation. They’ve been well educated, and a lot of that has been because of U.S. government action.”

She noted that the United States contributes to the better treatment of workers in other countries through legislation, specifically the Tariff Act, which prohibits the importation of any goods that were made “wholly or in part” by forced, indentured, or convict labor, and the Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act, which prevents any goods made by forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China from entering the United States.

“It was an extraordinary trip. I’m so grateful to be selected, and it gave me a whole new appreciation for what could be best practices that I can now take back to the United States and share with major corporations,” Fischer said.

She credited her years at Liberty with helping her better understand how her personal beliefs should affect her daily life.

“My time at Liberty helped formulate (my

worldview) because I took a class with (John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Professor) Dr. Lew Weider that really forced me to think about what my worldview was … sitting down and really thinking about what I believe and framing that out.”

She recalled her first visit to campus for College For A Weekend.

“I noticed right away that everyone was so kind, so helpful, so welcoming,” she said.

“In the classes, I saw a Socratic dialogue that I don’t know that I expected or saw at other places. Having diverse thoughts and points presented and really going through that process was something that was quite important to me.”

She also recalled the vast knowledge she gained in classes about human relationships that set an early foundation for her current career, such as learning about the bonding that occurs between a caregiver and a child in her psychology classes that she has used to better understand the trauma bonding that human traffickers often use to manipulate their captives.

Fischer recently returned to campus for the first time since her graduation to participate in the Helms School of Government’s Public Policy Conference in April. During her talk, she emphasized the prestigious positions that Liberty students can hold in their future jobs and communities.

“My message was that it is my expectation that other Liberty alumni will take my place and eclipse me,” she said. “I really tailored my messaging to the female students in the room because a lot of times we don’t see ourselves in these places, whether it’s the McCain Institute, State Department, or Thomson Reuters Special Services as an executive. I wanted to push them to think about where they could go because if you would have said I would serve in these roles when I was at Liberty, I would have said, ‘That’s crazy.’ But I’m so grateful, and I think with some encouragement and some sponsorship and coaching, we could see women aspire to be in these places.”

Another part of her message, Fischer said, was how the world needs strong leadership.

“We need women leaders with integrity, courage, humility,” she said. “All these are attributes that I know Liberty students have. I can tell you with the people I interact with, whether it is overseas or here, that the world’s desperate for that character and that type of leadership and people with conviction.”

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TIME TO

DINE

The new 120,000-square-foot Reber-Thomas Dining Center opened at the start of the fall semester, allowing Liberty to better accommodate a growing campus population and provide more variety of food options. The two-story building can seat more than 3,000, with outdoor and indoor tables. There are 27 different food stations and a gluten-free bake shop, an allergen-free room, and chef stations for teaching culinary arts.

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VISITING CA MPUS SOON?

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Guests are always welcome at the new dining hall. For hours of operation, visit Liberty.SodexoMyWay.com. To learn about other dining options on campus, visit Liberty.edu/Dining.

DID YOU

KNOW?

MEET THE NAMESAKES

The new dining hall retains the names of the two generous donors who made Liberty’s first large dining facility possible.

In 1992, local businessmen Jimmy Thomas Sr. (left) and Dan Reber donated $1.4 million to complete construction on the first dining hall and help fulfill the vision of Liberty’s founder, the late Dr. Jerry Falwell.

Members of the Reber and Thomas families attended the ribbon cutting ceremony on Aug. 9 and were recognized for their legacies at Liberty.

Liberty was named to College Magazine’s Top 10 Colleges with the Best Dining Options and has been ranked No. 3 in Virginia and No. 19 in America for Best College Food by Niche.com for 2023.

Thomas, who began working in Liberty's stewardship department in 1971, said the building is a beautiful addition to campus.

“It’s hard to believe that you could build something like that and have all the variation. You could eat something different for days and days. ... I don’t think there’s a nicer dining hall in the country.”

Partners in business and ministry, Reber and Thomas felt called to support the school through the financial struggles of the 1990s.

“When the Lord helped us, and we were able to bless Jerry in times of difficulty, it was a natural thing to do," Thomas said. “The Lord just laid it on our hearts.”

He said other recent construction upgrades are evidence of the vision being realized.

“It’s a miracle. God has His hands on Liberty. ... I think Jerry Falwell Sr. would not be surprised (to see it today). I think he could

see this almost from Day 1.”

Reber said the Jerry Falwell Ministries ultimately brought his family to Lynchburg in early 1980, a month before his fifth daughter was born. He had watched the Thomas Road Baptist Church services each Sunday and was excited about seeing his daughters grow up in the blessings of God’s work.

“Watching the ministry grow and the college expand into a university, and our family able to be a part of all that, has made a mark on our lives and has helped shape our daughters, and now their families, into who they are today,” he said. “We thank the Lord for the vision He put into Dr. Falwell’s heart and mind to establish Liberty University and Train Champions for Christ. As we have witnessed each new structure being built and the amazing growth of the student body, we are so grateful to have been just a small part of what God has done here.”

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One of President Dondi Costin’s first events on campus was the All-Staff Meeting on Aug. 15, when he thanked employees for their commitment to see students succeed.

“I’ve been around some highly talented and highly capable people all over the world in my professional life, but I can say with absolute honesty I’ve never been in a room with more talent,” he told them. “All

it takes to run a university are students and faculty, but they could never do their jobs in raising young men and women to go and serve God without you doing the things that you do. You play a vital part in making sure that every single one of those students crosses the stage and then goes into the world, in whatever sphere of influence God will land them, so that they can become

Champions for Christ.”

The Liberty Journal introduces you to just a few of the many employees across campus who view their job as a calling as they keep the campus running smoothly day to day, meeting the essential needs of over 15,000 residential students and leading by example how to serve Christ in the workplace.

JOHN WALTER // Assistant Landscape Manager/Grounds John oversees the landscaping team, monitoring areas for repair or maintenance and standing ready for snow removal, cleanup after football games, and general beautification of campus.

“My passion is to make all landscapes on campus look their best, to make it inviting for prospective students, to feel like home for current students, and a place to be proud of for alumni. What drives me is the fact that the results of our work are seen every day by students, faculty, and staff. It may be a small part, but when they see the care we put into the campus, it may put a smile on their face and even inspire them as they go through their day. I want everyone who attends or works at Liberty to have a beautiful place to come to every day and see that our landscapes are second to none for a college campus.” …

“Liberty University is a great place to work, where hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. Working outside every day, we get the opportunity to witness God’s hand in nature, from the sunrise, flowers blooming, and the beautiful mountains that surround our campus. It is a blessing.”

LINDA WITT // Bus Driver/Transit Services Linda primarily drives the 71 Route around campus.

“It’s not like you can carry on a long conversation and drive a bus, but you do get to meet the students, and through the repetition of them getting on, you get to know at least some of them by their first names. I’ve actually had the opportunity to pray with several students from time to time, just talking to them and finding out that they might have a need that I can pray for them.

It’s been a big blessing.” …

“Liberty is a great place to work if you want to be a part of the Christian atmosphere and be able to make a difference, even in a small way, such as praying for somebody. Making that kind of difference is a big deal. It’s a worthy job.”

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JESSI E JOR DAN

K J JUGAR

K J JUGAR

HERE to SERVE

JOSEPH FRANCIS JR. // Senior Food Service Supervisor/Liberty Dining Services “Chef Joseph” has worked for Liberty since 2015 and has spent 51 years as a professional chef, from the U.S. Army to restaurants and hospitals.

“I like pleasing others. One of my biggest mottos is ‘Pleasing you pleases me.’ I think that I’m taking care of the future generation. You can’t get a good study going on unless you have a nice breakfast and you’re greeted with a smile in the morning. If you start with someone getting you upset, it just ruins your day.” …

“I started with serving the general public. I’ve done fine dining, country clubs, cruise ships, and yet Liberty students are more appreciative than any other group I have ever met.”

LORETTA EGAN // Senior Supervisor, Academics/Custodial Loretta oversees all custodial operations in the main academic buildings.

“I view my job as a calling and an answer to prayer. Every day, I have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students and the entire university community. Maintaining a clean and safe campus is not just a job but a calling to ensure that students can focus on their studies, faculty can teach effectively, and everyone can have a positive experience at Liberty. I consider it a privilege to be a part of this mission.” …

“It's enriching to be part of a community that values faith, education, and personal growth. The university's commitment to fostering a positive work environment and providing opportunities for professional development has made my tenure here even more fulfilling.”

JASMINE HARRIS // Research Consultant Supervisor/Jerry Falwell Library Jasmine assists residential and online students in navigating the library’s vast resources to enhance their studies.

“At my job, I get to serve students not just on campus but around the world. Our communication lines are huge. I get to serve students in a way that affects them academically. I can provide them with the tools that they need to find success here at Liberty.” …

“The experience that you get working at Liberty is something that you can’t put into just a few words. One time I was having a really hard week, and in the middle of the workday, my supervisor noticed and took the time to pull me aside, and that was a moment I will never forget. She spoke with me and prayed over my life, and that’s what you get here at Liberty. The people here don’t treat you like just an employee. Here, you get the love of Jesus Christ because it pours out of everybody who works at this university.”

Communications Dispatcher/ JENNIFER BROGGIN // Emergency Management & Community Engagement Jennifer responds to both emergency 911 and nonemergency calls on campus and is a training officer.

“I’ve always felt the need to want to help people. Sometimes you get a student who sounds a little frustrated or confused, and it’s good to know you can talk to them and ease their minds about some things. I want them to feel like they still have somebody they can talk to when they are away from home.” …

“Working at Liberty, you get to meet a diversity of people on a daily basis and encounter so many different situations. It’s a good group of people to serve with in the workplace. With a foundation in the Christian faith, I feel like I have someone I can go to and pray over and say a prayer with. There’s not a department that I have encountered at Liberty where I don’t feel I could find someone to talk to if I needed to.”

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A Way with Words

AUTHOR AUTHOR ANGELA ANGELA HUNT HUNT(’80) (’80)USES USESCHRISTIAN CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW TO SHAPE AWARD-WINNING WORLDVIEW TO SHAPE AWARD-WINNINGCAREER CAREER

BY BRYSON GORDON

Alumni Angela and Gary Hunt (’80, ’82) at their home in Clearwater, Fla. J ORDAN CROSSINGHA M

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Known for her authentic, faith-driven storytelling ability across the genres, Angela Hunt (’80) has traveled a path from being a member of a touring singing group to becoming a prolific author — a story that belongs in a book of its own.

Her journey, she said, has been one of obedience and openness to God’s will.

“It’s always been a thing where somebody opens a door, and I’m like, ‘OK, unless the Lord tells me no, then I’m going to go through it,’” Hunt said from her home in Florida in September. “It’s been a life of walking through doors that the Lord has opened for me.”

The New York Times bestselling author said her story of becoming a writer dates back to her time touring with The Re’Generation, a popular singing ensemble, from 1976-77.

Stuck in the heavy snow for several days in Colorado, Hunt said the group would fill up their time writing in journals, and, after they had gotten off the road and caught up with their director, Derric Johnson, he would read the journals. Johnson asked Hunt one day what she wanted to do after the tour, and she said finish her music degree. But Johnson lauded her writing and told her she had a way with words.

(Top) Liberty University Commencement, 1980 (bottom) Miss Liberty court, 1978

“I really believe God speaks to us in three ways: through the Bible, through that still small voice that speaks to our heart, and through the voices of our spiritual authorities,” Hunt said. “Derric was our spiritual authority that year, so when he said ‘Write,’ I said ‘OK,’ and I changed my degree to English.”

After graduation, Hunt stayed in Lynchburg for several years, working for one year as a high school English teacher at the then-Lynchburg Christian Academy (now Liberty Christian Academy) before writing curriculum for the youth department at Thomas Road Baptist Church and eventually working for columnist Cal Thomas at the Moral Majority, which provided her an early experience in writing books.

“You know, it’s really amazing how God used all of those in-between jobs to teach me many things,” Hunt said. “I typed Cal’s book manuscripts, I learned how to handle the press. In everything in those jobs, I learned something for my future, and so I finally decided if I was ever going to be a freelance writer that I needed to step out and do it.”

Read a preview of Hunt’s latest book, “Star of Wonder: An Advent Devotional to Illuminate the People, Places, and Purpose of the First Christmas,” at AngelaHuntBooks.com.

After five years of freelancing for various publications, including Liberty founder Dr. Jerry Falwell’s “The Fundamentalist Journal,” Hunt’s break came in 1988 when she saw an ad in a magazine.

“The ad was seeking unpublished children’s picture book writers for a contest, and I thought, ‘Well, I’m an unpublished book writer of any kind,’ so I went to the library and got a book on how to write a children’s picture book.”

After sending off a script, she found out a couple months later that the book had won first place, launching her career as an author.

From children’s books, Hunt branched out into writing books aimed toward preteens, using situations that her husband, Gary (’82), encountered in his job as a middle school youth pastor.

“After writing about 40 middle-grade books, my editor said, ‘Why don’t you try an adult novel?’” Hunt recalled. “It’s always been that over the years so many topics have come to me. Again, it’s just about going through those doors that the Lord wants to open.”

Now 35 years later, Hunt carries a familiar name in the book world, having written over 165 books — from picture books to nonfiction to novels, including many biblical fiction series. She has sold over 5 million copies worldwide.

Her books have won the Christy Award, several Angel Awards from Excellence in Media, and the Gold and Silver Medallions from Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award. She has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Romantic

Times Book Club and American Christian Fiction Writers.

Some of Hunt’s most notable work includes the bestselling children’s folktale “Tale of Three Trees”; “The Nativity Story,” a novelization of the major motion picture; and “The Note,” a novel that was featured as a Christmas movie on the Hallmark Channel. She has also collaborated on many autobiographies, including Deanna Favre’s (wife of pro football Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre) “Don’t Bet against Me!: Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer and in Life.”

No matter what genre she has entered, Hunt said her faith has remained an element in all of her books, even when they haven’t been directly defined as Christian.

“Jesus said, ‘I ask not that you take them out of the world.’ So even my secular novels, they are parables. There’s always a deeper meaning for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.

A Christian’s worldview is going to be reflected in anything he or she does.”

ANGELA HUNT She remembers returning to campus years after her writing career took off to do a TV interview with Falwell. He asked her a poignant question: “Are you a Christian writer or a writer who is a Christian?”

“That question caught me off guard,” Hunt said, “but I finally said, ‘I’m a writer who is a Christian.’ Because I write secular novels, and there are some people who think that’s horrible (and say) ‘How could a Christian do something secular?’ … But that’s my whole point. Jesus said, ‘I ask not that you take them out of the world.’ So even my secular novels, they are parables.

There’s always a deeper meaning for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.

A Christian’s worldview is going to be reflected in anything he or she does.”

That interview eventually helped form what she called the “theme of my life.”

“Jerry put that question to me and that really made me formulate my worldview as a writer,” Hunt said. “I try not to ever violate my convictions or Scripture or do anything that would reflect badly on Christ.”

Because she knew Falwell personally and understood his vision, she said she is not surprised to see her alma mater grow into the large, world-class institution it is today. She said it wouldn’t surprise him either.

“I just think it’s proof that God can honor a man’s vision, and even he (Falwell) would say that God gave him the vision, but the moral of the story is if you expect miracles, you can get miracles,” Hunt said. “Not in a prosperity gospel kind of way, but we just have to be willing to say yes to Him.” Although she has a vast catalog of books to her name, Hunt said she’s particularly proud of her latest work, a recent Christian Advent devotional, “Star of Wonder: An Advent Devotional to Illuminate the People, Places, and Purpose of the First Christmas,” that landed on shelves in September. It is special to her because it opened her eyes into the Jewish roots of the Christian faith.

“It’s for Christians, but it pulls out a lot of things that the Jewish people did and believed that point to Christ. They are things that we just never learned, and I think it’s important for Christians to realize these things,” Hunt said.

The book also carries a special tie to the university. One of the people she dedicated it to is Gordon Luff, the university’s first youth ministries director and a former dean of students.

Hunt said Luff would often join the Liberty singing groups on the road, giving the college students lessons on life, love, and faith.

“He is the reason I married the man I did,” Hunt said. “But one thing I’ll never forget is that he gave us the definition of what love is. He would say love is a decision to make someone else precious to you, and you do that by doing things for them and caring for them and serving them. And that’s been a theme of so many of my novels. He was very much a mentor to all of us who were in the LBC Chorale back then.”

She said the lessons she learned during her college years are still applicable today.

When asked what she would tell Liberty students who are walking where she once walked, Hunt said: “The key things you have to choose are your master, mate, and mission. Your master, make sure God is the center of your life. Your mate, be serious about finding a godly person to settle down with. And then your mission, why you were put on earth. God has a purpose for us all, so figure out what those three things are for you.”

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NEWS & VIEWS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SERVES LIBERTY AS GOVERNMENT PROFESSOR Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson, who was elected the 56th Speaker of the House on Oct. 25, has been teaching courses for the Liberty University Helms School of Government since 2018. He teaches two GOVT 200 courses every eight weeks as an adjunct professor in Liberty’s online programs.

Liberty President Dondi Costin and Chancellor Jonathan Falwell joined the Liberty community in congratulating Johnson on winning the speakership.

“On behalf of the Liberty University family, I extend congratulations to one of our own, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson,” Costin said. “The challenging days in which we live require robust, principle-centered leadership in every quarter, especially among our elected representatives in Washington. I am praying for Speaker Johnson and his family as he leads with the conviction, compassion, and courage required for such a time as this.”

“I am thankful to hear that a good and godly man has been elected to become the 56th Speaker of the House,” Falwell added. “His reputation for putting his Christian faith and family first in his daily life and decision-making is both admirable and wise. I know Speaker Johnson has immediate challenges and burdens he will have to face on Capitol Hill. I am calling on the entire Liberty family to pray wisdom and courage for him and for all those who lead in D.C.”

In his first public address before the House, Speaker Johnson said that his first measure would be a resolution supporting Israel amid its war against Hamas. He also stated: “I believe that Scripture, the Bible, is very clear: that God is the one who raises up those in authority. He raised up each of you — all of us.”

Johnson is a native of Shreveport, La., and a two-time graduate of Louisiana State University with a B.A. in Business and a Juris Doctor. Johnson has previously served as legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom. In 2015, he founded Freedom Guard, a nonprofit legal ministry to defend people and institutions of faith.

He and his wife, Kelly, have four children.

Kelly is a licensed Christian counselor.

They are members of Cypress Baptist Church in Benton, La., and host a ministry podcast, “Truth Be Told,” which focuses on topics and current events from a Christian worldview.

RANGERS’ THIRD-BASE COACH CELEBRATES WORLD SERIES WIN There was a Liberty University connection celebrating on the field with the 2023 World Series Champion Texas Rangers after they won the franchise’s first-ever title on Nov. 1.

Tony Beasley, the Rangers’ third-base coach, is a former Flames infielder, playing in the 1988 and 1989 seasons.

At Liberty, Beasley was a leadoff hitter and the starting second baseman. In 1989, he hit a stellar .345 and stole 24 bases, earning him team MVP honors. He was drafted in the 19th round of the 1989 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles and spent the next eight seasons as an infielder for multiple Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates affiliates. He ended his playing career in 1998 and has spent 23 years coaching at the major and minor league levels. He has earned multiple coaching awards, such as Baseball America’s Double-A Manager of the Year in 2004.

Beasley joined the Texas Rangers in 2015.

He missed the 2016 season due to a cancer diagnosis. Last season, he was named the team’s interim manager with 48 games remaining following the dismissal of Chris Woodward.

Earlier this year, Beasley spoke with

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Liberty Athletics’ “Boys of Summer” podcast, where he shared about the impact Liberty University has had on his life. He said he committed to Liberty because Head Coach Bob Woodson gave him a chance to compete for a starting position at second base or shortstop when other schools only wanted him to pitch. Once on campus, he saw Woodson living out his Christian faith, and that encouraged him to deepen his own personal relationship with Jesus.

“I wasn’t 100% Liberty material when I got there, but within a month I felt like I was Liberty material because it

impacted and changed my life so much,” he said. “(Between) the school, the student body, and the whole gambit of it, I saw Christianity on a whole other level, and I knew I needed to be a part of that. I got to know who God was at Liberty, and I thank Bob Woodson for that.”

Beasley has continued to boldly share his faith on a daily basis, including in his role with the Rangers. In his social media posts, he shares the message of salvation and provides spiritual encouragement. On Oct. 30, before Game 3 of the series against the Diamondbacks, he appeared on MLB Network’s pregame show wearing a “JESUS WON” T-shirt, which was first sported by Rangers rookie Evan Carter.

Beasley said on the podcast that he hopes to be a light for Christ in whatever place God directs him.

“I think people are watching our lives and want to know if our actions line up with what we are saying and who we are saying we are. When you are consistent in your living, and your walk and your talk match, they will look at you and notice that something is different.”

BYRON RIDES TO BEST SEASON OF HIS NASCAR CUP SERIES CAREER William Byron, the 25-year-old driver of the Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and a Liberty student, made a record six trips to victory lane in the NASCAR Cup Series this season. He won five races in the regular season and one playoff race.

Byron was in first place in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings heading into his first Championship 4 appearance at the Nov. 5 final at Phoenix Raceway, where he finished fourth. He ended in third place in final points standings.

“Proud of this team,” Byron said after the race. “We have had a great season, with a lot to be proud of. We’re going to keep digging hard.”

PHOTOS © 2023 HMS HOLDINGS, LLC

Liberty has sponsored Byron since 2014; the university was the primary sponsor for the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for 13 of the 36 Cup Series races this season.

Overall, this was Byron’s best season of his Cup Series career after previously recording four total wins over his first five seasons. His six wins this season came at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 6; Phoenix Raceway, March 13; Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, May 14; Atlanta Motor Speedway, July 9; Watkins Glen International (N.Y.), Aug. 20; and in the playoffs’ Round of 12 opener at Texas Motor Speedway on Sept. 24.

After the Texas race, Byron posted runner-up finishes at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on Oct. 1 and Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL on Oct. 8, followed by a seventh-place showing at Las Vegas on Oct. 15 and a fourth-place finish

at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Oct. 22. He clinched his Championship 4 bid with a 13th-place finish at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Oct. 29.

Byron succeeded seven-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon in the No. 24 car for HMS and was named Cup Series Rookie of the Year in 2018. He has qualified for the postseason every year since and qualified for his first Round of 8 last season.

Byron is pursuing his B.S. in Strategic Communication through Liberty’s online programs.

“I’m proud to represent an institution like Liberty University,” Byron said after signing a contract extension with Liberty in November 2021. “They inspire a lot of people my age to pursue their passions, and I look forward to continuing to represent them on and off the racetrack.”

Victory lane at Texas Motor Speedway, Sept. 24

PIT STOP AT LU

Although William Byron was in the midst of playoffs and the best season of his Cup Series career, he took time to visit the campus he has called his own to cheer on Flames Football against Middle Tennessee State on Oct. 17. The Flames edged the Blue Raiders 42-35.

Byron was recognized on the field at the end of the first quarter. He presented a signed painting of the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 to President Dondi Costin and greeted students and took photos with them before the game. He also met with Flames Football players and Head Coach Jamey Chadwell and did a takeover of Liberty’s social media accounts throughout the day.

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REPORT: LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CONTINUES TO MAKE STRONG, POSITIVE IMPACT ON LOCAL, STATE ECONOMIES Liberty University’s constant growth in local and statewide economic influence is reflected in a recent report by Mangum Economics LLC. The report is conducted every two years; this year’s report shares statistics from the 2021-22 academic year.

Liberty’s unduplicated annual headcount of students (residential and online) was 130,594, making it the largest institution of higher education in Virginia and one of the largest in the country. The university and its auxiliary enterprises were Lynchburg’s largest employer, providing jobs for 8,413 individuals in the MSA, 9,166 in Virginia, and 12,663 worldwide.

Between February 2018 and February 2023, total nonfarm employment increased

by 2 percent in the Lynchburg MSA. Liberty’s employment numbers helped to provide stability to the MSA, especially during the volatile period in which restrictions were imposed on economic activity in response to the COVID-19 virus.

Spending in the Lynchburg MSA by the university, its associated enterprises, students, and visitors totaled $534.2 million, generating $966.9 million in overall economic activity in the Lynchburg MSA. (Every $1 of Liberty’s net local spending generated $1.81 within the broader regional economy.) On the state level, the spending was $613.2 million, generating almost $1.1 billion in economic activity.

Liberty plays a major part in attracting

tourists to the Lynchburg MSA. In fiscal year 2022, out-of-town visitors attending campus events and meeting with LU employees and students generated approximately 133,339 hotel room nights in the MSA. In turn, the rooms were associated with approximately $14.9 million in hotel revenue within the area.

“In sum, Liberty University is a rapidly growing institution that has a significant economic and fiscal impact on the Lynchburg MSA and the state of Virginia as a whole and plays a very active and positive leadership role within its community and the state,” the report concluded.

Read the full report at Liberty.edu/ About/Lynchburg-Virginia.

TUITION FREEZE IN EFFECT FOR 2024-25 Liberty University announced in September that it has frozen tuition for both its residential and online programs through the 2024-25 school year, easing the financial stress for current and prospective students at a time when high inflation is affecting many families. This freeze marks the sixth year that tuition rates have remained the same for residential students, while online students will see steady tuition rates for the ninthstraight school year. The move demonstrates the university’s commitment to making a world-class Christian education accessible for as many students as possible.

“At Liberty University, we believe God made every person for a unique purpose, and we want to equip as many students as we

can to fulfill their God-given calling as part of our mission of Training Champions for Christ,” President Dondi Costin said. “Every student, no matter their financial situation, should have the opportunity to pursue what God has called them to be. Our decision to freeze tuition rates for yet another year is just one of the many ways we’re working to deliver on our mission and to help ease the financial burden on all families.”

Liberty’s residential undergraduate tuition rates place it in the top 25% for affordability among its leading private, residential competitors. Low tuition rates for its online program make Liberty a top choice for students wishing to fulfill their dream of earning a college degree or

advancing their careers from their homes across the country and around the world.

With a total enrollment of over 135,000 students in the 2022-23 academic year, including over 119,000 online students, Liberty remains one of the nation’s largest private, nonprofit universities.

The tuition freeze complements several innovative financial solutions offered to Liberty students to avoid college debt and set them up for success upon graduation, including the Middle America Scholarship that helps to fill in the gaps left by the Pell Grant and undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral-level military and first responder benefits.

C HASE GYLES

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHANCELLOR

JESS I E JOR DAN

“Who Do You Think He Is?”

BY J O N AT H A N FA LW E L L

In Matthew 16:13-25, Jesus asks His disciples who people say the Son of Man is. They answer John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or another prophet. He then asks, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” It’s Simon Peter who says, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Who Jesus Christ is, who He truly is, is in His glorious, humble, worship-worthy, gracious role as Messiah and Son of the living God, who holds all authority. Later on in Matthew 16, Jesus explained what would be happening to Him soon, that He would be killed and raised to life three days later, but the disciples did not believe Him. He brought the salvation that the entire world desperately needed. It’s over 2,000 years later, and we still need to know who Jesus is.

This fall semester in Campus Community, our weekly Wednesday night service in the Vines Center, we have been asking the question of who Jesus is through our series, “Behold.” In today’s culture, there are a lot of ideas of who He is. The secular world says that He was just a great guy, a good teacher, a good philosopher. But he is far more.

Our students see and hear Liberty’s mission, Training Champions for Christ, countless times while they are here on campus, but no one can become a Champion for Christ if he or she does not

fully grasp who Jesus Christ really is.

That’s why myself, other leaders at Liberty, and guest pastors have been opening God’s Word this semester to encourage our students to dig deeper into what the Bible says about who Jesus is. He’s not a god, He is the God. Many churches, maybe even some churches that we’ve attended, believe that Jesus is our buddy, that He is our best friend and personal mentor. We believe that Jesus is by us all the time; He is someone we can learn from, someone we probably ought to be more like. All of those things are true, but if that is the only perspective you have of Jesus, then you’re missing one very important thing that sets Him apart from every other teacher, leader, moral example, and advisor: He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Our beliefs about who Jesus is dictate how we follow Him. If all we believe are the really good things about Him and not that He is the Savior who was crucified and resurrected so that we all may be free, we will not be following Jesus Christ for who He truly is. Despite what the world and Satan want us to believe, Jesus is not trying to lead us to the place where we save ourselves. When we have nothing to give or offer, when we are not good, when we cannot do enough, God loves us anyway, and Christ died for us anyway. If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died

and rose again, then you will be saved.

On Aug. 23, the first night of Campus Community, I delivered this message to thousands of students. We had the highest attendance of any Campus Community in our history. But the number of people in the room was not what made that night special — it never is. That night, I saw several students come forward, in front of their peers, and make decisions to fully follow God and believe in Christ for who He truly is.

The Holy Spirit is transforming the lives of young people here. That is the ultimate goal, the ultimate prize. Salvation belongs to the Lord, and we praise Him for the work of His hands on Liberty Mountain every single day.

Jonathan Falwell was named Chancellor in March. He has spent his lifetime associated with the ministries of Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty, serving at TRBC for nearly 30 years and as its senior pastor since 2007. He has also served on Liberty’s Board of Trustees for over 30 years.

Campus Community is held every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Vines Center. Stream the services on the Liberty University Office of Spiritual Development Facebook page.

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Actors Sam and Kevin Sorbo

Linda McMahon (right), America First Policy Institute

Tanzania Ambassador Elsie S. Kanza

H U N D R E D S O F N AT I O N A L I N D U S T R Y L E A D E R S C O N V E R G E AT

CEO SUMMIT

This year’s CEO Summit: Networking the Nations treated students and guests, including over 300 influential business leaders, to three days of panels and presentations Oct. 10-12, featuring over 60 prominent national figures in business, entertainment, international trade, technology, politics, sports, and many other fields.

Keynote speakers and special guests at the evening dinner sessions included former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, U.S. Sens.

Rand Paul and Marco Rubio, producers of the hit TV series “The Chosen,” journalist Lara Logan (CBS’ “60 Minutes”), and the CEOs of one of the nation’s largest home improvement retail stores and one of the largest soft drink bottling companies.

A Dialogue with Africa panel centered on economic opportunities for African businesses, featuring Tanzanian and Zambian ambassadors, the governor of Nigeria, and a host of other African guests and U.S. business leaders. Panels were also held on faith in the film industry, featuring actors Kevin and Sam Sorbo; on forecasting Supreme Court decisions in 2024, presented by several Supreme Court

clerks; and implementation of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, featuring Tom Gruber, the creator of the Siri virtual assistant technology, and multiple CEOs of technology companies. Several panels focused on governmental issues such as patriotism and national security with former U.S. Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, retired National Security Advisor to the Vice President of the United States Keith Kellogg, retired U.S. Army General Bob Dees, and Heritage Foundation Executive Vice President Derrick Morgan, among others.

For students, the summit was an invaluable experience for learning and networking.

Students were invited to a Future CEO Dinner on Oct. 10, where they shared tables with business representatives and heard from Pompeo. During the entire summit, students had multiple opportunities to engage with Liberty’s broad network of influential leaders and innovators across many different industries who provided a Christian perspective on leadership. Students often obtain jobs and internships from direct networking opportunities during the summit.

At the Oct. 11 dinner, Liberty President Dondi Costin thanked the business leaders for investing in the lives of Liberty students.

“I love the fact that there are nametags, some of which say CEO and others of which say future CEO,” he said. “Liberty University Trains Champions for Christ. We do it in all kinds of ways, but our job and the mission that God has given us is to take students and over the course of four years pour into them so that they understand completely that their job for the rest of their life is to go into their sphere of influence wherever God leads them, and in that sphere of influence to be Jesus Christ in that place.”

“This was the best CEO Summit yet because the students played a major role, and all of the deans and the provost expanded the scope and reach of the summit as seen by the great roster of guests,” said Dr. Dave Brat, Liberty’s vice provost for engagement and public relations. “Guests and students were able to hear a profound vision of what business can look like if God truly leads the CEO and the business, making all the difference for the soul and the bottom line.”

Siri Creator Tom Gruber (on screen)

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NEWS & VIEWS

MI KE POMPEO J OI NS HELMS SCHO OL OF GOVERNMENT AS DI STI NGUI SHED C H AIR

LU President Dondi Costin

“Liberty University Trains Champions for Christ.

We do it in all kinds of ways, but our job and the mission that God has given us is to take students and over the course of four years pour into them so that they understand completely that their job for the rest of their life is to go into their sphere of influence wherever God leads them, and in that sphere of influence to be Jesus Christ in that place.”

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul

KJ JUGA R

PRESIDENT COSTIN

The 70th U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been named a Distinguished Chair of Liberty University’s Helms School of Government, where he will work to advance Liberty’s distinct Christian mission from his extensive leadership experience and expertise in public policy, international relations, and national security. His role officially began on Sept. 1; the public announcement came upon his return to campus in October, where he greeted students from the Convocation stage and was a keynote speaker at the third annual CEO Summit.

Secretary Pompeo said he is looking forward to serving Liberty’s student body and building relationships with faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the university across the country.

“I am honored to join Liberty University and thrilled to work with the Helms School of Government. Nothing is more important to our nation’s future than the proper education of young Americans. Liberty’s mission, to promote academic excellence while fostering a love for Jesus Christ and a

commitment to Christian life, is one in which I believe deeply, and I am looking forward to contributing to it in the days ahead.”

Pompeo joins Liberty after a successful career as a public servant.

Graduating first in his class at the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1986, Pompeo served as a cavalry officer for five years with the 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry in the US Army’s Fourth Infantry Division. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School, where he was editor of the Harvard Law Review. Before entering politics, Pompeo founded Thayer Aerospace, a specialized aircraft machinery manufacturer, where he served as CEO for more than a decade. He later became president of Sentry International, an oilfield equipment manufacturing, distribution, and service company.

Pompeo entered politics in 2010 when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Kansas’ 4th Congressional District, where he served from 2011-17. He was a member of the House Intelligence, Energy and Commerce, and House Select Benghazi committees. Pompeo was appointed director of the CIA in 2017 and was sworn in as the 70th Secretary of State in April 2018. As secretary of state, he developed a fierce defensive posture for religious liberty on an international scale, making religious freedom a top priority in U.S. foreign policy for the first time in America’s history.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was a featured speaker at Liberty’s CEO Summit in October.

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LIBERTY AIMS TO FOSTER BIBLICAL UNITY AMONG STUDENT BODY Liberty University has been building a community based on biblical unity since its founding in 1971, creating opportunities for all students, regardless of race, nationality, or background. The newly renamed LU ONE (Opportunity & Enrichment) Department is moving those efforts forward with the goal of ensuring that all students are engaged with one another in the mission of Training Champions for Christ.

LU ONE encompasses the Office of Equity & Inclusion (OEI); the Office of Disability Accommodation Support (ODAS), which coordinates academic support for students with disabilities; and the International Student Center (ISC), which supports international students and promotes cultures through on-campus workshops and events.

Senior Vice President Shon Muldrow said all divisions aim to create a singular focus of unity that is rooted in Scripture.

“From before the foundation of the world, the Triune God was always there in perfect fellowship and union as threein-one. The apostle John wrote in 1 John 5:7, ‘For there are three that bear record in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one.’ Unity is our identity as men and women created in the image of God, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”

The department has held several events on campus this fall, starting with

a Worldwide Welcome barbeque for new and returning international students in August. In September, LU ONE hosted a Fireside Chat with Mark Hager, senior recruiter for Edward Jones, who spoke on professional development and recruiting.

The department also took part in Global Focus Week by hosting the Taste of Nations.

LU ONE held several events for Hispanic Heritage Month (observed from the middle of September to the middle of October), including a Gran Fiesta Latina featuring bands, food, and games; the Hispanic Heritage Kickoff with a presentation on Hispanic and Latino leaders; and a Latin/ South American Open House, where students could immerse themselves in the different cultures and cuisines of Latin and South America.

On Oct. 17, LU ONE held a Liberty Student Resource Fair to inform students of the numerous resources available through ODAS. On Oct. 23-24, the department celebrated the legacy of Chauncey Spencer, a founding member of the National Airmen’s Association who

made it possible for people of color to be trained as Tuskegee Airmen in World War II, by hosting a traveling museum on black pioneers in aviation. Spencer’s son, Chauncey Spencer Jr., spoke with students.

LU ONE’s official Launch on the Lawn event took place on Nov. 3 with food trucks, music, free T-shirts, and other promotional items.

Muldrow said although Liberty has maintained an office that promotes the ideals of biblical unity for years, the new LU ONE name sends a clear message that the mission and purpose is defined by the Word of God, not by any cultural or political trends.

“Our primary goal is still the same: to nurture a body of students with a range of life experiences, conditions, and abilities,” he said. “We will invest in our students’ education, their community engagement, their campus events, and cultural events.

Unity in Christ is our highest missional priority as a Gospel-centered institution.

We want Liberty to look more like heaven in Revelation 7:9.”

To learn more, visit Liberty.edu/LU-One.

Students enjoy Launch on the Lawn on Nov. 3.

GOING GLOBAL: ANNUAL EVENT CELEBRATES CULTURES, MISSIONS Liberty’s annual Global Focus Week was held on Sept. 23-27, offering students unique opportunities to connect with global workers, experience a variety of cultures, participate in interactive events, and hear from special guests.

Representatives from over 40 organizations were available to speak with students throughout the week, and workshops were offered on fighting global human trafficking, providing humanitarian aid in crisis, disaster relief skills, and more.

The Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief Unit Trailer was parked on campus and open for tours. Students attended popular events such as the Global Night of Worship and the Taste of Nations, where they enjoyed authentic food from over 20 countries.

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The Wednesday Convocation featured world evangelist Dr. Billy Kim and The Korean Children’s Choir. After the choir’s spirited performance, Liberty’s international students participated in a Parade of Nations, waving the flags of their countries. Liberty has over 70 countries represented in its residential student population and 100 nations in the online program. Kim shared his gratefulness for the first missionaries who came to Korea 130 years ago and established one of the largest churches in the world and said that Liberty has contributed to that reality by standing for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and impacting many Korean students throughout the decades.

On Friday, Christian artist and former band member of Unhindered and Housefires

Pat Barret led students in worship during Convocation. Anti-poverty advocate Jey Mbiro traveled from his home country of Kenya to share his testimony of how the Lord redeemed his poverty-stricken and prison-entrapped life into a message of hope thanks to the Compassion International sponsorship program.

The Korean Children’s Choir performs at Convocation on Sept. 27 for Global Focus Week.

CAREER HEADSTART

STUDENTS GAIN VALUABLE EXPERIENCE AT HIGH-LEVEL INTERNSHIPS

Senior finance & economics student Richard Feliz was a private equity summer analyst intern at Goldman Sachs in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he gained experience in real-world investing and company valuation as part of a team that focused on private equity secondaries (buying and selling stakes between investors) and co-investments.

Over the summer, several Helms School of Government students gained practical experience through both domestic and international internships. Senior MaKayla Donnelly (left) and sophomore Emma Dayton (right) both worked at the Family Foundation in Richmond, Va. Donnelly conducted research on proposed laws in Virginia as well as current laws in other states in order to develop policy, while Dayton worked to implement that policy through creating content for the foundation’s website. Junior Sarah Rogers worked as a policy intern at America First Policy Institute, conducting daily research and coordinating with policy centers to prepare for the next conservative presidential administration.

Twelve students took part in the summer term of The Washington Fellowship, a program of Liberty’s Career Services.

Students lived in Liberty apartment housing in Washington, D.C., and worked in a variety of internships tailored to their areas of study, including The Institute for Women’s Health, the office of U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (Arizona), pictured here with student Brenna Futrell; Georgetown Ministry Center; Contact Government Services (CGS); Media Research Center; the office of U.S. Rep. Bob Good (Virginia); the Daily Caller; U.S. Marshals Service; FOX News; America First Policy Institute (AFPI); and Mason Investment. The Washington Fellowship is also offered in the fall and spring semesters.

Liberty Law 3Ls Chavioleyette Fenelus (second from right) and Payton Gonzalez (right) worked alongside Virginia Supreme Court Justice Cleo Powell (left) over the summer, taking on research and writing roles. Fellow 3L Hannah Shotton completed an internship with Judge Norman Moon in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Lynchburg, which included writing court opinions, various research projects, and court hearings.

Two seniors in the School of Health Sciences spent their summer performing active research at two of the country’s top medical research laboratories. Biomedical sciences (pre-med) student Felice Kho conducted research at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health on the discovery of novel functions between littleknown microproteins thought to be related to neurodegenerative diseases. Fellow student Aiden Jeffries applied his work in Liberty’s biochemistry program to research at Uniformed Services University, where he studied two mutations in proteins that help the development of sperm and egg cells.

Senior Annie Cory carried her training and enthusiasm for sports journalism into a yearlong internship with NBC Sports.

Her main projects included videos for the morning “Pro Football Talk” program, watching games and assembling highlight reels, creating compilations or montages, and writing web articles. She worked remotely from Liberty’s campus for the first part of her internship and was invited this past summer to work in person at NBC Sports’ office in Stamford, Conn.

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DIGGING DEEPER RESEARCH AROUND LU

DEMENTIA STUDIES

TAYLO R B LUE

Charles R. Joseph, M.D., associate professor of neurology at Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, is working with students on developing new techniques to identify early signs of dementia. Their current research is focused on developing a noninvasive efficient MRI procedure to study brain blood flow and how this differs in neurological diseases.

The group is currently studying how blood flow in the brain varies in patients with different forms of dementia in hopes that it will contribute to a better understanding of how the health of the blood-brain barrier influences treatment options and patient outcomes.

As a LUCOM faculty member, Joseph has described his research in six peer-reviewed publications and believes there are “tremendous opportunities for this novel MRI approach as it will be the first easily obtained, noninvasive, and reproducible measure of brain blood flow to study and treat neurological diseases.”

VIRGINIA HISTORY

K J JU GAR JE SS IE JORDAN

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Andy Langeland (’22), a research fellow with the Helms School of Government, has been studying cases of manumission in Virginia — the formal process in which 18thand 19th-century slaveholders, without any government order, voluntarily granted legal freedom. The purpose of the project is to educate the public on generally unknown historical facts and aspects of slavery in Virginia and dispel falsehoods and popular myths about freed slaves.

Langeland is combing through court documents and other government records caseby-case to gather details about freed slaves so he can properly convey their stories. “These manumission documents point to inspirational stories that have been largely overlooked and need to be rediscovered and shared to a broader audience,” he said. Virginia has the most cases of manumission in the country, with at least 5,000 cases recorded and at least 20,000 slaves known to have been freed in this manner. So far, Langeland has documented instances of manumission in Lynchburg and area counties (Campbell, Bedford, Pittsylvania, Charlotte, Amherst, Halifax, Albemarle, and Nelson). He hopes to expand his research throughout Virginia while he pursues a doctorate in public policy.

RESPIRATORY THERAPY

Rob Kacinski (’21), a Ph.D. in Engineering student, is conducting research in thermal and fluid engineering specifically applied through therapy methodologies to treat symptoms in patients suffering from respiratory distress.

The research is being funded and directed by the New Hampshire-based medical company Vapotherm Inc. Kacinski is working under the supervision of engineering professor Dr. Wayne Strasser. Their noninvasive respiratory therapy is supplied via a nasal cannula made of a rubber material with prongs that enables a flow of highly oxygenated air to increase the patient’s blood-oxygen levels and aid in their breathing.

“We are looking at many different types of that oxygen therapy … and testing different cannula geometries, some with larger-diameter prongs so you can increase the flow more (and) deliver more total flow to the patient, or maybe take that same flow rate and then decrease the diameter of the prongs so it’s going to provide that same flow rate at higher velocities,” Kacinski said.

Kacinski’s work earned him Best Paper honors at the American Society of Thermal and Fluids Engineers (ASTFE) Conference at the University of Maryland in March, and his paper has been approved for publication in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Journal of Fluids Engineering.

SCHOLAR’S VIEWPOINT

Journalism professor Deborah Huff works with students at the “Liberty Champion,” the university’s student newspaper, in 2016.

A STORYTELLER’S STORY:

CATCHING THE VISION AND OBEYING THE CALL Jonah and Nineveh. That’s part of my story. Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh, and I didn’t want to move to Lynchburg.

My husband, Rick, and I loved our jobs in Cincinnati. We loved our home church.

Our families lived nearby. We planned on buying a home and raising our children there someday.

But our lives were turned upside down the day we heard a man named Jerry Falwell speak at a Word of Life event in Cedarville, Ohio, in 1978. We heard this man from Virginia challenging the crowd to follow Jesus. Everyone should be working to spread the Gospel — no matter what their day job was, he said. We were convicted about not doing more. We weren’t full-time ministry employees or trained Bible scholars, but Falwell said we didn’t have to be. We just had to be completely dedicated to serving the Lord and obedient to His calling.

At the service’s end, we went forward and prayed for God to find us a place to serve with the talents we had. I thought that meant in Cincinnati. But as we left the auditorium, we were handed “The Journal Champion,” a publication from Falwell’s ministries, and we saw ads for an accountant and a writer. Rick mulled it over for a couple of days and said, “Let’s send our résumés in.” “Sure” was my response, never dreaming that they would hire the both of us.

At that time, Falwell wasn’t a national voice, although he could be heard on the

Larry King radio show late at night. He was occasionally on our local television station.

Whenever we heard him, he clearly and repeatedly presented his vision to build a world-class university to prepare others to go into all walks of life and carry the Gospel of Christ to all corners of the world.

We had been intrigued by Falwell’s fullthrottle approach to preaching the Gospel and wanted to experience being part of that team.

We were soon interviewed and accepted offers. Rick worked as a controller at the Old-Time Gospel Hour (and eventually as an accounting professor), and I took on many writing and editing projects. From penning the “I Love America” newsletter, to editing Pathways for Faith Partners to writing a manual for starting a Godparent Home (a place for young pregnant mothers to receive care and counseling on adoption as an alternative to abortion) and covering current events for “The Fundamentalist Journal,” telling stories of God’s work through these efforts allowed me to use the skills He had given me in a ministry that I grew to love.

After 20-plus years of working in publishing, I was offered a job to teach journalism. Every spring, Dr. Falwell would come to my classes to talk about his experiences with the media. My students loved hearing his stories about politics and the times he was met with opposition.

Despite being the punchline for many late-night talk shows and an unflattering character on a cartoon, he told the students that while he didn’t like what was said, the media had every right to say it. He reminded them that free speech worked both ways; he didn’t want someone telling him what he could or couldn’t say.

We recorded the last meeting he had with my students. He’s been gone since 2007, but every year I taught class, I found a way to share that recording. I wanted the students to get a close look at the man who listened to God’s call to plant a church and had the vision to build a university to reach the world for Christ.

Whenever I hear a sermon about Jonah and Nineveh, I think of how I dreaded moving to Lynchburg. I am grateful that I didn’t have to be swallowed by a big fish to learn that this was the place God wanted me.

I count it an unmeasurable blessing that I was able to use my talents here with ministry and with students. I am forever grateful.

Deborah Huff has served as advisor for the “Liberty Champion,” the university’s student newspaper, since 1996.

She has taught journalism courses and has been involved in various publications at Liberty and its related ministries since 1979.

She will retire Jan. 31, 2024.

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AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS

>> Members of the Liberty Athletics creative team and “Flames Central,” Liberty’s sports television show, earned a school-record six Emmys at the 65th Capital Emmy Awards in June. “Flames Central” won three Emmys, marking the eighth consecutive year the show has won an Emmy and bringing its total to 14 overall.

>> Two Helms School of Government students, senior Giana DePaul and graduate student Henrique Krigner, attended the prestigious Hoover Institution Summer Policy Boot Camp at Stanford University in August, where they heard from former Secretary of State and current Hoover Institution Director Condoleezza Rice, former Advisor to the President Scott Atlas, and Stanford economist Dr. John B. Taylor.

>> Liberty’s Advertising Team won first place in the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) at the American Advertising Federation’s ADMERICA Conference in St. Louis, Mo., in June. Liberty was one of the eight teams (out of 96) to earn a trip to nationals, beating Brigham Young University, Hawaii Pacific University, University of San Francisco, University of Missouri, University of Minnesota, Chapman University (third place), and Texas State University (runner-up).

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>> The School of Engineering’s Rocketry team surpassed expectations at its first showing in the Spaceport America Cup in June in southern New Mexico.

The team’s debut rocket, Genesis, blasted 9,440 feet to finish 39th out of 158 teams, besting schools with established aerospace engineering programs such as Mississippi State (40th), Michigan State (62nd), and Virginia Tech (78th).

>> The Liberty Belles I and II, all-female student-pilot racing teams from the Liberty University School of Aeronautics, finished first and third, respectively, out of five planes in the Electronic Data Monitoring Aircraft (EDMA) Competition, part of the 46th annual Air Race Classic, which took teams from Grand Forks, N.D., to Homestead, Fla., in June. Liberty’s teams placed in the top half of the field of 44.

>> Fourth-year LUCOM student Allison Smith was elected as the student chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students. Smith will help plan the national conference next year and serve on the Commission on Education.

>> The Society for Human Resource Management student chapter received a 2022-23 Outstanding Student Chapter Award in September for providing superior growth and development opportunities to its members.

>> Two School of Behavioral Sciences professors were recognized by the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) for their decades of work in clinical and classroom settings. Dr. Gary Sibcy (left), a psychology professor and director of the Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology program, was awarded the Michael Lyles Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice. Dr. Elias Moitinho (right), a counseling professor and residential chair of the Department of Counselor Education & Family Studies, received the AACC Caregiver Award for Excellence in Christian Caregiving.

>> The School of Education received the 2023 Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement award from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The award was presented at CAEP’s annual conference in September to 21 educational institutions designated as educator preparation providers (EPPs) that advance equity and excellence in educator preparation to strengthen P-12 learning.

FAITH IN FOCUS

EMBRACING EMPATHETIC LIVING B Y D R . DAV I D W H E E L E R

“We who are Christians can win many to Christ if we just demonstrate the love that Christ commanded us to show. The hurting world waits for people just like that.” — Thom Rainer Many people consider “sympathy” and “empathy” to be interchangeable parts, but knowing the difference will radically change how you live out your Christian life.

According to Google Dictionary, sympathy is “feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else’s misfortune,” while empathy is “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.” In other words, it is the difference between merely acknowledging a neighbor’s needs when a family member has a debilitating illness and actually sacrificing one’s time and energy to meet the person’s practical needs. Think about it: If you were unable to mow your lawn or go to the grocery store because of an illness, you would quickly notice which neighbors simply acknowledge your needs and which neighbors are willing to meet your needs by putting empathy into action. If we are being honest, how many of us fall into the “acknowledge” category of “sympathy” rather than the biblical call to “empathy” and personal sacrifice? Make no mistake: Jesus is calling all Christians to a lifestyle of empathy.

A great example of empathy is found in John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” We all recognize this as the shortest verse in the Bible. But how incredible is it that God used two simple words to reveal the heart of Christ as it relates to empathy. Within these two words is more emotion, love, and compassion than contained in some novels. True to form, Jesus takes something small and seemingly insignificant to teach an amazing lesson. He leads by example, instructing us that empathy, putting ourselves in someone else’s shoes, is essential if we are to represent Him well.

It is easy to read John 11 and lose sight of the two insightful words, “Jesus wept.”

After all, Christ does eventually raise Lazarus from the dead. It is understandable that such a miraculous event would steal the thunder for the moment.

The problem is that it is too easy to celebrate the supernatural acts of Christ without seeing His humanity. Here we are encouraged to feel and hurt for those we serve. As “Jesus wept” with those who were grieving, we must learn to do the same. This is especially true when it comes to being effective in evangelism.

When I was in seminary, we were warned about becoming too engaged in others’ pain for fear of being consumed by emotions that might cloud our discretion. In many cases, the result was a generation of ministerial

robots who lost touch with society and the people they were called to serve.

Jesus’ example should encourage us to live empathetic lives. Contemporary culture is crying out for genuine Christianity, not lifeless religion.

Empathetic living is never forgetting how it feels to be lost. It is hard to empathize with the unsaved if you have forgotten what your life was like before you surrendered to Christ. For a glimpse of this concept, go to Revelation 5:4. John is in heaven kneeling before the throne of God. He notices several scrolls being grasped by the One sitting on the throne. He then realizes that if no one steps out to open the scrolls containing the redemptive history of humankind, everyone is destined to spend eternity in hell. John’s response was to cry uncontrollably for fear of a lost eternity!

We must display the same urgency in our daily lives for the unsaved in our spheres of influence.

Empathetic living is taking what Satan means for destruction and turning it around for the glory of God. Everyone has a testimony of God’s grace and love. It may be the loss of a friend, personal illness, loss of a job, or the challenge of a disability. Being the liar that he is, Satan will try to use difficult times to pull you away from God. In reality, God is sufficient and wants to use your testimony to celebrate His wonders and to empathetically point people to Him. Empathetic living is relating to the emotional pain of hurting people. Learn to relate to the pain of others. Hurt with them.

Pray for them. Cry with them. Share Christ with them.

Empathetic living is living an authentic life, not hiding your warts. Part of living an empathetic life is learning to live with your personal struggles and shortcomings (warts).

People in today’s culture are not looking for perfect examples to follow. Rather, they would prefer that you identify with them as flawed human beings. In doing so, people are more comfortable developing relationships, thus making it easier to open the door for Gospel conversations. Remember, accepting and loving people is not the same as condoning their sinful behavior.

Empathetic living is proclaiming complete restoration through Christ. The ultimate outcome of putting empathy into action is to see hurting and unsaved people restored through the power of the Gospel.

By becoming vulnerable enough to feel a person’s pain, you are living out the message of Christ to people in need of a Savior. The next step is to boldly share the Gospel out of the overflow of empathetic living.

This column is adapted from “Evangelism Is” by Dave Earley and David Wheeler (B&H Publishing, 2010).

Dr. David Wheeler is a Professor of Evangelism in the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity and the Senior Executive Director of LU Shepherd under the Office of Spiritual Development. He has served at Liberty University since 2006.

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Flames Football officially opened CUSA play with a 33-17 victory over New Mexico State on Sept. 9 at Williams Stadium. At press time, quarterback Kaidon Salter had won four CUSA Offensive Player of the Week honors, and Liberty was 7-0 in conference play and 10-0 overall — the best start in program history.

C HASE GYLE S

STARTING STRONG L IBERT Y C E L E BRAT ES ARRIVAL IN CON FEREN CE U SA

In their first semester in Conference USA, Liberty University’s NCAA Division I Athletics teams have continued their winning ways, with the women’s soccer team claiming LU’s first CUSA Championship and other teams proving themselves strong contenders for regular-season titles and postseason championships.

A total of eight men’s and eight women’s teams at Liberty are competing in the

reorganized conference for the 202324 athletic calendar. This fall, multiple student-athletes have reaped CUSA Athlete of the Week awards, including quarterback Kaidon Salter, who was named CUSA Offensive Player of the Week after decisive wins over the University of Buffalo, Florida International University, Western Kentucky, and Old Dominion. Salter was also named to the Manning Award Watch List, the Davey O’Brien Award Great 8

listing (three times), and was a semifinalist for the 2023 Maxwell Award.

With their sixth win against Jacksonville State on Oct. 10, the Flames became bowl eligible. After the win over Western Kentucky on Oct. 24, Liberty clinched its spot in the CUSA Championship Game.

Liberty gave its Homecoming Weekend crowd more than just another great game to cheer about after its 56-30 CUSA win over Louisiana Tech on Nov. 4; with the Women’s Soccer 2023 CUSA Champions

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ATHLETICS victory, Liberty secured the regular season title and announced it was hosting the championship game at Williams Stadium on Dec. 1. At press time, Liberty was ranked No. 25 in the AP Top 25 for the second week and remained one of seven unbeaten teams in the country, moving to 10-0 on the year and 7-0 in CUSA play. The Flames were scheduled to face New Mexico State in the CUSA Championship.

The women’s soccer team earned Liberty its first CUSA Championship trophy on Nov. 5, securing an automatic bid to the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament with a 2-1 victory over No. 1 seed New Mexico State. Liberty lost to the University of Georgia in the first round.

The men’s and women’s cross country teams each finished runner-up to Middle Tennessee State at the CUSA Championships on Oct. 28 in Bowling Green, Ky., paced by redshirt junior Adelyn Fairley, the CUSA women’s 6K individual runner-up. Fairley earned All-CUSA First Team honors.

On Jan. 6, the basketball teams will spring into action in CUSA play. Both teams will tip off their conference schedules against Western Kentucky, with the men playing in Bowling Green, Ky., and the women at Liberty Arena.

The Flames are the preseason conference favorite, tied with Middle Tennessee State. The women are ranked second, tied with Western Kentucky, behind Middle Tennessee State.

The basketball teams attended the 2023 CUSA Basketball Tipoff and Media Day event on Oct. 16 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., joining CUSA Commissioner Judy MacLeod.

Huntsville is also the host city for the 2024 Conference USA Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championships at Propst Arena March 12-16.

Flames fans helped cheer the men’s basketball team to a 44-4 home record during the past three seasons of competition at Liberty Arena. The men went 19-1 at

home during the 2022-23 season and carried a 17-game home winning streak into the 2023-24 campaign. The Lady Flames had a 42-3 record during three seasons at Liberty Arena and took a 14-game home winning streak into the new season.

Along with Liberty, CUSA welcomed Jacksonville State, New Mexico State, and Sam Houston to its membership this year.

“Conference USA (provides) a more competitive environment for our teams,” Liberty Director of Athletics Ian McCaw said. “There are a number of sports where multiple teams will qualify for NCAA tournaments (through autobids and at-large bids), so we’re excited about that opportunity for our teams as well. We have great television partnerships with ESPN and CBS Sports, and that’s going to give us a platform to really build the Liberty brand on a national scale.”

For ticket information, visit LibertyFlames.com.

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CALLI DOAN, TRACK & FIELD

ON THE WORLD STAGE Several track & field international student-athletes competed for their countries over the summer: • Junior Prosper Ekporere claimed the Nigerian men’s 110 hurdles national championship on July 6 in Benin City, Nigeria.

• Lady Flame Paola Bueno broke the women’s hammer program record for her third consecutive Mexican national title on July 21 in Puebla, Mexico.

• Sofia Mojica won the Mexico U23 women’s discus gold medal on July 18 in Villahermosa, Mexico.

• Freshman Revell Webster and sophomore Omari Lewis from Trinidad and Tobago finished 12th in the men’s 4 x 100 relay semifinals in August at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

• Former track & field member Alejandro Perlaza Zapata helped Colombia win the mixed 4 x 400 relay final on July 28 at the South American Championships in Brazil.

IN THE PROS Flames fans are keeping a close watch on these standout alumni: • Flames guard Darius McGhee signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Indiana Pacers in August, making him the fifth LU player to sign an NBA deal, after Caleb Homesley (2020/Washington Wizards), Seth Curry (2013/Memphis Grizzles), Peter Aluma (1998/ Sacramento Kings), and Julius Nwosu (1995/San Antonio Spurs). McGhee competed for the Pacers in the 2023 NBA Summer League, averaging 6.5 points and 2 assists per game.

• Former Flames quarterback Malik Willis, who was selected 86th overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2022 NFL Draft, has seen playing time this season.

• Wide receiver Demario Douglas was selected by the New England Patriots 210th overall in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and has seen immediate playing time as a rookie.

• Linebacker and defensive end Durrell Johnson, who led the NCAA in tackles for a loss in 2022 with 27.5, is currently a member of the Dallas Cowboys practice squad.

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Redshirt senior Calli Doan has set numerous records as a Lady Flame. She currently holds three track & field individual program records for the indoor 1 mile (4:36.52), indoor 3K (9:24.67), and outdoor 3K steeplechase (9:52.15), as well as cross country program records in the 5K (16.15.1) and 6K (19:50.6). At the 2023 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in June, she finished 11th in the steeplechase finals, qualifying as a second team All-American.

Doan graduated with a master’s in human performance with a 4.0 GPA and was named Liberty’s first-ever ASUN Conference Female Student-Athlete of the Year. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in health sciences.

Throughout all of her success, Doan continues to place a focus on being a witness for Christ and leaving an imprint on her community through service.

“Running for Liberty, a school that stands for Jesus Christ, is a blessing because it gives you a platform that’s unlike any other, and people know when you have Liberty University on your shirt that you probably have some different beliefs. It makes it about a lot more than just the race,” she said. “It’s about having the opportunity to say, ‘Hey, this is why I’m running. It’s for the gifts that God has given me to glorify Him, not for myself.’ It’s something special, and I think having that motivation has enabled me to get as far as I have.”

Alongside her husband, Nick, a former member of Liberty’s cross country and track & field teams, Doan leads a middle school small group for Living Word Baptist Church’s youth group. She also serves on the church’s hospitality group and has facilitated outreach projects through prison ministry.

With Liberty, she has participated in multiple food drives and outreaches with her teammates, including the annual Trick Or Treat So Others Can Eat canned food drive and the Dollar Makes a Difference campaign for school supplies.

“The academic advisors and the people who work at the Liberty Athletics Center always have a bunch of different opportunities that they send out that really encourage the athletes not only to serve in a track meet among our own sport but also in the community,” Doan said. “It’s fun when the entire team goes and does something because it makes it not only a community outreach but also team development as well.”

ATHLETICS

LUKE EBERLE, SOCCER

JACKSON VERCELLONO, HOCKEY

As a senior forward on the soccer team, Luke Eberle knows the importance of dependable shoes. For the past year, he has worked to provide new shoes to children locally, nationally, and internationally who may have never owned a pair.

Eberle volunteered with the nonprofit Samaritan’s Feet in Charlotte, N.C., in the summer of 2022 and was inspired by the testimony of Manny Ohonme, CEO, who grew up in Nigeria and didn’t receive his first pair of shoes until after he won a local basketball competition at age 9. Since 2003, Samaritan’s Feet has provided nearly 10 million pairs to children across 88 countries and hundreds of cities in the U.S. “When I heard the story and testimony of Manny, it really touched me and made me realize how grateful I should be for what Liberty gives (athletes) and me personally,” Eberle said. “We get so many pairs of shoes throughout the year, and there are so many people in the world who don’t have a single pair. There are kids who can’t go to school because they don’t have shoes but need them for the school uniform, kids who can’t play sports, kids who run the risk of getting cuts on their bare feet that get infected and affect their health.”

Now, as a partner with the organization, Eberle has raised a little over $40,000 of his $100,000 goal and funded the distribution of around 3,100 pairs of shoes. In the spring, he connected with local churches in Ukraine to send 2,100 pairs, and he partnered with the Major League Soccer team Charlotte FC in December to distribute roughly 600 pairs of indoor soccer shoes to children from a largely low-income, immigrant neighborhood in Charlotte. This past spring, he joined 50 other Liberty student-athletes at R.S. Payne Elementary School in Lynchburg to give shoes to 200 students.

Even though he was not allowed to explicitly share the Gospel at most events, Eberle said there have been opportunities to plant seeds for Christ.

“Sports is a great avenue to get your foot in the door with kids, and shoes are too. But just giving shoes is not enough.

Using my platform as an athlete is a way to meet a need while also sharing the Gospel with people. We can’t always directly speak about the Gospel, but we’re able to show the love of Christ through action.”

In addition to shepherding teammates as a spiritual leader on Liberty University’s ACHA Division I Men’s Hockey team, graduate forward Jackson Vercellono is a graduate assistant in the Club Sports spiritual development office and serves as an area representative for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Hockey.

The past three summers, Vercellono has worked at FCA summer camps in Alexandria, Minn. Out of the 500-plus youth ages 6 to 20, Vercellono and his staff saw more than 100 led to the Lord this summer.

“The ministry was booming,” Vercellono said. “We have interns that come in every summer, and part of my summer role is being one of the guys who leads those interns and disciples them and helps them to counsel the players on the ice.”

One of his newest roles is leading a weekly Bible study remotely with a variety of FCA Hockey players now in the Juniors ranks. “(Juniors hockey) is a challenging time because you’re just there to play hockey, and it’s a very secular environment,” Club Sports Assistant Athletic Director Reese Braband said. “Their identity and everything is wrapped up in their performance as a hockey player, and Jackson remembers that pressure. He reminds them that their identity is not in their performance, not as an athlete, but their identity is in Christ first.”

Vercellono completed his B.S. in Accounting and has started his MBA. He said he’s looking forward to serving alongside his teammates on their mission trip to Finland over Christmas Break.

“It is a great team I get to be a part of, and that is one of the main things that brought me to Liberty,” he said.

“Stepping into that spiritual leadership role is such an honor, and getting to live it out by loving my brothers each day is awesome.”

CLASS NOTES S H A R E Y O U R N E W S AT L I B E R T Y. E D U / C L A S S N OT E S

1980s

in Ashburn. The church has an associated school with more than 700 students.

’85 DAREN DRZYMALA of Buffalo, N.Y., published his first book, “Jesus is His Name,” available at Barnes & Noble. The book points to the life, ministry, and invitation of Jesus Christ.

1990s ’93 JONATHAN NAZIGIAN of Wilmington, Del., was recently named Headmaster of Wilmington Christian School in Hockessin, Del. He is the founder and Lead Communicator of AllThingsIntegrated.org.

2000s ’05 KEVIN JONES of Hampton, Va., served in pastoral ministry for many years. He recently accepted the role of Academic Dean at Faith Bible College in Norfolk. He continues to teach college level courses at Hampton Christian Academy. ’06 JOHNNIE MOORE of Haymarket, Va., was featured as one of The Jerusalem Post’s “25 ViZionaries.” He serves with the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and is the President of the Congress of Christian leaders. He was awarded the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Medal of Valor for his advocacy of Israel. ’09 CATHERINE JACKSON of Lynchburg, Va., received her J.D. from Liberty University School of Law and joined Gentry Locke’s Roanoke office in 2011. She was named a partner in 2017 and defends employers and advises businesses on employment issues. ’09 PRESTON TURPIN of Ashburn, Va., is the Senior Director of Ministry at Community Church

MAKING HEADLINES READ THESE STORIES AND MORE AT LIBERTY.EDU/NEWS/ALUMNI

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2010s ’12 ZACHARY DIAMANTI of Colorado Springs, Colo., published the first book in his new fantasy adventure series, “The Stone & Sky Series.” Diamanti previously served in the U.S. Air Force and worked for 10 years in ministry. ’12 LISA RUDISILL of Charlotte, N.C., plays the violin for Calvary Church in Charlotte for thousands of members every week. She assists with the church’s annual Christmas Eve service, which features choirs, a live nativity, and full orchestra. Rudisill completed her Master of Theology in 2012. ’13 DOROTHY WATKINS of Palmyra, Pa., is a Colonel in the Army Reserve and serves as the Branch Chief for the 1st Brigade, 87th Training Division of the Army Reserve. She enlisted in the Navy in 1984 and has been on five deployments in her career. She earned a Master in Management and Leadership from LU in 2013. ’15 SEAN BEAR of Statesboro, Ga., serves as the Public Health Administrator at Georgia Southern University and was recently named to the Statesboro Herald’s 20 Under 40 in the county list. He was instrumental in supporting the region’s epidemiological response to COVID-19.

Bear also works with Georgia Overdose Prevention as a trainer and naloxone distributor. ’15, ’14 PHILIP & DIANA BRYANT of Pinnacle, N.C., currently run Blue Rock Counseling and Coaching, a nonprofit counseling and life coaching practice. The couple published a book with their son, Alex, titled “Stopping a Spin Cycle with your Bare Hands.” ’16 ALEX MCCANDLESS of Nashville, Tenn., served as a Counselor at Refuge Center for Counseling in Franklin and now works for Hope Clinic for Women in Nashville. McCandless was appointed to Director of Clinical Strategy at the clinic after joining in 2015. ’16 JASON RACHELS of Margate, Fla., is the President of Calvary Christian Academy, the largest K-12 school in the U.S. The school now

has campuses in Hollywood, Boynton Beach, and North Miami. ’17 LAUREN HENRY of Sarasota, Fla., cofounded Aretios with her sister. The company trains leaders through personal development and leadership content and offerings. Henry recently published a book, “Words and Wit.” ’17 KALISTA HUDDLESTON of Alexandria, Va., taught for six years overseas and now works for Fairfax County Public Schools. She received a Bachelor of Science in Special Education: Integrated Studies with a minor in global studies from Liberty. ’17 DOUGLAS NOEL of Aiken, S.C., published “Principles of Human Development” and the devotional “Me and Jesus and You.” He received two awards for two poems he wrote in 2022. ’19 ABRAHAM LOPEZ of Oviedo, Fla., is serving as President of the Florida Debate Initiative, a nonprofit for increasing civic literacy and creating speech and debate programs for students across the state. ’19 JENNA PINCHOOK of Charlotte, N.C., is a Senior Business Analyst at Dentsply Sirona where she leads strategic analytics for the dental implants division.

2020s ’20 BRADLEY BOWEN of Pendleton, S.C., is Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Southern Wesleyan University where he previously served as Director of Campus Safety. ’20 TAWANA CAMPBELL of Spotsylvania, Va., received her Master of Business Administration from LU and was employed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Campbell was a candidate for Virginia Senate in the 28th District. ’20 JACK CARMODY of Nashville, Tenn., was a licensed counselor in South Carolina and currently works in private practice in Nashville.

He has specialized training in trauma work and marriage counseling. ’20 JAMES HARWELL of Hurst, Texas, serves as a Special Education Teacher at GrapevineColleyville ISD at Colleyville Heritage High School.

MIKE REDMAN (’85)

CAITLIN CAMPBELL (’19)

Mike and his musical ministry group The Gospel Mule have reached remote tribes in Costa Rica with the unconventional tool of contemporary bluegrass music.

Their most extensive work has been in Talamanca, a mountain range with hundreds of square miles of remote jungles that have been home to the same indigenous tribes for centuries.

Despite brain injuries, Caitlin has achieved her dream of running her own coffee shop in her hometown of Toronto, Ontario, and has gone viral on social media for her cheery customer service, greeting everyone with “Hello, my friend.” Her positivity and passion for serving coffee have garnered a large following on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

ALUMNI K J JUGAR

’20 DELIA HUBBARD of Wynantskill, N.Y., earned a Master of Visual Communication Design and is a Graphic Designer with the Naval Nuclear Laboratory. ’21 HEATHER PRESTON of Port St. Lucie, Fla., hosts a “Scripts on Scripture” podcast and released her first book, “Between the Lines,” which retells biblical stories in narrative. ’22 JAMES BAILEY of LaGrange, Ga., served as Master-at-Arms in the U.S. Navy. Bailey worked for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and was recently promoted to Integrated CJIS Data Center Manager in the Crime Information Center. ’22 JENNIFER JOHNS of Stafford, Va., started her career in teaching at Edward E. Drew Middle School. Previously, she worked as an Autism Paraprofessional and Administrative Assistant before receiving her bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies from LU. ’23 JOANNA SEIBER of Knoxville, Tenn., was the principal harpist at Stern Auditorium in Carnegie Hall for the Great New York Hymnsing with Travis Cottrell and Selah in June. The event marked the 50th anniversary of the “Celebrate Life” musical.

ALUMNI ID CARDS ARE NOW DIGITAL REQUEST YOUR CARD AT

LIBERTY.EDU/ALUMNI

OR EMAIL ALUMNI@LIBERTY.EDU • Receive alumni updates • Add to Apple/Google wallet • Quick links to alumni sites • Access exclusive regional and national discounts

SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW FLAMES

L I B E R T Y. E D U /A L U M N I / D O N AT E A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N S C H O L A R S H I P

The Office of Alumni Relations has created the first scholarship to be funded directly by alumni for select students facing a financial crisis.

“Most students experience some sort of financial struggle, whether it’s with student loans or just expenses while they’re students,” said Alumni Relations Director Dr. Greg Tilley. “Liberty is Training Champions for Christ, and our alumni are champions themselves, so they are now able to pay it forward to allow the next generation to move past some financial obstacles and get the great education they need. It’s a true, tangible way to help Liberty continue its mission.”

Donations to the Alumni Association Scholarship support students on their academic journeys, empowering them to reach their full potential so they can contribute meaningfully to their communities and the world.

Recipients will be selected each year by presidents of Liberty’s alumni chapters.

T H E C H A M P I O N C LU B

This new annual membership program allows alumni and friends of Liberty to choose between five levels of giving. Contributions help fund the Alumni Association Scholarship and will serve the alumni community through supporting alumni chapters and events.

Spark $71 — Car decal, LU lapel pin, and free Homecoming breakfast Ember $150 — Alumni T-shirt (and Spark Impact Level benefits) Flare $500 — Alumni sweatshirt, name recognized on alumni website, option to promote personal business on PerkSpot (and Ember Impact Level benefits) Torch $1,500 — Recognized in Liberty Journal’s President’s Circle, Alumni Office Donor Wall Recognition (and Flare Impact Level benefits) Blaze $2,500 — Private tour of campus with Alumni Relations representative, includes meal at the dining hall for four and attendance at Convocation (and Torch Impact Level benefits)

ELIJAH PIERICK (’22)

CONNOR & GRETCHEN ROSS (’22)

Elijah was elected in November 2022 to the Hawaii House of Representatives for District 39. At age 28, he is one of Hawaii’s youngest legislators. He earned a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling through Liberty’s online programs and said his dissertation on emotional forgiveness prepared him to stand up for biblical values in the legislature.

The Rosses, both aviation graduates, spent this past summer working with Samaritan’s Purse Mission Aviation Services, based out of Soldotna, Alaska. Connor’s primary mission was to transport couples from Anchorage to Port Alsworth for weeklong Destination Heal Our Patriots marriage restoration retreats.

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IN MEMORIAM BRENT BIDDLE (’12), of Morgantown, Ind., died Aug 17. He served as a Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist for the U.S. Army before being honorably discharged. Brent earned his Master of Divinity from Liberty and worked as a licensed auctioneer. He was a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association.

AMY BIGGERSTAFF (’17), of Concord, N.C., died Sept. 7. She graduated from Liberty with her master’s in Therapeutic Counseling and Psychology with high honors. She worked as a senior customer service liaison and an editor and proofreader.

SCOTT BLAKEMAN (’12), of Wake Forest, N.C., died Aug. 21. He graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in Government: Politics and Policy from Liberty. Scott’s talent for writing led him to jobs in the U.S. House of Representatives and as a speechwriter for a U.S. Cabinet secretary.

MAVIS CHRISTOPHER, of Palm Coast, Fla., died Sept. 6. She was a dedicated social worker, interior decorator, and seamstress. Mavis was working on her master’s in Christian counseling from Liberty.

MARION CONLEY (’14), of Winnfield, La., died Sept. 13. She graduated from Liberty with her master’s in professional counseling and was a licensed professional counselor in behavioral healthcare.

BRIAN COOK (’11), of Concord, N.C., died Sept. 8. He received a bachelor’s and master’s in Education and Sport Management from Liberty.

He dedicated many years to coaching high school basketball and operated a small business with his wife, Tonya.

SHERRIE DUNAWAY (’94), of Plainfield, Ind., died Aug. 18. She was a Technician Specialist for AT&T and retired after 34 years in the industry.

MARY FAIRBANKS (’15), of Ocean Springs, Miss., died July 22. She earned her Master of Human Services Counseling at Liberty, which she used in her career as a dedicated nurse.

Mary devoted 30 years to caring for veterans at the VA Hospital.

NANCY HOFFMAN (’97), of Carlisle, Pa., died Aug. 6. She received her Master of Arts from Liberty. Nancy worked in the medical field, including for BETRA In Home Care and Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania. She volunteered at multiple organizations, such as My Brother’s Table and Project SHARE. MORGAN HOUT, a former head football coach at Liberty (1984-88), passed away on Nov. 1 at the age of 76. Hout was inducted into the Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020. He was a pioneer and visionary for the football program, guiding it through the transition from the NCAA Division II ranks into the Division I era. In recent years, Hout served as a community liaison in Liberty’s Hancock Welcome Center.

KENNETH MEFFORD (’15), of Port St. Lucie, Fla., died July 10. He earned his Bachelor of Religion from Liberty. Kenneth served in the U.S. Army before becoming a successful and respected Real Estate Broker.

SHONTA NEWSON (’17), of Statesboro, Ga., died Aug. 5. He received his Master’s in Christian Ministry from Liberty. Shonta was licensed as a minister and ordained as an elder in 2004. He served at the Agape Worship Center in music ministry and ministerial staff and served as Youth Minister and Pastor at Saint Paul Missionary Baptist. Most recently, he was the Community Marketing Representative for CareSource.

BENJAMIN PYLE (’93), of Apple Springs, Texas, died Sept. 12. He served with the Marine

Corps during WWII in the Maritime Service and Merchant Marines. He graduated with a theology degree and a Master of Arts from Liberty.

Benjamin worked in the banking world and held various executive positions. He was also a political and civic activist holding positions in Trinity County.

OTTO SCHONFELDER (’80), of Lynchburg, Va., died Aug. 26. He graduated with a degree in pastoral training from Liberty. As a member of Iron Workers Local 498, Otto worked on monumental projects such as the Sears Tower. He was the General Contractor of the foundational level of DeMoss Hall and several residence halls at Liberty. His most recent position was General Contractor at Thomas Road Outpost youth camp.

MARK SEALS (’13), of Martinsburg, W.Va., died Sept. 17. He received a Master of Business Administration from Liberty. He was an avid outdoorsman and traveled to Costa Rica, Peru, and Panama with his family. Mark founded a taekwondo ministry and offered support to others online who were battling cancer.

SUSAN STALLINGS (’95), of Portsmouth, Va., died Aug 3. She earned her degree in Child Psychology from Liberty and obtained her professional teaching licensure in Virginia and North Carolina. While at Liberty, she was a member of the school choir. Susan worked as an elementary school teacher; her last position was at Mary T. Christian Elementary School.

NAOMI VANCLEAVE (’13), of Salem, Va., died Aug. 21. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Liberty. Naomi volunteered many hours with 4-H, AWANA, and children’s ministries at various churches. She spent 40 years in preschool education and retired from TAP Head Start with 15 years of service.

TAJH BOYD (2004-2023)

remember him as a Flame. Tajh will be missed dearly.”

Chadwell and members of the team attended Boyd’s celebration of life ceremony in Norfolk, Va., on Aug. 19.

from a young age, Johanna wrote book and movie reviews for the Richmond TimesDispatch as a teenager. After graduation, she worked as an anchor, producer, reporter, and weather forecaster for local news stations, where she won national Emmy and Peabody awards.

She served as an adjunct professor at Liberty for two years and is the former owner and editor of five regional magazines, including "Lynchburg Living."

Most recently, she was an investor, designer, and real estate agent. Johanna and Daryl launched Penny Lane Properties, through which they rebuilt and restored forgotten homes and buildings in Lynchburg. She was also involved with Freedom 4/24, a local nonprofit dedicated to the prevention and ending of sex trafficking.

Johanna was the mother of three children, Ella, Easton, and Emmanuel.

Flames Football freshman offensive lineman Tajh Boyd, 19, died on Aug. 6. He came to Liberty from Oscar F. Smith High School in Chesapeake, Va., joining the team in January.

Loved ones remembered Boyd as kind-hearted, generous, loving, and spiritual. In a joint statement, Head Coach Jamey Chadwell and Liberty Athletic Director Ian McCaw said Boyd’s impact on the football program will be felt for years to come. “When you come to the Mountain, you immediately become a part of the Liberty University family and something truly special.

We thank God for bringing Tajh into our Liberty Athletics community, and we will always

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JOHANNA CALFEE (1980-2023)

Calfee, 42, died on Aug. 30 after a four-year battle with cancer. She is a 2002 broadcast journalism graduate.

Johanna and her husband, Daryl, met in Liberty’s communications department and were both on the staff of the “Liberty Champion,” the student-run newspaper.

With a love of storytelling and journalism

LOOKING BACK

ALUMNI

THE MANSION TURNS 100 In the century since it was built as a home for a U.S. senator, The Montview (formerly called the Carter Glass Mansion, or simply “The Mansion” to Liberty students) has seen the surrounding campus landscape change many times, from views of a dairy farm to views of college residence halls, a football stadium, and a bustling welcome center. But the home itself has remained a beautiful piece of architecture and history that still draws the eye of campus visitors.

The estate was built in 1923 by U.S. Sen. Carter Glass, who lived there until his death in 1946. Glass served as Secretary of the Treasury under President Woodrow Wilson from 1918-1920 and is most well-known as the co-founder of the Federal Reserve. He took his last oath of office for the senate on the home’s glass-enclosed porch in 1943.

quarters, period-inspired furnishings and décor, an intimate living area, and breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A phase of the renovation included adding a glass wall at the entrance to Falwell’s former office, which is still untouched to this day.

Some of the home’s most interesting features include a marble mantel that was salvaged from a building used by Congress after the U.S. Capitol was burned by the British in the War of 1812, and a stone Corinthian capital that Glass brought back from Pompeii and used as a unique water well head.

The Montview is not open to the public, but visitors are welcome to tour the grounds, including the Falwell Memorial Garden.

Marine Corps Commendation Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.

Complex, Liberty’s on-campus outdoor track & field facility, is named in his honor). The Mattheses both retired from Liberty in May 2007. Liberty founder Dr. Jerry Falwell spoke at their retirement celebration less than 72 hours before he passed away.

Sandy Matthes’ greatest joy and influence came from glorifying the Lord through music — as church pianist, organist, and choir, handbells, and orchestra director — and empowering many others to do the same.

C HASE GYL E S

Liberty acquired the home in 1977, and it served as the office of the late Dr. Jerry Falwell, Liberty’s founder, from 1990 until his death in 2007. Falwell and his wife, Macel, are buried on its grounds.

In 1987, the home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Montview now serves as a bed and breakfast for speakers and other notable guests to Liberty’s campus.

The property underwent a renovation in 2008 that transformed the historic mansion into unique accommodations for guests of the university, and a more extensive renovation followed in 2017, guided by a commitment to maintaining the home’s original features and recovering the beauty of its 1920s influences.

The house features five sleeping

Over the decades, students have enjoyed relaxing and studying on the grounds of The Montview, and the home has remained a popular backdrop for photos.

TOBIN “TOBY” LEWIS (1985-2023)

Aviation graduate Maj. Tobin “Toby” Lewis (’08), 37, was one of three service members killed on Aug. 27 when their Osprey MV-22B crashed on Melville Island, 50 miles off the coast of Darwin in northern Australia, during a training operation.

Lewis, of Jefferson, Colo., earned his B.S. in Aviation: Military before being commissioned to the United States Marine Corps. While at Liberty, he played on the Flames Men’s Soccer team under former Head Coach Jeff Alder from 2004-07. He was a member of the 2004 Big South Conference All-Freshman team and scored 19 goals in his time with the Flames.

He is survived by his wife, Meredith (’08), and their three daughters, Lydia, 6; Nora, 4; and Eliana, 2.

Lewis previously served in Pensacola and Jacksonville, Fla.; Corpus Christi, Texas; and Okinawa, Japan. He received two Navy and

SANDRA “SANDY” MATTHES (1941-2023)

Matthes, 82, of Forest, Va., passed away on Sept. 26 after a yearlong battle w ith cancer.

She taught music theory at Liberty for 31 years and served as a church musician for most of her life, most recently as Music Minister at Heritage United Methodist Church for 25 years.

Matthes is survived by her husband of 63 years, Dr. Lloyd J. “Jake” Matthes, a former math professor at Liberty and the founder of Liberty’s track & field program (the Matthes-Hopkins Track

DR. ROBERT GAUNT (1937-2023)

Gaunt, 86, of Zeeland, Mich., passed away on July 29.

He served at Liberty from 1979-92.

His roles included dean of the School of Education, professor of education, chair of the HPE Department, assistant coach for Lady Flames Basketball, and superintendent of Liberty Christian Academy. 45

Join a chapter and connect with other Liberty graduates in your area, or start your own chapter and help the alumni community grow.

GOING PLACES

In the last year, the Alumni Relations Office has been hitting the road, traveling to neighboring states and across the country to connect faceto-face with Liberty alumni at chapter events, conferences, and churches. Where are they headed next? Find out by joining the Alumni Community at AlumniCommunity.Liberty.edu.

Over 24,000 members are using the online platform to connect with fellow graduates, explore mentoring opportunities, and leverage their professional networks.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. LYNCHBURG

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ATLANTA

Current chapters: Atlanta, Ga.; Baltimore, MD.; Charlotte, N.C.; Raleigh/Durham, N.C.; Alberta, Canada; Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; Nashville, Tenn.; Lynchburg, Va.; Washington, D.C. Charlotte, N.C.

NEW ORLEANS

HOUSTON BOCA RATON

THE PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE 2023 This list recognizes donors whose giving to Liberty University from Jan. 1-Aug. 31, 2023, qualifies for one of the following categories. $500,000 - $999,999 Individuals Anonymous Lois M. Duggan* James Willard Tumlin*

$100,000 - $499,999 Individuals Bonnie Lee Redding* Marian D. Sullivan* Organizations BB&T Charitable Fund The Coca-Cola Consolidated Charitable Giving Fund Jeremy Elliott Scholarship Foundation NAMB dba SEND Network

$50,000 - $99,999 Individuals Anonymous Harry Ballard* Melvin W. Buster* William W. Hanlin Suzanne Leebrick* Organizations Hendrick Motorsports Lynchburg Life Saving Crew

$25,000 - $49,999 Individuals Anonymous Jason & Tori Benham Jasen & Brandi Cassady Jamey & Solmaz Chadwell Dondi & Vickey Costin Chris & Cindy Cruz Brad & Amy Epps Dennis & Sonya Fields Jon Lienemann Andy & Ivy Maddox Jon & Jennifer McClure Matt Pantana Marlene Senner Jimmy & Rhonda Thomas Zach & Lisa Tran Barry & Robyn Woodard Organizations Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated Energy & Automation Hope of Christ Presbyterian Church Permanens Capital LP Runk & Pratt Companies Talon Medical Construction Services, LLC The Bolick Foundation

$10,000 - $24,999 Individuals Anonymous Jerry James Batchelder* Billy & Jane Belcher Sheldon & Shannon Bream Barry & Pam Clarkson Tim & Julie Clinton Leonard & Carla D’Addesi Jason Dandridge David & Kristi Dolan Chris & Mindy Eaves Drew & Mary-Elizabeth Ellenburg Michael Evans Gary & Carlene Frame* Shirley A. Goehring Todd & Gillian Granger Scott & Melanie Hicks Carroll & Nancy Hudson Rick & Debbie Huff

Adam & Alyssa Huffines Roy & Melinda Jones Reynold F. Keller Louis & Joan LaMay Ian & Heather McCaw Mark D. McClure Wallace & Mayme Miller* Thomas Nolen Susan Ocealis* Richard & Karin Osborne Karl C. Salz Richard & Linda Smith Jesse & Heather Stephens Terrance Tigges* Organizations Anderson Construction, Inc. dba Virginia Siteworks Beacon Credit Union Boxley Materials Company Byrd Enterprises Unlimited, Inc. Carter Bank & Trust Cloudfit Software Equity Enterprise 1984, LLC First Baptist Church-Opelika Foster Fuels, Inc. Freedom Defense Group Freedom First Federal Credit Union Hill City Pharmacy James R. Vannoy & Sons Construction Co., Inc. Mabry Automotive Group North American Mission Board Patel & Dalrymple Attorneys at Law Ramsey Auto Group SET, Inc. dba Caterpillar Clubhouse Sodexo, Inc. & Affiliates The Master’s Inn Ministries, Inc. United City Church Van Wagner Sports & Entertainment, LLC Yugo Collins PLLC

$5,000 - $9,999 Individuals David & Kari Adams Anonymous Carter County OK* Brian & Kimberly Baker Tim & Veronica Bratton Steve & Patty Brooks Elvin & Pam Burford Tony & Polly Byrd Cole & Beth Candler Ernest & Amber Carter Kenny & Jennifer Cobbs Hal & Nicole Cockerham Bill & Susan Cofer Tony & Beth Cothron Frank & Christine Crist Bob & Sandra Day Glenn & Lois Enderud Jonathan & Shari Falwell William Gehman Terry Gentry Carey & Denise Green John & Lisa Hackney Matthew & Rhonda Hankins Brian Hufhand Jeffrey Jamerson Clayton & Marsha Justice Ron & Rachel Justice Dan & Jodi Leja John & Annyce Maddox Joel & Elisabeth Maxwell David Metter Stephen & Tricia Mock Michael Nichols Ryan O’Rourke

Scott & Kelli Overton Todd & Missy Owen John Petrozelli David Rockabrand Brandon Scott Mark Scott Emanuel Seewald Todd & Rachelle Sorensen Scott & Jennifer Stonebreaker Barbara G. Stunz Brian & Amanda Summers David Tolle Kyle Werthman Charles & Claudia Wigglesworth Carey & Melissa Wrenn Greg & Fay Wyatt Organizations The American Society of Mechanical Engineers Awakening Events, Inc. Bank of the James Mortgage Lee & Tonja Hall Chick-fil-A Candlers Crossing, Wards Rd & River Ridge Mall Cross Church Fay Family Charitable Fund First Class Restoration Inc. dba SERVPRO Gentle Shepherd Hospice, Inc. Hurt & Proffitt, Inc. KMR Aviation Services, Inc. Lawndale Baptist Church Lawrence Transportations Systems Lynchburg Ready Mix Concrete Co, Inc. Musser Lumber Company, Inc. Peter & John Radio Fellowship, Inc. dba Peter & John Ministries Powell’s Truck & Equipment, Inc. Richmond Center for Christian Study Southern Air, Inc. The Boyd & Joan Kelley Charitable Foundation RLJ Thompson Trucking Virginia Living Museum W.E.L., Inc.

$2,500 - $4,999 Individuals Anonymous Dr. & Mrs. Gregg Albers Carla Allen Delene Andrews Rob & Susan Andrews Keith Ashley Tim & Kathy Baldree Reggie & Karen Berry Brandon & Ida Blankinship Andy & Linda Bowling Eldon & Dixie Brammer David & Pamela Brown Mike & Stephanie Brown Jeremy Burns David & Gina Coss Gregg & Dana Davidson Rick & Angie DeBoard Barbara Dickerson Olive M. Eckmann* Louis & Margaret Edwards Richard Eng Charlie & Barbara Falwell Bruce Fisher Frances Garvey Chip & Barbara Gill Caroline Goode Congressman Bob Goodlatte Mervyn L. Gray

Darrell & Margaret Hartline Kevin Hefner Aaron & Emily Herwig Joel & Theresa Hesch Tim & Christy Hill Matt & Christina Holley Michael D. Horne Daniel & Sarah Hull Scott & Sara Jackson Leslie L. Jacoby, Jr Thea Jenkins Kevin Jessee Pete & Robin Jewett Paul & Jacquelyn Johnson Trevor & Jane Johnson Linda F. Kay Mark & Teresa Keaton Michael & Linda Keever Ira Stephen Kennedy Craig & Jodi King Brian Kirschner John & Fran Koleznar Richard B. Kreider Ron & Kelly Lance Stewart Langley Tate & Holly Lenderink Stephanie Letchworth Stevie & Jessica Lloyd Steve & Kathy Lloyd Lance & Stephanie MacKenzie Jon & Morgan Manson David & Linda Martin Ben & Megan Mason Ritchie & Julie McKay William D. Meeks Mike & Lisa Misjuns P. H. Mitchell, Jr. J. Arthur Moore* Mitch & Elizabeth Morrison Arthur Nicholson* Timothy & Heather Norton Sean Owen Bill & Vida Parker Raleigh & Janet Parker Gary & Christine Pearson Jason & Rachael Porter Bradley Queen Charles Reninger Bob Pinto & Dot Richardson Kara Roberts Joshua D. Rochon Jennifer Seay Todd Sheive Jeff & Galene Staley Doug & Amy Strohmeier Cody & Taylor Stuenzi Bo & Kipplyn Summers Carroll P. Tarkington Troy & Karla Temple Dan & Rachel Vollmer Michael K. Walsh Mark Wambolt Lori Watkins David & Debbie Wheeler Scott & Shelly Wolf Organizations 701 Korean Church JG Wentworth Home Lending AstroTurf Corporation Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Blue Ridge Apothecary C12 Mid-Atlantic, LLC C12 Virginia, LLC Chesapeake RV Solutions CMA’s Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Lynchburg CMA’s Hyundai of Lynchburg

East Side Rides, LLC English Construction Company, Inc. Environmental Options, Inc. First Bank & Trust Company Grey Stone Church Holston Baptist Association HSC Wealth Advisors Hunter Street Baptist Church Impact Living Services K & J Enterprises, Inc. dba McDonalds Langley Family Trust MH Masonry & Associates, Inc. Motor World New River Baptist Association, Inc. OrthoVirginia, Inc. Royal Restrooms, LLC Rush Concerts, LTD Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia, Inc. Sonny Merryman, Inc. SponsorUp The H.T. Hackney Company, Inc. The Jeremiah Project The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company Westgate Ventures, Inc. Wilgus Automotive, LLC dba Ed’s Automotive Wright Choice Construction Zaki Gordon Memorial Charitable Gift Fund

$1,000 - $2,499 Individuals Anonymous Margaret Ackerman Warren & Ann Andersen Jennifer Arostegui Christine Avery Castillo Christie Bailey Ron & Jeris Bashor Rodney & Marlee Beckom Paul & Elena Bengds Al & Lisa Billingsly Lance & Kelly Bingham Dale & Tina Birdsall Keith & Kris Boan Bob Bonheim Kip Brandenburg Shay Brill Bryce & Shelene Bryan David L. Bryant Lori Bucksar Herman & Shirley Burgess Ted & Valerie Burkett David Caddick Larry & Sherry Cannon John & Phyllis Carstens Daniel Caskie Janice Chaplin Larry & Barbara Compter Chuck & Amber Cramer Tom F. Craven, Jr. Sheri Cregger Janine Crowe Brian E. Daenzer Robert Daniels Diane S. Davis Katrina Davis Mark Dellinger Doug & Sheila Diehl Carol Donovan David C. Dudley Mary Clare Taylor East Gary & Barbara Eastman Beth E. Fallin

Linda L. Farver Shannon Filer Jim & Tracy Fisher Gary & June Fitzgerald Christopher E. Fogal Tate R. Fonville Dee Franklin Tina Friar Carl & Deavin Garland Max Gasser Frank Gibb Cindy Goodrich Cris & Theresa Green Mary Griffin Mike & Erin Hagen James R. Hagler, Jr. Jan Halvorsen Kirk & Jannie Handy Roger Hantke Jeremy & Megan Harris Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. Harris Gwenn Harth Bill & Tracie Hayes Jeff & Allison Helgeson Jody Hice Dr. Mark & Toy Hine Rodney & Melissa Hizy Linda Hodges Bernard Holder Charles & Shelvie Holmes Brett Honeycutt Tim Houghton Gregory Hudson Greg Huepper James Larry Ingram Anna R. Jenkins David & Cami Jeremiah Eric B. Johnson Tamara L. Johnson

Mark Journell Don Keaton Roy J. Kelley Kevin & Lori Keys Thomas J. Koscak Veronica Jean Kovach-Dodd Jason Lam Brandon & Michelle Langer Andrew Law Rodney & Donna Lawson Blane & Terrie Lewis Paul M. Lilly Howard Livingston James & Deborah Livingston Tom Lougheed Mike & Karen Luck Bradley Madison Andrew Maggard Brock & Ronda Malcolm Christopher Mandell Stephen Matthews Perry & Laurie Maze Deanna McClintic Carl & Ethel McCutcheon James McDuffie Andrew W. Meadows Douglas K. Miller Mark G. Minar Doug & Debbie Monahan Jonathan & Kathleen Morgan Gene & Joyce Myers Jim & Molly Nelson Shelley O’Neal Mark Overman Todd & Rachel Patulski Stacey Polito Mark Priest Charles & Sandy Prowant Dr. Frank Pugh

Michael Rankin Jeffrey D. Raub Larry H. Rauppius, Jr. Justin A. Reede Michael J. Renfrew Steve & Rachel Ridout Brian Roder Anthony Rodgers Dr. William & Amy Roller Lloyd Sanderlin Dr. & Mrs. Earl Sargeant Mark & Patsy Schandorff Bob & Pam Schmidt William J. Schnarr Doreen A. Schriebl Heidi Schroeder Steven Shak Greg Simotas Amy Skelton Jackie Sligh Dave & Kim Smith Michael & Cynthia Sobiesiak Jim & Michelle Sorenson Lorenzo & Tameka Sparks Ben Spell Bartel L. Spinelli Richard & Edith Staedtler Karen Mele Stalzer John W. Strother David Subisak Martha A. Sudholt Jessica Tannehill Eric & Lesa Taylor John & Anne Thompson Melanie Traber Edgar & Allison Tuck Matt Tunin Michael Varner Kristen E. Vaughan

Deborah Walker Gene & Debbie Walker Richard & Ruth Waning Jonathan Jay Washburn Cynthia Weatherby John & Margaret Whitlock Alan R. Whitlow Chris & Pam Williams James & Katherine Williams Walter A. Wilson, III Wyatt & Gwen Wilson Jane L. Winston Stephen L. Wood Donna Woodson Ronald Wright Rupert Wright Dr. Lian-Tuu & Mrs. Arlene Yeh Amber N. Young Organizations A.G. Jefferson Opticians Aluminum Fences Direct Atlantic Shores Baptist Church Bates Family Orthodontics Capital Repair Services, LLC Charlotte Christian School Chowan Baptist Association CMA’s Honda of Lynchburg Computer Exchange Custom Siding & Remodeling, LLC Cutz for Guys Doss Estates Inc. Echo Ministries / Echo Concerts F & S Building Innovations, Inc. Faith Fellowship Church, Inc. Fill the Gap Concerts Fire Tech Services, Inc. Franklin Heights Baptist Church Garber-Lowe Fence, Inc. Hargrave Military Academy

Higher Bond His Village Church Holman Masonry, Inc. Hopewell Baptist Church Kessler Investment Group, Inc. Kline’s Ice Cream, Inc. Liberty Tax Services Longs Farm Supply, Inc. Lynchburg Machining, LLC MAC A B’s dba Curtains, Blinds & Bath Miller Farms Minnick Enterprises, LLC Northside Christian School, Ministry of Northside Baptist Church Olde Southern Charm, LLC Piedmont Airlines, Inc. Priority One Properties S&R Cleaning & Floor Services of Roanoke Schwab Charitable Shelley McGhee Life Anchor Agency Soundz Hearing Lynchburg The Harold and Dorothy Albert Trust Tickets for Less, LLC Vagus, LLC WACH Marketing, Inc. * Estate Gift Unpaid pledges from donors are not factored into the giving amounts for this list.

If we have omitted, misspelled, or misplaced your name, please accept our apologies and notify our office by calling toll-free (866) 602-7983.

For more information on planned giving to Liberty University, visit Liberty.edu/Giving or call (800) 543-5309.

A CARING CONNECTION If you have ever donated to Liberty University over the years, you may have met Claris Stanley or Barbara Hoff. And chances are you made a new friend.

Stanley and Hoff serve in Liberty’s Center for Donor Engagement, where they dedicate their time to developing relationships with supporters and friends of Liberty. Through regular phone calls — which often include praying with the donors — and thoughtful letters and cards, they express gratitude JESSIE JO RDA N

Claris Stanley, left, and Barbara Hoff are donor engagement specialists for Liberty.

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for the donors’ generosity and for their dedication to helping Liberty further its mission of Training Champions for Christ.

Often, the interaction blossoms into a friendship.

Drawing from their own life experience (both women are in their 80s), Stanley and Hoff view their jobs as a ministry, showing love, care, and support through trials, whether it’s a health scare or the loss of a loved one.

“These ladies live out what we are supposed to do daily, which is just be available to whatever the Lord has for you.

They’re ready and available,” said April Tolley, director of the Center for Donor Engagement.

That’s why around the office, they’re affectionately called “the prayer warriors.”

“It’s pretty amazing how they have walked with these people through death and heartache and illnesses and family challenges and wayward children and so many other life struggles,” said Wyatt

Wilson, director of Planned Giving. “They do so much more than expected. They put forth a deeper layer of gratitude for the gift.”

Adjunct Professor Dr. Alan Cheney said he looks forward to Stanley’s constant calls of encouragement.

“It’s just another thing that makes (teaching at Liberty) worth it and reminds me that God is the leader of this endeavor,” he said.

While their ministry no doubt has a profound impact on others, Stanley and Hoff said they dually benefit. Every day, they get the opportunity to see the body of Christ at work for the glory of God. “We try to encourage our donors, but they don’t realize how much they encourage us,” Hoff said. “And when we do get letters and emails back, you think, ‘OK, I really am doing a good job; I am doing what I’m supposed to be doing. I’m helping somebody. I love it and love being here.’”

“This job is a salvation to me. I don’t know what I would do without it,” Stanley said.

ATHLETICS DINING FACILITY RENAMED IN HONOR OF LIBERTY FOOTBALL SPIRITUAL MENTORS Liberty University Athletics announced the naming of the Gomes and Redding Athletics Dining Hall during a ceremony before the Liberty vs. New Mexico State football game on Sept. 9.

The name honors Dan Redding and Dr. Ed Gomes, two men who have shared in fulfilling the vision of Liberty’s founder, Dr. Jerry Falwell, to Train Champions for Christ.

Redding was a member of the Liberty Football coaching staff from 1977-86, serving as a linebacker coach and defensive coordinator. Gomes has been a fixture on campus since he arrived in 1974 as a starting

point guard on the Liberty Men’s Basketball team, where he set career records for steals and assists. He has faithfully served God and Liberty in his roles as the residence dean, dean of commuter students, and director of spiritual development for football.

The naming of the Gomes and Redding Athletics Dining Hall was made possible by Jon and Jennifer McClure of Greenville, S.C. Jon played football at Liberty from 197981, where he said his life was profoundly impacted by Gomes and Redding. His parents, Bob and Fran McClure, supported Dr. Falwell during the 1970s through their Christian radio ministry; they broadcast the “Old-Time

M ATT R E YNOL DS

(From left) Dr. Ed Gomes, Ruth Gomes, Dan Redding, Christine Redding, Jon McClure, and Jennifer McClure attend the naming ceremony for the new Gomes and Redding Athletics Dining Hall.

Gospel Hour” on stations across the country and later started The Life FM radio. Jon’s brother, Mark, and his wife, Susan, have also invested time and finances to support Liberty Athletics and students in the School of Business and the School of Aeronautics.

“We are blessed by the continued support of the McClure family. They have left a legacy for their family on our campus and inspired others through their calling to Train Champions for Christ,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Ian McCaw said.

At the unveiling, Gomes and Redding were joined by former members of the Liberty Football team representing three decades of athletes who trained under the two honorees.

Formerly known as the Training Table, the Gomes and Redding Athletics Dining Hall, located on the second floor of Carter Tower at Williams Stadium, serves all of Liberty’s 590-plus student-athletes throughout the week. The facility is part of the Flames Performance Health program and is catered by on-campus food services provider Sodexo, under the guidance of Liberty’s Sports Nutrition staff.

To learn more about leaving a legacy on campus through the gift of giving, visit the Legacy Giving page, or contact Jeff Alder at jtalder@liberty.edu.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS YEAR’S GIVING DAY A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS The Liberty community in Lynchburg and around the world raised $4.5 million to fund over 115 campaign initiatives across campus, ensuring that academic departments, athletic programs, and student support services have the resources they need to carry on the original mission of Training Champions for Christ.

Did you miss Giving Day? You can still support ongoing programs by visiting

LIBERTY.EDU/GIVING

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Discover what you can do at a university that equips you to succeed wherever life takes you. Since 1971, Liberty University has been Training Champions for Christ through excellent academics, world-class faculty, and state-of-the-art resources. It’s a quality Christian education you can count on.

Training Champions for Christ since 1971 LEARN MORE CARET-RIGHT LIBERT Y.EDU/DISCOVER