University receives lake, donations totaling more than $5 million
Love is in the air as LU couples find their soulmates
Students’ generosity aids adoption of Ethiopian teens
Lette r f r o m th e c han c e llo r
Liberty Journal is an official bimonthly publication of Liberty University.
A
fter enjoying a quiet and relaxing Christmas and New Year’s at home with my family, I was privileged to join many local leaders, including Lynchburg Mayor Joan Foster, State Delegate Kathy Byron and many Liberty University officials on Jan. 6, 2009, for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Liberty University’s new School of Engineering and Computational Sciences. The Founding Dean of the School, Dr. Ronald T. Sones, hosted a tour of the recently completed state-of-the-art electrical engineering laboratories, software engineering laboratories and classrooms on the third floor of the Arthur S. DeMoss Learning Center. The School of Engineering was part of a $7 million renovation of the third floor of DeMoss Hall in 2008. Rene Fonseca and Deborah DeMoss Fonseca, son-in-law and daughter of the late Arthur S. DeMoss (for whom DeMoss Hall is named) and Nancy Leigh DeMoss were also present for the ceremony. The opportunities and potential of LU’s new School of Engineering are one more reason that we believe Liberty University is the most exciting university in the world. No viable alternative to nuclear power has emerged and the need to reduce U.S. dependence on unfriendly oil-producing nations has never been greater. New nuclear power plants will soon be constructed all over the country and the Lynchburg-based industries that will build many of them are hopeful that the badly-needed army of new engineers will soon emerge from schools like Liberty University. We believe Liberty University is well positioned to not only survive the current international economic turmoil but to emerge in the end as a much stronger university. The university’s assets were moved into safe government-backed investments in summer 2008, and the university is operating well within its tuition revenues with a healthy surplus. That surplus is being invested primarily in academic enhancement and dorm renovations. The academic enhancements included new funding for programs and more than $10 million in capital improvements in 2008. Funding was also provided for faculty and staff compensation increases. Liberty is also a very affordable alternative for families in financial distress, and its online programs offer opportunities for those who are being forced to find a new career. Of course, Liberty’s greatest strength has always been its uniqueness as a distinctively Christian institution offering academic excellence and a well-rounded experience for students to grow in body, mind and spirit. Knowing Christ and making Him known remains Liberty’s ultimate objective. As the culture continues to move in a secular direction, the demand for Christian education will continue to increase. Our prayer for you and your family is for a happy and healthy 2009. Please join us in praying for the many families who have been negatively impacted by the national economy and who are struggling financially.
Sincerely,
Jerry Falwell, Jr.
2
www. l i b e r t y. e d u
P u b li s h e r Jerry Falwell, Jr. E X EC UTIVE E d ito r Ron Brown M anag i n g E d ito r Tara Maxwell C ON T RIBUTING E d ito r Becki Falwell ART DIRECTOR Krista Freeman M ANAGING DESIGNER Laura Sipple D es i g n ER s Brittany La Barre Caleb Atkins Wr ite r s Mitzi Bible Eric Brown Paul Carmany Teresa Dunham Jerry Falwell, Jr. Carmen Fleischauer Sarah Funderburke Tara Maxwell Dominique McKay Paul McLinden Johnnie Moore P h oto g r a p h e r s Jerome Sturm Jordan Crossingham Les Schofer C i r c u lati o n Sharon Gainer B us i n e s s & ADVER TISING MANAGER Steve Peterson April/May Advertising Deadline JAN. 30, 2009 (434) 582-2731 If you would like to subscribe to the Liberty Journal for one year, please send a donation of any amount to Liberty Journal, Subscription Department, 1971 University Blvd., Lynchburg, VA 24502, call (434) 592-3100 or e-mail lj@liberty.edu. Copyright 2007 by Liberty University. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from Liberty University. All pictorial material reproduced in this book, whether in a produced ad or by itself, has been accepted on the condition that it is with the knowledge and prior consent of the photographer or the artist concerned. As such, Liberty University is not responsible for any infringement of copyright or otherwise arising out of publication thereof. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, Liberty University makes no warrant to the accuracy or reliability of this information. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ownership or management.
Special thanks to Virginia Commonwealth University crew team’s help with the portrayal of future LU crew.
CONTENT S F E B R UA RY / M A R C H 2 0 0 9
F EATU R ES G E N E R O U S G I FT
4
Donors sign over lake, land to Liberty F I N D I N G LOVE AT LI B E RTY
6
Couples come together through shared experiences of LU ALL I N TH E FAM I LY O F G O D
10
Liberty students change destiny of three Ethiopian teens D O U B LE TH E F U N
14
Alumni brothers celebrate 25 years of youth ministry 4
S ECTI O N S G E N E RAL N EWS
17
Liberty professor, wife team up to help Special Olympics athletes — 17 STU D E NT LI F E
24
Students Behind Our Soldiers lends a helping hand — 24 6
S P I R ITUAL LI F E
30
Students reach out to local community members — 30 ACAD E M I C LI F E
34
School of Religion remains ‘rudder’ of university — 35 10
G IVI N G BAC K
42
Professor couple establishes trust, memorial scholarship — 42 ALU M N I
46
Alumni Relations expanding alumni chapters across country — 47 S P O RTS 14
52
Former soccer coach finds purpose in prison ministry — 52
Check out the Liberty Journal’s new website with a fresh reader-friendly look and compelling Web Exclusives at www.liberty.edu/libertyjournal.
LI B E RTY J O U R NAL
3
Generous gift Donors sign over 112-acre lake, land to Liberty by Te r esa D u n ha m
Liberty University once hoped to build a 100 to 125 acre lake on Liberty Mountain for student recreation, but the dream seemed impossible when LU officials learned that Virginia would require them to spend millions in wetland credits to offset the environmental impact. Now three generous donors are giving Liberty a lake for free. Ivy Lake, located about 15 minutes from LU in Forest, Va., is a beautiful man-made lake with a mountain vista reflected in its waters — and it’s 112 acres with a dam. “That’s what’s so providential about this,” said Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. The donation, including a small park-like area with a concrete boat ramp, gazebo, large dock and plenty of green space for student recreation, is a focal point in several recent land and monetary gifts to LU totaling more than $5 million. The lake gift comes from Lynchburg-area residents Tom DeWitt, Terry Dobyns and Richard Chaffin. DeWitt, the only Liberty alumnus among the group, transferred to LU
4
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
in 1977 and earned a degree in Christian Ministries in 1979 before deciding to enter the real estate and development world. “[I] love Liberty and everything they’re doing. We just want to be a part of what they’re doing,” said DeWitt, who fondly recalls his time spent on the LU baseball team. “Liberty’s influence has been tremendous on me, and I think tremendous on the community as well.” DeWitt first contacted LU to ask if the school could use a lake. He figured it would be a winwin because LU could maintain the donated lake, allowing the surrounding homeowners to continue enjoying it. When LU responded positively, he made plans to sign the lake over by the end of 2008. The lake is valued at around $2.5 million. “I think it’s a very healthy sign that alumni like Tom DeWitt … are starting to give to Liberty,” said Falwell. “Liberty doesn’t have that many alumni who have lived long enough to accumulate significant assets, but the few who have are giving in a big way, and I think that’s very encouraging. That’s where our future endowments will originate.” DeWitt said LU’s early alumni are finally
getting to a position in life which enables them to give back. “We’ve been in our business long enough. We’ve got our kids out of the house and those kinds of things,” he said. Now that the lake is more than a dream for LU, officials are brainstorming all the possible ways students could use it. Rowing, sailing, kayaking, scuba diving training, canoeing and fishing are just a few of the suggestions. Liberty University student Kevin Gahagan from Orange County, Calif., said there is interest among students to form a club crew team, and the university recently acquired an eight-man skiff, oars and trailer. Officials also envision recreational use of the shoreline and possibly a clubhouse for university use. “We think this lake will be a real asset in recruiting students. It’ll be a real benefit to our existing students, and it will enhance student life and activities,” Falwell said.
les schofe r
t For mor e vi ews of Ivy Lake, visit www. li b e rty .e du / ivylake .
Richard Chaffin, Terry Dobyns and Tom DeWitt recently donated Ivy Lake, a 112-acre lake in Forest, Va., to Liberty University. The donation also includes land with space for university activities.
A d d i t i o n a l d o n at i o n s Ivy Lake is only one highlight in Liberty University’s recent wave of land and monetary donations totaling more than $5 million. Bob Hughes, the original developer of Candlers Station shopping center across from the LU campus, gave the university a commercial lot adjacent to Applebee’s. Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. conservatively estimates that this land donation is worth $750,000. “It’s a wonderful contribution, and it is very
generous of Mr. Hughes. We deeply appreciate the gift,” said Falwell, who will consider whether to sell it to build the school’s endowment or use it for other practical purposes, such as a bus parking lot. In addition, Glen Thomas recently donated nearly 6 ½ acres on Mayflower Drive in Lynchburg. Falwell estimates the land is worth more than $700,000. “It may be a good spot for us to locate our central receiving functions,” Falwell said. Thomas, who briefly attended LU, also donated $700,000 for the university’s new indoor soccer field, which
is now under construction near the LaHaye Student Union at Campus North. In addition, Thomas and Iris Tilley recently fulfilled their pledge to donate $250,000 for the construction of the Tilley Student Center. The student center, which opened in September of 2008, is a popular coffeehouse-style lounge where Liberty students can relax between classes, surf the Web and play a friendly game of pool. The Tilleys live in Durham, North Carolina and have supported Liberty University since the early 1970s. They are the parents of Becki Falwell, the chancellor’s wife. li b e rty j o u r nal
5
6
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
finding
at liberty
BY t e r esa d u n ha m
Most students earn a B.A. at Liberty University, but a few end up pursuing their “Mr.” or “Mrs.” as well. This issue of “Liberty Journal” features Christian couples brought together on Liberty Mountain. At the helm of the university is alumni couple Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. (’84) and his wife, Becki, who attended LU the year after Jerry Jr. graduated. They met when Becki was only 13 and officially started dating the summer before she came to LU. Some alumni recall a speech class in which Becki revealed her life’s goal. “We were supposed to do a speech on our career, and so I came in and I took my shoes off, and I had a pillow under my shirt,” Becki said. She wanted to be a wife and mother. Meanwhile, couple Rebekah and Scott Ray didn’t come to LU with the intention of meeting a spouse. Scott wasn’t an alumnus, but he started working in the LU campus pastor’s office in 2004, and Rebekah (’05) was a student worker in the same office. “I met him walking through the office one day. My supervisor was introducing me to all the staff members, and we just met in passing,” said Rebekah, 27, who studied psychology. They ended up socializing in groups a lot,
and Scott liked what he heard. “I knew she was a person I was really interested in. I liked her personality and how she interacted with people,” said Scott, 42. The couple married in 2006 and now have an infant son named Graham. “Liberty brought us together, and Liberty is still such a major part in our life,” said Rebekah, whose role as an administrative assistant for the LU men’s basketball team keeps her close to Scott, who directs university convocations. Some people try too hard to meet someone at LU, Rebekah said, while others seem to settle into relationships naturally. Occasionally God uses a matchmaker — and in the case of Lynn and Vernon Brady, the matchmaker was Liberty University co-founder Dr. Elmer Towns. The Class of 1987 couple worked closely with Towns while they attended LU, with Lynn serving as a student worker and Vernon collaborating with him as the former vice president of the Church Growth Institute in Lynchburg. Lynn was dating someone when she first met Vernon, but Towns pounced the moment that her relationship ended. “When they broke up, Dr. Towns called me on the phone and said, ‘I want you to go out with Lynn,’” Vernon recalled. Their first date was at a
café after church one Sunday. The couple shared strong Christian values and a getthings-done attitude, and their relationship naturally grew into a strong marriage blessed with two children. Lynn started working as LU’s director of recruitment in September, and Vernon is cooperating with Towns to share outreach strategies for churches. “Vernon is the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” said Lynn. “We’re very proud alumni.”
Rebekah and Scott Ray, who met through Liberty’s campus pastor’s office in 2004, were married in 2006. li b e rty j o u r nal
7
Outreach and frozen treats bring couples together
– clinton
was out the door, and she didn’t
have much time to talk.”
our lives.”
–
valerie
and relatives
– it was behind the counter
who else was it that was working
valerie. so i saw her, and the line
and lynchburg to visit friends
friends at different times in
we had a lot of the same
“i went into a coffee shop, and 2004
clinton stopped by roanoke
aug. updates [from south asia].
would send me his email
that i met knew clint. they
was meeting new people,
and it seemed like everybody
“i
so it was interesting that
city ministry
philadelphia to do inner
returned from his volun-
teer work and moved to
– anything of it.”
that you, valerie?’ and we
talked for a little bit. i didn’t think
‘hey, is volunteer trip
clinton
volunteer trip for a year had some questions. i remember saying,
for about a year and a half. she
1½ -year senior after her
2003
went on a south asia
summer
getting ready to go to south asia
remember i was in the office one
“i
day and valerie came in, and she was
2003
dr. don fanning.
assistant for lu missions director
clinton became a graduate
2001 dec. didn’t know each other very well.
school girls at the same time, but they
years. valerie worked with the middle
school boys ministry at trbc for three
clinton interned with the middle
finished his b.a. in religion
study religion study cross-cultural
ministries
transferred to lu to transferred to lu to
returned to lu as a
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
va l e r i e
2000
1999 2000
clinton
finally clicked. valerie calls
their shared background a
but they crossed paths four
times before their relationship
university brought clinton, 29, and valerie, 27, together —
bond was directed by god
in his perfect time. liberty
example of a couple whose
the baumans are the ultimate
o n e c o u p l e ’s journey
Born in a small coal-mining town in Virginia, Dustin Rife left home for the first time at age 15 to attend Eagle Eyrie church camp in Lynchburg eight years ago. The number of campers rivaled the total residents of his
great blessing.
BY te r esa d u n ha m
8
cancelled the night after that,” he said. As he walked back to his cabin, Dustin passed other cabins where he could still hear people laughing at him for not knowing that ice cream is in the middle of an Eskimo Pie. One girl didn’t laugh though. She said: “I’m not going to make fun of you. I just wanted to tell you how good you did on the other questions, and I’m going to be praying for you this week. My name is Kristen.” Dustin clung to Kristen’s encouragement for the rest of that week. When it was time to leave, he thanked her again for her kindness and asked her to pray for him. “She wrote me a letter, which I still have in my wallet to this day,” he said. Dustin wrote her some letters, too — and they kept writing until they saw each other at camp again the next year. “I remember jokingly telling her the last
hometown — and his country accent made him the target of jokes — so he compensated by putting gel in his hair to impress the girls. One night, hundreds of campers gathered for a high-stakes game of “Who Wants to Be a Missionary?” The grand prize: a missions trip. Lucking into a question about cars, Dustin led his group to a crucial round of competition that required him to stand in front of everyone — and he started to panic under the bright stage lights. That’s when the game host posed his question to Dustin: “What’s in the middle of an Eskimo Pie?” “I had never even heard of an Eskimo Pie,” he said recently. Dustin sweated profusely as he answered, “Eskimo.” Astounded, the host asked Dustin if he was sure about his answer. “Next thing I know, the whole place is in pandemonium. People are going crazy, hollering ‘hillbilly, redneck.’ They pretty much
summer
What’s in the middle of an Eskimo Pie? This question eventually led to marriage for LU alumni couple Dustin and Kristen Rife. LU played an important role in their love story.
li b e rty j o u r nal
9
serve god abroad.
the couple is now preparing to
annaka bauman.
29, 2008 june dr. fanning presiding valerie
– ministry and in life.”
we were thinking about in
with lu professors
dr. don fowler and completely lined up with what
with him. i realized we were
4, 2006 march
married in kansas, him, the more i fell in love
more i heard clint’s heart
and the more i got to know
“the
riverside park in lynchburg
blissful dating and a proposal at
blessed with a beautiful baby girl,
clinton
Liberty University alumni Kristen and Dustin Rife met as teenagers at Eagle Eyrie church camp in Lynchburg, Va., and were married in 2006.
– that she was the one.”
“our
things and talking with people.
their passion for the outdoors,
culture, exploring, learning new
if she’d like to meet. looking roanoke. both shared
2004
he emailed valerie asking
a visit to the large star over-
she accepted his invitation .
their first date was dinner and
2004
something.’”
–
clinton
back to america. i remember
thinking, ‘valerie is really
finally started to hit me…
right before i was flying assignment when valerie showed
to contact clint. clinton only
up with the lu student group.
everything that i was seeing, student aid trips and told her
and i was so busy. i think it
was a relationship because of asked valerie to organize three
last thing on my mind
“the provide water relief. dr. fanning
asia. clinton immediately went to
a tsunami devastated parts of
dec.
2004
started working for dr.
nov.
fanning [just like clinton!]
2004
have much time to talk.”
had a few weeks left on his
– clinton
was out the door, and she didn’t
valerie. so i saw her, and the line
first date was when i knew
Kristen said, who believes the Lord was using that time to make Dustin focus on Christ first. One September night in 2005, Dustin called Kristen and said they needed to talk. They met on the lawn in front of her dorm, and he started pulling out every letter she’d written him as ammunition. Kristen ran to her dorm and brought back all the letters he’d ever written her. One of the letters said he wished they could live on the same sidewalk — and now their dorms really were on the same sidewalk. They immediately started dating and promised to remain pure until their wedding day on June 10, 2006. Now Dustin (’06) is a Resident Director for LU, and Kristen (’05) is an office administrator for the women’s basketball team. “It’s neat to see how God has written our love story for us,” Kristen said.
day of camp, ‘Who knows, maybe we’ll end up married one day,’” he said. Instead, they went their separate ways for two years. Dustin started attending a community college and dating another girl back home — but the Lord was calling him into the ministry. The day he finally surrendered to God’s calling, he phoned Kristen to ask her about Liberty University. He knew she’d been studying psychology there for two years, and he thought it might be the right place for him, too. She told him to come to LU’s College For A Weekend, and he was hooked. He applied to LU, excited that he was pursuing a Christian woman, and started working on his degree in religion. “When he got to Liberty, we saw each other for a few minutes and conversation was very short. It was hard to pick up from where we were at four years ago at camp,”
By J o h n n i e M o o r e
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA — One year ago Aschalew, Genet and Yesalemush Kinfe were three of the Developing World’s 143 million orphaned and abandoned children. These Ethiopian siblings had been housed for seven years in two separate orphanages after the tragic death of their father, and the ensuing reality that their poor, blind mother was incapable of caring for them. Aschalew, the 17-year-old brother of Genet, 15, and Yesalemush, 14, was settling into a harsh reality. He and his sisters would soon be past adoption age, and they would be forced to fend for themselves in the crowded alleyways of Addis Ababa, the fourth-largest city in Africa. After many years of praying for a family, it was time for “plan B.” Aschalew, trying his hardest as the big brother to help his sisters see hope in the future, was studying hard for the Ethiopian national exams. Unfortunately, he rarely saw his sisters, who were housed in another orphanage. Often Aschalew would try to allay his worry for Genet and Yesalemush through his evening prayers. While the pages of Ethiopian history are filled with stories of old world glory from ancient cities like Gondar and Aksum, the nation — said to be birthed from progeny of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba — is much different now. Around 40 percent of the population of Ethiopia lives in abject poverty, largely the result of almost 20 years of a brutal socialist regime. Nearly every street in Ethiopia is sandwiched in by roadside shanties with people begging and pleading for enough money to feed their children for one more day. This is the fate of many of Ethiopia’s orphans and was the worst fear of the Kinfe siblings.
10
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
h, Kristin, ew, Yesalemus al ch As y, th Ka Brad, in November. ily, (from left) The Wolfe fam e new members re th ed om lc d Randy we Genet, Bonny an
ENTER LIBERTY UNIVERSITY Half the world away, God was still working on “Kinfe plan A.” Liberty University was in the middle of Spiritual Emphasis Week, led by evangelist David Nasser. Thousands of students were piled into the Vines Center with open hearts, praying for the Lord to do something miraculous during this beginning-ofthe-year revival. Nasser was challenging the student body to match their actions with their confessions through a special offering that would be taken on the following evening, with all the money going toward changing the destiny of people for Christ around the globe. Nasser showed a picture of three Ethiopian teenagers he had learned about through Scott Brown, the Executive
Vice President of the Gladney Center for Adoption, and said that the money collected could be used to make a difference in these three orphans’ lives. It could be used to move this sibling group from “unlikely to be adopted” to “likely to be adopted.” All that would be left was to find a family. The next night just over 4,000 Liberty students donated a staggering $80,000. Kristin Wolfe, an LU senior, was in the crowd during Nasser’s presentation. “When they showed the picture of the three kids, I said to myself, ‘I have to call my family.’” Before the final “amen” Kristin had sent a text message to her mother in Michigan. Kristin’s parents, Randy and Kathy, had just visited an adoption agency two days
earlier as the next step in a journey that had begun with a Thanksgiving conversation between Randy, Kathy, Kristin, Brad and Bonny about the prospect of the Wolfes adopting. In a fantastic act of sovereignty, involving a family of five Michiganders, thousands of students in Virginia, and three unaware kids in Ethiopia, God was conspiring a miracle of reconciliation. It was Psalm 27:10 in action: “When your mother and father leave you, the Lord will take you up.” Ten months later I travelled to Ethiopia with the Wolfes to retrieve their three newly adopted children, an adoption fully funded by the student body of Liberty University, and I watched the miracle. pag e 12 li b e rty j o u r nal
11
STUDENTS BENT UPON CHANGING THE WORLD In only one year after their initial Thanksgiving adoption conversation the Wolfes had to buy a larger dining table for Thanksgiving 2008. The five-member “Wolfepack,” as they call themselves, had become “eight” thanks to the generosity of Liberty’s students. “It’s interesting how many times we’ve been asked, ‘Is it overwhelming that you’re
adopting three kids? Is it overwhelming that they’re from Ethiopia, they’re learning English, they’re teenagers, you already have these three kids, they’re all gonna be in college?’” said Randy. “And really, none of that is terribly overwhelming for us. What has overwhelmed us is that these [Liberty] kids did what they did.”
12
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
LIBERTY HELPS SECURE THEIR FUTURE So that the “university might match the generosity of its students,” Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. has offered fulltuition scholarships to each of the Kinfe siblings should they choose to attend Liberty University. Aschalew, a studious devourer of books, received high scores on the Ethiopian national exams, which makes it no surprise that he read for nearly the entire 16-hour flight to the United States. “After he read each of the magazines on the airplane, he started reading the air sickness bag, then the safety instructions, so we finally let him borrow a book,” recalls his brother, Brad. When Randy told Aschalew of his scholarship to Liberty University, his face was painted with a cheekto-cheek smile as he said, “Does that mean I get to read books?” Randy Wolfe placed his hand on the shoulder of his African son and said, “Liberty University is the college where Kristin and Brad go to school. Chancellor Falwell has granted you, Genet, and Yesalemush the ability to come to school to learn as much as you want. You’ll have books and whole libraries. You’ll have teachers and professors. Whenever you’re ready, it’s available to you, as much learning and as much study as you want.” Aschalew cried.
IT’S JUST THE BEGINNING Later on, I was sitting with the three kids in the living room of the Ethiopian Guest Home, and I asked each of them about what they were feeling and thinking about their new family. Genet fought through her broken English to say, “We love them, and we’re happy that we’re going to be their family.” Aschalew said in better English, “I love them. They are a wonderful family, and words cannot express what they have done for us. ” Yesalemush said something I’ll never forget: “I’m so happy … I am praying that my friends in the orphanage to also have a family.” Genet chimed right in, “Can we find family for our other friends?” Through the beginning of tears I replied, “We will try.” One week later I read an Associated Press article citing the State Department’s latest adoption statistics: “The number of foreign children being adopted fell 12 percent in the past year, reaching the lowest level since 1999.” I thought, while we can’t solve all the world’s problems and save all the world’s children, we must do something. This time, we changed the lives of three. Hopefully, this is just the beginning. to vi ew a photo galle ry an d a short docu m e ntary of th e adoption story, Visit www. liberty.edu/
libertyjournal produce d by J usti n Ki ntz e l. For mor e i n for mation on th e G ladn ey Ce nte r for Adoption, visit www. adoptionsbygladney .com.
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
s u b m i tt e d p h oto
14
“First we thought he was joking,” Mick said. The two went for what they thought was a school assembly, but it ended up being a music class with about 20 students. Their first act went over well and they stayed to perform for more classes and assembly programs that whole week. At the end, they held an outreach after school hours and 800 kids showed up. “I believe the Lord was really gracious because we had 200 decisions that night,” Mick said. “Once that happened, we were hooked.” ON THE ROAD
Though this statement on Rick and Mick Vigneulle’s website sounds serious, it’s the reason why the twins have been doing sidesplitting comedy for 25 years. The brothers attended Liberty (then Lynchburg Baptist College) in its formative years and studied youth ministry. They credit Liberty with giving them everything they needed to lead a ministry that has seen more than 92,000 youth and adults accept Jesus Christ. “There’s no doubt we would never have done this had we not learned what we did in Lynchburg,” said Rick. “The training that we got gave us the platform to do youth work on our own.” Mick said they often talk about Liberty at their shows: “Liberty gave us everything as far as our livelihood — our wives, our families and my best lifelong friends. We would have never been in the area of ministry we’re in right now had we not gone to Liberty.” IN THE BEGINNING Originally from Alabama, the twins ventured to Liberty in the mid1970s. Both musically talented, they played guitars and sang for college events and Bible studies at least four hours a week. “They allowed that to be our Christian service because we were able to stay busy at it,” Mick said. They also participated in the Youth Aflame singers, a traveling group that presented its “PEOPLE” program in public junior and senior high schools up and down the East Coast. “We saw a lot of kids come to faith in Christ at those assemblies, and that’s where we said, ‘Hey, I’d like to do this for the rest of my life,’ — never dreaming that we ever would,” Mick said. After graduation, they worked at the college and at TRBC. They helped direct the Liberty Baptist College singers, a full-time road chorale, and worked closely with the late Dr. Jerry Falwell at his “I Love America” rallies across the U.S. After leaving TRBC and doing comedy, music and speaking at camps and conferences for a few years, a youth pastor in Colorado told them he had opportunities for them in a public high school there.
On Sept. 1, 2007, the now internationally known Christian comedy and contemporary music artists celebrated 25 years in the ministry. In an anniversary DVD, Jonathan Falwell (senior pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church), along with other notable Christian leaders, thanked Rick and Mick. “You guys were so special to my dad and are still special to my mom and the rest of my family,” Falwell said in the video. “… Only Heaven will know how many people have come to know Christ because of your commitment to serving Him.” That commitment has led them to middle schools and high schools — public and private — in all 50 states and in 14 countries. In public schools, their “Attitude Check” assemblies start off with high-energy comedy. When the brothers are introduced, they often run on stage armed with mega squirt guns. “We hit the Beach Boys’ ‘Surfing USA’ and spray everybody down,” Mick said. “Our approach to doing assembly programs is to keep them off guard; because if we can keep them laughing the first 20-30 minutes … then we can turn the corner and get serious. Our philosophy is if we can get a young person to laugh, we can get them to listen.” When the brothers do settle down, they talk to teens about building self-image and dealing with substance abuse, suicide, academic and peer pressure, depression, loneliness and anger. Students have also heard from Lee and JJ Jorgensen, grandparents of Cassie Bernall, who was shot and killed at Columbine High School. Though recently retired, the couple traveled with Rick and Mick for eight years, telling Cassie’s story. Students are then invited to a follow-up “pizza blast” party at a neutral location, where they get a free dinner and see more “idiot comedy” (such as the Grecian Urn Skit, where Rick and Mick are dressed in togas and act like human fountains) before hearing the talk behind their walk — the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The idea is to reach the unchurched: “Many are very nice people, but they don’t know about Christ. They’ll come to a meeting like ours, but wouldn’t darken the doors of the church,” Rick said. He said once, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, they saw 1,334 people make decisions in four days of outreach. pag e 16
Besides public schools, they have also performed at Christian schools, churches, men’s rehabilitation homes, ice hockey rinks, ski resorts and even a rodeo Bible camp in the Dakotas. They’ve been everywhere from the small villages outside Nome, Alaska, to the Orient, Honduras and Great Britain. The brothers have been invited to sing at a restaurant on the Sea of Galilee, with the possibility of performing to Israeli troops. The pair has also performed at the White House and for professional sports teams, and has been featured on TV’s “60 Minutes” and “America’s Funniest People.” They’ve shared the platform with such notables as Adrian Rogers, Zig Ziglar, Drs. Tim and Beverly LaHaye and Josh McDowell. UP TO THE CHALLENGE “A lot of people ask us, ‘When do you want to quit doing high school assemblies?’ Well, when we start being ineffective,” Rick said. Judging from the success of their recent events and their busy schedule for the upcoming year, that won’t be anytime soon. The brothers have found a way to continue to reach youth, even when challenges arose. “When we first got started there was a respect for God, country, that sort of thing — we could actually talk about the Lord when we first started out in these assemblies,” Rick said. Mick added: “We just couldn’t give a public invitation; if kids wanted to come up to you afterward and wanted to talk to you, no problem. You could lead them to Christ right there in the schools and it was no big deal.” A few years later they were being told: “You can mention God, just don’t mention Jesus; make it generic, that way you’re not offending anybody.” Then, a few years after that, “They said you can’t mention God anymore, you can do that at your own meetings, after school hours.” They experienced political correctness to the point that public schools in New York handed them a list of 35 words they couldn’t use. Now, 25 years later? “It’s come so far that they accuse us of using the school assembly program as a platform to perform our ministry,” Mick said. But, “We don’t deny it,” Rick added. “Our whole approach is educational, and the educators love what we’re doing, yet at the same time it’s a platform to be able to use this in a ministry setting … it’s a totally 100 percent secular program, inviting them out to a neutral program for one single cause, to see people come to Christ.” That mission will remain clear wherever their ministry takes them. “We feel like the hope of the country is of course Christ,” Rick said. “If we lose that opportunity to win the kids to Christ, we’re going to lose our country, because 100 percent of our nation’s youth is 100 percent of our nation’s future.”
16
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
Mick Vigneulle (right) and twin brother Rick perform with the I Love America Singers from Lynchburg Baptist College on the Capitol steps in Lansing, Mich., on April 21, 1980. The performance was part of a 50-state-capital tour for the late Dr. Jerry Falwell’s “I Love America” rallies.
RICK’S GANG: Wife Debbie, children: Tiffany (husband Steven), Brandon and Josh. MICK’S GANG: Wife Sue, children: Mandy (husband Joel), Ashley, Drew, Abby and Anna. HOME: Wilsonville, Ala. Both families live on the same farm. COMBINED HEIGHT: 10’ 8” (They’re both 5’ 4”) AGE: 54 BIRTH ORDER: “Rick was born first, four minutes ahead; he would claim I’m his afterbirth.” (Mick) HOW WE’RE DIFFERENT: “I tell people the only way you can tell us apart is that Rick has a mole on his bottom.” (Mick, “Not true, but good for shock value!”) HOW WE’RE ALIKE: “We’re both extroverts. We both love ministry; our heartbeat is evangelism. We both love people; God’s given us a love for people and it doesn’t matter the age bracket.” (Mick) For more information, go to www.rickandmick.com or www.attitudecheck.net. If you are interested in partnering with Rick & Mick or would like to schedule an outreach in your area, email Kevin@rickandmick.com.
g e n e r al n ews
Spirit of sportsmanship Liberty professor, wife team up to help Special Olympics athletes
j o r da n c r o ss i n g h a m
Jim and Heather Schoffstall’s passion for Special Olympics and people with special needs has been long-standing, but they took their commitment to a new level by becoming the official coordinators for Lynchburg’s Special Olympics. By T e r esa D u n ha m
Jim and Heather Schoffstall will never forget the Special Olympics track event they watched a few years ago. “They’re sprinting, and about halfway one of them falls. Well, they all stop. They all go back, help [the runner] up, and then they keep going,” Jim recalled, grinning. “You wouldn’t see that at the NCAA level. You don’t see that at the Olympics.” Jim, who teaches in the Health Sciences and Kinesiology Department at Liberty University, said the sportsmanship and spirit of Special Olympics is infectious — and Heather, director of LU’s Bruckner Learning Center for academic support, agreed. “They’re always cheering each other on,” she said. The couple’s passion for Special Olympics and people with special needs has been long-standing, but they took
their commitment to a new level recently by becoming the official coordinators for Lynchburg’s Special Olympics. “There’s a lot more things involved than we’d realized and a lot more time and effort than we’d anticipated, but it’s worth it for the athletes,” Heather said, detailing the hours of paperwork and fundraising to make sports such as volleyball, golf, bowling, gymnastics, basketball and track available to the local athletes. Lynchburg has nearly 25 Special Olympians ranging from their late teens to age 61 — but the Schoffstalls see that as only a starting point. “We really are planning on expanding the program,” Heather said. Se e i ng G od i n th e detai ls “You can sort of see how God led us to this point,” said Heather, 36. “It’s really neat to see how He works.”
Heather, who grew up with a special needs sister, recalls that many special education classes were segregated into portable classrooms outside her school when she was growing up. Her sister’s needs weren’t as severe as some of the other children’s, but Heather still thought someone could do a better job for those students. “I always had the heart for special needs,” she said. Jim, who lived next door to a special needs person as a child, had an interest in aiding people with disabilities even before he met Heather at a university in Norfolk, Va. Heather earned a special education degree while Jim completed course work to become a licensed special education teacher, and both started teaching in public schools. They also began caring for foster children before their 3-year-old son, Toby, was born. Many of their foster children had special needs — so Jim and Heather got them involved in Special Olympics. “We knew we wanted to get more involved even back then,” Heather said. The couple moved to Lynchburg in 1999 and worked for Lynchburg City Schools. Not long after that, they were hiking at the Peaks of Otter on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Heather was wearing a Special Olympics T-shirt she got from previously volunteering with the non-profit. As she and Jim hiked, the couple passed another woman on the trail who pointed to Heather’s T-shirt and said she had a special needs daughter. “[She] put us in touch with the local Lynchburg person, and we’ve been involved ever since,” Heather said. Jim started working with the golf team, and Heather took on gymnastics. “It’s a year-round training program. There are only a few weeks during the year that there’s not some training taking place,” said Jim, 39. pag e 18 li b e rty j o u r nal
17
g e n e r al n ews
THE
Liberty University C O L L E G I AT E B R ACEL E T ™
j o r dan c r o ss i n g h a m
This Unique Design is a Wearable Representation of Liberty University
111 N Bridge St. • Bedford, VA 24523
(540) 586-8034 115 Tradewynd Dr. • Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 237-3000 18
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
Th e LU con n ection Jim started teaching at LU eight years ago — and one of his classes deals with modifying physical education classes for students with specific physical or mental challenges. To give the future educators some hands-on experience, Jim requires them to do three hours of work with the Special Olympics or a similar organization. Describing how some LU students first react to the assignment, he said: “The biggest thing is fear of the unknown, especially the ones who have never worked with anyone with disabilities. They’re like, ‘I don’t know what these people are going to be like, what they’re going to do, what they’re going to say’ — and it’s really interesting to see how their attitudes change throughout the semester.” Close to 20 students and staff from LU volunteer with the local Special
Olympics, he said. Further nurturing the relationship between LU and the Special Olympics athletes, the Schoffstalls organize trips for the Olympians to watch sporting events on campus, and sometimes the LU athletes even arrange a friendly game against the Olympians. “Some of the [Olympians] are so talented. They’re better athletes than we are in some of the sports,” Heather said, explaining that Special Olympics attracts a broad range of talent. The Olympians are a constant blessing to Jim, and he believes LU students and staff could be equally blessed by volunteering their time. “Some of the skills are really new to some of the athletes, and it takes patience,” he said. “It is nice when you see them doing things in competition that they’ve been working on and they finally get it.”
You don’t n e e d to b e an expe rt to volu nte e r with Special Olym pics. For mor e i n for mation, e mai l hschoffstall @ li b e rty .e du.
News brief S University Happenings
Liberty University website, online magazine redesigned In the coming months, visitors to Liberty University’s homepage, www.liberty.edu, will see a new look. The website will be redesigned to allow easier access to information on all areas of the university and has been tailored to a broader, global audience. Current Liberty students, faculty and staff will have separate links to view news and announcements that apply to them. Alumni and parents will also find prominent links to information especially for them. A new addition to the website will be Liberty’s News and Events page, which will be updated daily with photographs and stories of happenings on the LU campus. The page will also include campus videos, such as “90 Seconds Around Liberty,” photo galleries and archives. A new online version of the Liberty Journal will also debut this year. In addition to stories and photographs from the print publication, the new site will include Web Exclusives, highlighting more special feature stories about the LU community.
Liberty’s Winterfest rings in the New Year
Winterfest 2008, the university’s annual New Year’s celebration. Artists on stage during the event included Jeremy Camp, Hawk Nelson, Skillet, Disciple, Grits, Stellar Kart, Article One, The Afters and DecembeRadio. Attendees also heard impactful messages from dynamic speakers such as Clayton King, David Nasser and the Rev. Eric Timm. Apart from Christian speakers and musicians, illusionist Brock Gill wowed the audience with his amazing tricks and escapes; acrobat Brent Longenecker displayed his incredible balancing and tumbling techniques, and ventriloquist Taylor Mason provided comic relief. Since 2002, Winterfest has entertained thousands of spectators with top Christian artists and speakers, sharing the message of Jesus Christ while ringing in the New Year.
Liberty’s accreditation status reaffirmed In early December, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges accepted the university’s monitoring report on accreditation that involved identifying college-level competencies and the extent to which LU graduates have attained them. LU’s accreditation is affirmed through 2016. SACS-COC is the accrediting agency for the 11-state southern region of the United States. “We are so proud of the faculty, staff and students who worked tirelessly over the last year to attain this result,” Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. said.
Students treated to kettle corn during finals week Students and church groups from across the country gathered in Liberty University’s Vines Center on Dec. 30 - Jan. 1 for
Students received a special gift during finals week of fall semester from Chancellor Jerry
Falwell, Jr. and his wife, Becki. Free bags of kettle corn were distributed outside the Arthur S. DeMoss Learning Center. The Falwells wanted to show their appreciation for Liberty’s students, who were taking exams and preparing to head home for the holidays. Last spring the Falwells treated LU students to free ice cream during finals week. Becki, who enjoys the taste of kettle corn herself, said students can likely look forward to more finals week freebies in semesters to come. “Now that we’ve done it twice, I think it will be expected,” she said. “I think it might become a tradition.”
Liberty announces new publishing company Liberty has announced the establishment of Liberty University Press, a full-service publishing company. The Lynchburg-based production team includes award-winning designers with more than 70 years of combined experience in the publishing field. Liberty University Press publications will be available through all of the major distribution channels, such as Ingram, Spring Arbor Distributors, Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble. pag e 20 com, to name a few. li b e rty j o u r nal
19
g e n e r al n ews
News brief S University Happenings
Liberty University Provost Dr. Boyd C. Rist stated, “Liberty University Press offers University faculty, as well as authors in the wider evangelical community, the opportunity to write on a wide array of subjects that expand the frontiers of knowledge for both scholarly and general audiences. This is a significant milestone in the development of Liberty University.”
Senior featured in Washington Post
Claire Ayendi, a senior and president of the College Republicans, was featured on the front page of the Oct. 31 “Washington Post” in an article “God, Country and McCain,” accompanied by a photo of her gathering McCain campaign materials. The subhead reads: “At Liberty University, Republican Students Campaign Hard, Fearing a New Era of Liberal Activism if Obama Prevails.” Ayendi said she was surprised to be contacted by the Post, which sent a reporter and photographer to follow her around campus for one whole day. “A lot of people who are campaigning are doing the exact same thing, so it was surprising [they chose me]. It was fun. It was a good opportunity,” she said. The article talks about her positions on the issues and energizing the youth vote
20
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
at a school that was able to register more than 80 percent of its students to vote and a record number to vote in Virginia.
Career Center offers D.C. internships Liberty University’s Washington Semester Internship Program is now under the management of Liberty’s Career Center, but the goal remains the same: to train and equip young leaders by providing students with practical training and educational opportunities in and around the nation’s capital. According to Director Carrie Barnhouse, participants will gain academic internship credit as well as valuable life skills. “Our goal is to see students learn and grow through experiential education opportunities provided in D.C.,” she said. “Our chancellor has often referred to these students as being on the front lines. They are fighting the cultural war by conquering the capital.” In the spring, Liberty students participated in internships at the White House, Concerned Women for America headquarters and the U.S. District Attorney’s Office. More than 100 students have participated in this program during the past three years and nearly half of them have been offered jobs.
Jenkins also spoke to the student body at the Friday morning convocation. The conference included workshops on techniques of writing, how to be published and how to encourage students to write. Jenkins also held a “Thick-skinned Manuscript Critique” session. Notable authors Carole Gift Page and Bill Myers also conducted sessions. Other speakers included Liberty’s own Jim Zabloski, Don Alban, Janice DeLong, Beth Ackerman and Jamaica Conner. The conference came to a close Saturday night with book signings by Jenkins, Myers and Page.
Jerry Falwell Museum adds new exhibit
Writers encouraged by notable authors Liberty University’s eighth biannual Writers Conference opened Oct. 31 with a reception in DeMoss Learning Center and a keynote address by Jerry Jenkins, co-author with Tim LaHaye of the “Left Behind” series. With the goal of encouraging students and the community to hone in on their writing talents, the conference attracted everyone from seasoned authors to young hopefuls, including Liberty students and professors.
A storage room at the Jerry Falwell Museum, located off the DeMoss Hall Grand Lobby, has been transformed into a timeline tribute to Falwell’s life. The project was completed in time for Alumni Weekend. On the wall, a large timeline mural
depicts the changes made to the campus over the years. Below the mural is a timeline of documents, newspaper articles and memos that tell the story of Falwell throughout the years. Four large conference tables with glass tops continue the theme of timelines as each table is categorized by decade with more memorabilia spread underneath the glass. A mural of Falwell praying over the mountain was also added to the room, along with a large world map. Color-coded pushpins are provided for alumni to place on the map to show where they are currently working and serving the Lord.
Liberty joins Cans Across America
The First Annual Seminary-Law School Turkey Bowl charity flag football game was held at Williams Stadium on Nov. 1. School of Law Dean Mat Staver was 1 for 2 on field goal attempts. Dr. Ergun Caner, Seminary dean, played a wide variety of positions: quarterback, lineman, and even field goal kicker (0-1). The final score was Seminary 32, Law School 19. The real winners this day were the clients of the Liberty Godparent Home. Spectators and players donated more than $700 to the Godparent Home.
Financial Aid reaches out with new video and Spanish site Spanish speaking students and their parents can now tune in to Financial Aid TV
to find out answers to financial aid questions in Spanish. Liberty recently began partnering with FATV to provide online video counseling in a YouTube format. (Go to http://liberty.financialaidtv.com.) Spanish resources are also available on Liberty’s new Financial Aid web page in Spanish (go to www.liberty.edu/financialaid). The site helps Spanish-speaking parents of dependent students navigate the Financial Aid landscape, offering insight on loan details, federal guidelines and completing FAFSA paperwork. Liberty’s Spanish speaking population, which includes more than 300 students on campus and 836 online, hails from the United States and Puerto Rico and at least 12 other countries, including Mexico, Argentina and Spain. pag e 22
The Liberty University community participated in the nationwide Cans Across America campaign on Nov. 12, collecting a total of 6,207 pounds to be distributed to families in need. Liberty came in eighth in the nation for most cans collected in the campaign sponsored by Sodexo, which provides food services at more than 400 colleges and universities. Liberty’s collection was delivered to the Lynchburg Daily Bread, a non-profit organization that provides more than 400,000 meals a year to the needy in the Lynchburg community.
Talkin’ turkey: Seminary spars with law school
li b e rty j o u r nal
21
g e n e r al n ews
Chancellor Falwell awards scholarship to kindergartener
Most kindergarteners are not yet thinking about their college education, but Simon Nolen from Appomattox Primary School in Appomattox, Va., is way ahead of the game. During an American Red Cross
“Quarters That Care Campaign,” Simon’s name was drawn for the first place prize in a Red Cross student giveaway — a four year scholarship to Liberty University worth nearly $60,000. Liberty Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. and wife, Becki, presented the scholarship to Simon, his parents, Misty and Thomas Nolen, and extended family at a schoolwide assembly on December 17. During the assembly students sang Christmas carols and heard from American Red Cross representative Melissa Waugh. Five different Virginia school districts participated in the campaign — Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell and Lynchburg. “With all you students together we were able to raise over $16,000,” Waugh said. “I’m here to give you a big thank you.” Waugh also thanked Chancellor Falwell,
Becki and Liberty University for providing the first place prize. Falwell said an injury he suffered from two years ago, which resulted in a lot of blood loss, made him even more appreciative of the work that the Red Cross does in the community.
Scaremare still going strong after 35 years Scaremare has thrilled and chilled more than 300,000 visitors since its inception in 1972, with more than 23,500 taking the spooky tour over three weekends in October this year. Operating the “House of Death,” currently located on Carroll Avenue in Lynchburg, Va., takes thousands of volunteer hours and a cast of more than 200 Liberty University students.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST PRIORITY? Enroll Early for Fall 2009 — Space is Limited First Come, First Served Availability • Re-enrollment — Feb. 2-14 • New Enrollment — Begins Feb. 23
Call (434) 832-2000 for information! “LCA not only talks the talk but walks the walk with God being the foundation of every class, every sport and every event that my children attend. I know without a doubt that they are going to have the foundation and skills needed to face the world in the future.” - Parent of a 5th and 8th Grade Student at LCA
Liberty Christian Academy • 100 Mountain View Road • Lynchburg, VA 24502 • (434) 832-2000 (M-F 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) • admissions@lcabulldogs.com • www.LCAbulldogs.com
22
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
Who was here ... and what they had to say Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the student body gathers at convocation to hear well-known speakers from around the globe give their Christian perspectives on a range of topics and to testify about God’s work in their lives. N ove m b e r
Dr. John Trent, best-selling author and founder of Strongfamiles.com, spoke on 1 Corinthians 12:14-18 and our uniqueness in the body of Christ. He talked about four types of people, based on strengths: goaldriven, loyal, optimistic and detail-oriented.
Liberty alumnus Jamie George spoke about humility in answering God’s call to serve others. As a church planter and now lead pastor of The Journey Church in Nashville, Tenn., George said he learned how to stop trying to be “the star in this story” and to just be “the supporting cast member.” Vance Pitman, pastor of Hope Baptist Church in Las Vegas, Nev., called on students to help build the kingdom of God in America. He said 40 percent of unsaved individuals in America live in the western United States, and “America is now the fourth largest lost nation on the face of the earth.” He chal-
lenged students to seek God’s will through prayer and to be willing to physically aid in building the kingdom of God.
Sam Moore, former CEO and President of Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc., was a close friend of the late Dr. Jerry Falwell and has advised Liberty leaders on fundraising and marketing strategies. A Lebanese immigrant, Moore spoke about coming to America at age 19, barely able to speak English. He shared ways to be successful as a Christian in the business world. (Earlier this year, Liberty announced Moore’s vision to expand the School of Business, with a personal goal of donating a $5 million matching gift. To learn more about the matching gift campaign, call (866) 602-7983).
need for love in Christian lives. According to his research, there are seven components to being a loving individual: kindness, patience, forgiveness, courtesy, humility, generosity and honesty. Dr. Ronnie Floyd, an Arkansas pastor and Liberty Board of Trustees member, talked about a promising future — just as Isaiah brought hope to the nation of Israel. Floyd, a “biblical life coach” on his TV program “Winners,” encouraged students to stay focused on God’s plan for their lives and prepare for a much brighter future.
At the Nov. 10 convocation — the start of Liberty University’s annual Military Appreciation Week — students heard from Dr. Tim Lee, a member of Liberty’s Board of Directors. The Vietnam veteran, who lost both his legs while leading his men in a mine sweep in March 1971, spoke of his recent return to Saigon to preach at a Baptist church there. D ec e m b e r
Popular author and pastor Gary Chapman (best known for “The Five Love Languages”) spoke about his most recent book, “Love as a Way of Life.” He pointed to passages in the Bible that support the
Brett Fuller, senior pastor of Grace Covenant Church in Chantilly, Va., and former Washington Redskins co-chaplain, spoke about the importance of discipleship and going where God leads, even if it means encountering life’s toughest storms. Using biblical examples, he noted the importance of serving with one another regardless of race or ethnic background. Fuller serves as chaplain for the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and president for the Nations of Coaches Ministry. li b e rty j o u r nal
23
Stu d e nt Li f e
Show of support Students Behind Our Soldiers makes positive impact and other items for care packages shipped to soldiers whose names are submitted by students or community members. The group united the campus in early November with a high-profile Military Appreciation Week, delivering guest speakers, yellow ribbons, a night tribute service for fallen soldiers, a National Guard equipment display, discussion panels and other patriotic activities.
j e r o m e st u r m
Senior Amanda Forth established Students Behind Our Soldiers in fall 2007. Forth’s grandfather is retired from the U.S. Air Force; her father flew a Blackhawk helicopter in Somalia, and her brother joined the U.S. Army in 2001. BY te r esa d u n ha m
Liberty University senior Amanda Jo Forth comes from a long line of fierce patriots. “The military has always been such a big part of my life,” she said. “It was bred into me.” A self-described army brat, she lived in seven states and two foreign countries throughout her childhood. Her grandfather is retired from the U.S. Air Force; her father flew a Blackhawk helicopter in Somalia not long after the Blackhawk Down incident, and her only brother, Jared, joined the U.S. Army the day after Sept. 11, 2001. “I remember when my brother left [for
24
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
Iraq], having to hug him and not knowing if he was coming home. People don’t get that,” said Forth, who wore a pair of her brother’s dog tags and never took them off until he returned a year and a half later. For 23-year-old Forth, having a loved one away at war was a constant reality — and even after her brother came back, she remained committed to supporting the troops and championing them in personal ways at home. That’s why she founded Students Behind Our Soldiers at LU in fall 2007. The non-profit student organization with more than 40 members collects nonperishable food, videos, basic toiletries
Car i ng for th e Troops Twice a month, Students Behind Our Soldiers sets up a booth in the Arthur S. DeMoss Learning Center to collect donations — and so far they’ve gathered enough items to send more than 60 packages overseas to soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. “We send a lot of cookies, crackers, peanuts and jerky,” Forth said. “We send DVDs and books because a lot of them are bored when they’re not actively doing something. We try to send stuff that reminds them of home.” The packages also include pictures drawn by local elementary school children, handwritten letters from LU students, tracts sent in the name of former Liberty student and deceased veteran Jesse Strong, Bibles and other heartfelt reminders that people are praying. A Patr iotic Gath e r i ng At a Students Behind Our Soldiers meeting last semester, fittingly scheduled on the anniversary of Sept. 11, members gathered to watch a video about a man who survived the Pentagon attack and also to discuss their hopes for the organization’s future. “This is my way of giving back,” said Laura Blankenship, a member of the group’s leadership team. She’s not a military brat, but her father works with homeland security.
j o r da n c r o s s i n g h a m
Elaine Gordon, also a member of the group’s leadership team, doesn’t mind claiming the “military brat” title — and she doesn’t mind breaking a sweat for the cause either. “It can be a little stressful, especially when we have massive boxes — like 20 or more boxes — to send out, but it’s definitely worth it,” said Gordon. Several student veterans were also among members gathered that evening. One of them is 20-year-old Jeffrey Harrison, a sophomore studying strategic intelligence and international relations, who served in Iraq with the Army National Guard, performing combat logistics patrols, convoy security and supply escort. “I received a lot of care packages, and I received one from Students Behind Our Soldiers in April. That was
definitely good to see something from your own school,” he said. For him, the best part of a care package — besides the cards and letters — was the beef jerky and homemade cookies that stayed fresh even via mail. “I ate so much beef jerky over there,” he said, adding that platoons often got together and shared the packages so that every item went to good use. Harrison said he also appreciated the DVDs. “I think I watched more DVDs in that time period than I had in years prior. We’ll watch anything just because we’re desperate. I was watching chick flicks, just anything, to pass the time,” he said. Now that he’s back home, Students Behind Our Soldiers is Harrison’s connection with those who wear the uniform abroad.
“After going over, it’s kind of hard to forget the guys that you were serving over there with and the guys who will be serving there in the future. I just hope to contribute a lot with … getting packages over there,” he said. When Forth graduates, she would like to use her communications degree to start more non-profit Students Behind Our Soldiers chapters at universities nationwide. Email her at ajforth@liberty. edu for more information about joining or if you know a soldier who needs a care package. to fi n d out how LU’s stu de nt soldi e r s ar e deali ng with Post Trau matic Str ess Disor de r, Visit www.liberty.edu/libertyjournal
an d click We b Exclusives.
li b e rty j o u r nal
25
Stu d e nt Li f e
Lessons of love Liberty student tutors Godparent Home girls J e r o m e St u r m le s s c h o f e r j o r da n c r o ss i n g h a m
BY Ca r m e n F le i s c hau e r
26
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
His faithfulness. To other international students considering Liberty, she gives a charge of hope. “If we trust God, He will make a way for everything,” Kouaho said. “He’s with us wherever we go. God will provide. You’ve got to trust God every single day and He will go along the way with you.” After graduation, Kouaho plans to pursue a master’s degree and work with an organization in Washington, D.C., such as the World Bank, to gain experience in providing assistance to poverty-stricken countries. For i n for mation ab out Li b e rty G odpar e nt Hom e, visit www. g odpar e nt .org or call
(434) 845-3466.
Amherst County, Virginia
j o r dan c r o ss i n g ham
When Sandra Kouaho came to the United States in 2004, she could not have imagined the course her life would take. Originally from Abidjan, a town in Ivory Coast, West Africa, Kouaho moved to the United States in 2004 to attend Northern Virginia Community College. It was not until she was visiting family friends in Boston that she learned of Dr. Jerry Falwell and Liberty University. “I was so excited because I really liked what he [Dr. Falwell] preached about and I thought, ‘Oh, he has a school,’” Kouaho said. Now a senior business major at Liberty, Kouaho spends part of her time doing something she loves — tutoring at the Liberty Godparent Home, a residential maternity home for girls that offers an alternative to abortion. Her work there fulfills Liberty’s Christian Service requirement. From the very first time Kouaho tutored, she was able to engage one of the girls who has a tendency to be quite shy. By making homework fun with simple things
like a high five for correct answers, Kouaho made a lasting impression and built an important relationship. Now this particular girl will only let Kouaho be her tutor. Kouaho has also been impacted by her volunteer work and will take the lessons with her as she prepares for her life’s work. She hopes to one day go back to her country and work to reduce poverty and assist the developing country. Education will be a large part of that effort. “Education is a big thing. You can help out people and give them money. But if they don’t have an education to help themselves, you will always be giving and giving and they always get, and wait for you to give some more,” Kouaho said. Kouaho has trusted the Lord with her life and has seen and experienced
Less than 30 minutes from the LU Campus! The possibilities are endless for this 7500+ square foot, 13 bedroom lodge on the crest of a ridge overlooking a 50 mile view of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Amherst County. Hunting Lodge, Group home, bed and breakfast, assisted living home are just a few opportunities for this great home on 100 acres of pasture and woodland. Large fenced pasture for horses with a barn, commercial kitchen, 13 bedrooms and 13 baths all with the feel of a rustic lodge. Spacious paved parking area. $995,000 MLS#239173
Paul Kilgore
434.941.5922 jpaulkilgore@aol.com montaguemiller.com
Liberty University
More than Another Four Years of Education
Discover Your Network for Talk: 1-800-543-5317 • Connect: www.libertyu.com
Stu d e nt Li f e
Past meets present Victorian Society breathes new life into celebrated era
J e r o m e St u r m
Liberty University’s Victorian Society held a traditional tea at the historic Miller-Claytor House in Lynchburg, Va., in October. The event featured literature reading, music and an etiquette lesson. by te r esa d u n ha m
Liberty University’s Victorian Society proves you’re never too old to play dress up. Its formal tea parties are the ultimate gathering of lace, frills, gloves, hoop skirts, puff sleeves, bonnets and all things elegantly vintage and lady-like. “I like to get dressed up,” said sophomore history major Hannah Moses. “I love history, and I like to do hands-on stuff.” That’s why Moses came to the group’s first formal tea of the school year, held in autumn at Lynchburg’s historic MillerClaytor House, which dates back to 1791. Legend has it that Thomas Jefferson nearly gave the home’s former inhabitants a heart attack by eating a tomato from their garden to prove that tomatoes aren’t
28
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
poisonous — but that was just one small topic of conversation for the dozen Liberty University ladies and gentlemen gathered in the home’s small parlor. Sipping Earl Grey from dainty teacups, the ladies had polite discussions between piano and voice performances by fellow society members. “I don’t know that the tea we had was necessarily historically accurate, but it tasted really good,” joked Moses. Nonetheless, the society’s hospitality coordinator, Jo Lovett, made sure the young ladies were drinking their tea properly by giving them a lesson in tea etiquette. “You need to be very controlled and very elegant when you drink your tea. The way of stirring is actually folding the tea rather than stirring it, and you want to do it very
noiselessly, very gently, very lady-like and not even letting the spoon touch the rim at all. It’s these things that show that you’re refined,” she said. Lovett, a junior English as a Second Language major, called the society’s formal teas a calm, quiet break from her typically busy schedule. “I love doing living history things like going to a historical house and putting yourself back in that period and just experiencing a different time when things were more refined, a little more serious, but at the same time people really knew how to enjoy what they had,” she said. Though tea parties are a Victorian Society specialty, that’s just the beginning of the group’s activities. Up to 180 members, including students, staff, faculty and the
greater Lynchburg community, are on the society’s email list — and they have many society functions to choose from, such as Victorian book club meetings, sewing circles, film and theater gatherings, concerts, living history tours and historic architecture walks. Founder and LU professor Dr. Brenda Ayres, who teaches Victorian and 19th century literature, inquired about starting the group soon after she came to Liberty University in 2003. “For me personally, I just love Victorian literature, especially the Victorian novel. There’s not anything I’d rather do, other than being with the Lord and being in the Word, than to read a Victorian novel,” said Ayres, who has published more than 12 books of Victorian scholarship. “I think it’s the most beautiful literature ever written.” The Victorian era of the United Kingdom spanned the time of Queen Victoria’s rule from June 1837 to January 1901, though the society is a bit more eclectic than that, embracing Jane Austen (who arguably predated that period) and the
American Civil War period. “It was an age of great morality and chivalry. Ladies were treated in a very special way, and men had to hold up their end of the bargain. It was a more civil age. For us contemporaries, I think we’re rather nostalgic to go back to an age when there were absolutes. Things were black and white,” Ayres said. This year, she said, the Victorian Society is being invigorated with even more student involvement. “This is the first year that I am trying to empower the students to turn it into something more meaningful to them and that they’ll be more involved with,” said Ayres, who often loans students Victorian garments from her extensive collection. Vice president Anneke Darling, a junior government major, is especially excited about the active role students are taking this year. She named off numerous society activities — watching a film of Jane Austen’s “Persuasion,” decorating Dr. Ayres’
Victorian-themed Christmas tree, caroling in period dress and helping with the annual Civil War seminar hosted by LU — but her vision goes beyond all of that. “The direction I would like to see it go is more of community outreach,” she said. For her, the ultimate event would be a community children’s tea party with proceeds to benefit the Liberty Godparent Home. Society President Brandi Hatfield, a junior history major, also expressed longterm plans for the group. “My big passion with the society is to show people what they can do in the area, for us not to just be on the campus, but to be able to have a presence in the community in a positive way with different historic tours [and] even on campus when we do the Civil War seminars,” she said. “We would love to have people participating from the community.” For mor e i n for mation, e mai l B ran di Hatfi e ld at
b m hatfi e ld@li b e rty.e du.
J e r o m e St u r m
li b e rty j o u r nal
29
s p i r itual Li f e
Serving the community Student-led ministry reaches out with helping hands
s u b m i t t e d p h oto
by D o m i n i q u e McKay
Most full-time college students do not think waking up early to rake leaves or serve snacks to young children is an ideal way to spend a Saturday morning, but at Liberty University many students part with their warm beds to lend a helping hand in the community. With 200 to 300 participants a week, Campus SERVE is a student-led initiative on a mission to bring Christ into the lives of the local community through service. According to Liberty alumnus and Campus SERVE director Kevin Mahan, the mission is two-fold: to meet the spiritual needs of the community while teaching students to make service to others a top priority. Campus SERVE got its start seven years ago when Liberty alumnus Paul Atkinson had the idea to start a ministry that would emphasize more than just good works. Atkinson wanted to take the
30
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
Gospel to the community. “Campus SERVE never stops with just a service project,” Mahan said. “Campus SERVE has to go into a spiritual realm and say it’s not about us; it’s about this community having a right relationship with Jesus.” Mahan said he first became involved with Campus SERVE after volunteering one spring and soon became a leader at one of the service sites. “I just fell in love with the city [of Lynchburg],” Mahan said. “We are the largest evangelical university in the country, and we can have a great influence on our community.” Campus SERVE offers three different areas in which students can serve. The first and largest leg of the program has students going door-to-door in governmental housing projects. Students spend a few hours of playtime with the children there and then teach them Bible stories and serve snacks. Junior Candace Davey volunteers every
Saturday morning at the College Hill housing site. Majoring in Family and Consumer Sciences, Davey said she hopes what she does with Campus SERVE will prepare her for a future career in social work. “The look on [the children’s] faces when they see us walking towards their houses to pick them up is nothing short of priceless,” Davey said. “It’s the highlight of my week.” Campus SERVE also offers the second option of visiting nursing homes where students participate in art projects and sing old hymns with the residents. “Usually by the second week of going you make a friend in the nursing home and you go back to visit them every Saturday,” said senior Liz Mizer, who spent a year volunteering with Campus SERVE. “You just learn about their lives and a lot of times they end up encouraging you instead of vice versa.” The third and newest addition to the Campus SERVE agenda is known as the
“Campus SERVE has to go into a spiritual realm and say it’s not about us; it’s about this community having a right relationship with Jesus.” – K e v i n Mah an , Ca m p u s SE R VE d i r e cto r Helps service. Students go door-to-door asking if anyone needs help in house repairs, raking leaves, cleaning or any other daily chores. Mahan said students are often confronted with “no’s” when going door-to-door, but they take their service one step further by asking if there is anything they can pray for — and they usually get positive responses. “God is already working in these communities,” Mahan said. “We are not taking Him there; we are just responding to what He’s already doing.” Many of the students in Campus SERVE do not limit their participation to Saturday mornings. They work to build an even stronger sense of community by bringing children to eat lunch on campus and taking them to church services on Sunday morning, in hopes of meeting their spiritual and physical needs. Several Liberty groups work alongside Campus SERVE, such as Bridging the Gap (BTG), Liberty Flames Club and many of Liberty’s sports teams. This November, Liberty’s baseball team hosted a game for 53 of the children Campus SERVE works with every weekend. “My lasting memory from that day is looking out into the outfield and seeing a lot of the baseball guys interacting with the kids,” Mahan said. “It was a joy to see so many of these kids get another day of their lives to just be a kid.” Many people from the community also see the good works Campus SERVE is
accomplishing and openly give back to the organization. Mahan said Campus SERVE received almost $2,400 worth of materials from Food Lion. But he said what he loved most about this donation was that it was kick-started by a Liberty student, Tyler McClure, who participated with Campus SERVE in the past and felt the need to give back.
“Food Lion gave the materials to his church, and his mom, who works with the children’s ministry there, knew about us through Tyler and she gave us $2,400 worth of stuff she couldn’t use,” Mahan said. Whether it is giving families turkeys for Thanksgiving or praying for their needs, he hopes Liberty students like Davey will walk away from their Campus SERVE experience with a genuine concern for the families they’ve served. “These are not only children, but they are starving for Christ’s love and joy,” Davey said. “Knowing that I might be the only glimmer [of Christ] that their little eyes will ever see keeps me continually waking up at 9 a.m. on the only morning I have to sleep in.”
li b e rty j o u r nal
31
s p i r itual Li f e
C hancellor ’ s Don’t play dead
vie
W
“Critics need look only as far as Liberty University to see that throngs of young people still live by the ideals Christians have long held dear.”
By j e r ry fa lwe ll , j r .
The student body at Liberty University applauded after the presidential election last November when I admonished them to pray for Barack Obama. Even though the vast majority had supported John McCain, they understand that as Christians, we have a responsibility to pray for the president-elect and not only to support him when he makes good decisions but also to lawfully oppose him when he promotes anti-Christian policies. I am proud that the students embrace this concept. But other Christians seem to be waving a flag of surrender. One leading conservative columnist argued in an op-ed piece titled “Religious Right R.I.P.” that Christians should retreat to their churches and stay there because they will never obtain real political power, and lawmakers cannot legislate morality. The columnist was even so bold as to claim that when those on the left gain political power, they do not attempt to impose their values on us! I could not believe what I was reading. Since when has it been the goal of conservative Christians to obtain political power or legislate morality? Are we legislating morality when we, as citizens, fight for laws to protect marriage and life? I believe that
32
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
liberals in mainline denominations smile when they see conservative Christians falling for the lies that have been propagated about the religious right since it first emerged in 1979. When my father began organizing the religious right as a movement, leaders were reluctant to become involved in social reform. They were not seeking political power. They had spent their entire time in ministry avoiding politics, but when the culture became hostile to Christian values, they mobilized to keep the left from imposing its values on them and their children. This isn’t the first time conservative Christians have been dismissed as dearly departed. Yet we continue to resurface as a political force because God is still at work in the hearts of His people. Besides, I don’t believe it was conservative ideals that were defeated in November. I agree with Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), who noted in a column for the D.C. Examiner that “Americans haven’t changed, Republicans have.” DeMint added, “When Ronald Reagan ran unashamed on conservative principles in 1980 and Republicans in Congress embraced bold conservative reforms in 1994, America responded with overwhelming approval.” I believe the nation will do so again. Conservative people of faith who were at the fore of the elections in 1980, 1994 and even 2004 are still around, and they remain equipped for battle. But there have not been enough people on Capitol Hill for us to rally around in recent years. We are hungry for a Ronald Reagan to lead us. We need in the White House a protector of our historic religious freedoms, an
advocate for the unborn, a defender of the traditional American family and a guardian of constitutional principles of law. Some may say that these are old-fashioned ideals that no longer resonate with Americans, particularly young people. However, such critics need look only as far as Liberty University to see that throngs of young people still live by the ideals Christians have long held dear. Liberty is rebuilding the conservative movement by training these future conservative leaders. Reagan once stated: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” These words should incite Christians to action. I understand that we cannot achieve spiritual triumph through government and that we should not attempt to create a church culture on Capitol Hill. But we must ensure that our government does not make us unwelcome in our own country. Conservative Christians were largely responsible for Reagan’s winning the presidency and changing the course of our nation three decades ago. We must change the political climate again, no matter how many critics are ready to erect our tombstones. Reprinted with permission from Charisma & Christian Life, 2009. Copyright Strang Communications Co., USA. All rights reserved. www.charismamag.com
aca d e m i c Li f e
aculty focuS
Dr. Gary Habermas, Research Professor of Apologetics & Philosophy
p u b l i c at i o n s
j e r o m e st u r m
Dr. Gary Habermas has been teaching at Liberty since 1981 in both the School of Religion and at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a Distinguished Research Professor and Chair in the School of Religion’s Department of Philosophy and Theology and also teaches in the Ph.D. program at LBTS.
“The best-kept secret (about the School of Religion and the Seminary) is the faculty, because they’re not just good people and very well prepared, but they have multiple graduate degrees, and they are in it for the ministry … They love the students; and most of all, they love the Lord; they love the kingdom of God and the church, and they want to minister. They have that unique combination of head and heart.” 34
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
p ro f e s s o r s h i p s
Visiting or adjunct professor more than three dozen times at more than a dozen graduate schools and seminaries, including Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Tyndale Theology Seminary (Amsterdam), Biola University, Bethel Seminary and Reformed Seminary. personal
Dr. Habermas lives in Lynchburg, Va., is married to Eileen, and has seven children and nine grandchildren.
Authored, co-authored or edited 36 books, including: “C. S. Lewis as Philosopher” co-edited (2008) “Philosophy of History, Miracles, and the Resurrection of Jesus” (2006) “Resurrected? An Atheist & Theist Dialogue,” with A. Flew (2005) “The Risen Jesus and Future Hope” (2003) “The Thomas Factor” (1999) “The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ” (1996) Authored more than 60 chapters or articles in various other books, including: “The Resurrection Appearances of Jesus” (2007) “Dealing with Emotional Doubt” (2007) “The Case for Christ’s Resurrection” (2004) “Why I Believe the Miracles of Jesus Actually Happened” and “Why I Believe the New Testament is Historically Reliable” (2001) More than 100 articles and reviews published in journals and magazines, including: “Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus” “Dialog: A Journal of Theology” “Christianity Today” “Faith and Philosophy” “Religious Studies” “Trinity Journal” “Christian Counseling Today” speaking
Approximately 1,600 lectures at hundreds of universities, colleges, seminaries and churches in the Unites States and abroad, including Stanford University, Rice University, UCLA, University of Notre Dame, University of Virginia, University of Oxford, University of Edinburgh, University of Cambridge and London School of Economics. e d u c at i o n
Ph.D., Michigan State University; History and Philosophy of Religion (1976) M.A., University of Detroit; Philosophical Theology (1973) B.R.E., William Tyndale College; Majors: Christian Education, Bible, Social Sciences; Minors: Philosophy, Greek, English and Speech (1972)
Staying on course School of Religion continues to be ‘rudder’ of the university
j e r o m e st u r m
Dr. Elmer Towns, Liberty University’s co-founder and School of Religion dean, lectures to students. With a passion for research, teaching, writing books and working with pastors, Towns is also Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology. BY pau l mc li n d e n
The School of Religion officially took shape in 1977, when the late Dr. Jerry Falwell called his leaders together to restructure Liberty’s curriculum. What had been a collection of majors and programs became actual schools, none more important than the SOR, which Falwell deemed the “rudder of the ship.” Dr. Sumner Wemp, known for his evangelistic work, was installed as the first dean of the SOR that year, and served until 1980. He was succeeded by Dr. Woodrow Kroll, who served until 1982. During that year the B.R. Lakin building was constructed, housing both the SOR and the Seminary, and Dr. Elmer Towns was appointed head of both schools. Towns, who is Liberty University’s co-founder and vice president, continued as dean of the Seminary until 1994 and remains dean
of the SOR. With a passion for research, teaching, writing books and working with pastors, Towns is also Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology. The 80s era began with “some wild, good days,” said Towns of the school’s rapid growth. “We really put the pedal to the metal.” But the late 80s brought some tough financial days. With the school’s finances and resources strained, teachers took on more and larger classes without extra pay to keep the school going. However, the hardship fostered a healthy interaction that, by 1992, allowed the SOR and Seminary to each stand on their own. From the beginning, the SOR has always taught the basic core courses of religion and Christianity, offering Evangelism 101, Old Testament and New Testament Survey, Theology and Philosophy. Towns, noting that the curriculum mirrors that of Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Mo., where Falwell originally studied
said, “I have always been convinced that Jerry Falwell thought rationally and systematically because of that strong training in systematic theology and he wanted the same thing for our students.” The SOR offers degrees in Biblical Studies, Church Ministries, Inter-Cultural Studies, Pastoral Leadership & Philosophy — in residential and online formats. Tim Yonts, a Biblical Studies major planning to graduate in May, can attest to the rigorous curriculum. “The professors don’t make it easy,” he said, but added that some of his most difficult classes have also been the most rewarding. The university as a whole estimates that one in 10 – or 20,000 – of its graduates or former students are in some form of full-time Christian service. Many serve in the largest churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. Youth Ministries graduate Ryan pag e 3 6 Hesseling is confident with li b e rty j o u r nal
35
aca d e m i c Li f e
his training. The youth program “really prepares you [with] not only the theories behind what you do, but actually what you are going to do … so that when you go into a ministry, you’re not lost. It has both that spiritual application and the practical application.” Tracking Liberty’s growth, one sees an interesting dynamic: students have been some of our best recruiters. Strong involvement with foreign missions through the Inter-Cultural Studies program has taken students around the world, sometimes as many as 12 trips per year, to places like Haiti, South America, Europe and the Far East. These teams provide support to churches in the areas of aviation, linguistic translation and church planting. But the students’ personal contact with
the young people from these locations — staying in their homes, eating with the families — has drawn many foreign students to Liberty University. “So, our early recruitment was not just Jerry on television, and not just mailings,” said Towns. “It was that personal touch of our students.” Dr. Steve Vandegriff sees our students’ recruiting efforts even closer to home. As Executive Director of the Center for Youth Ministries and Professor of Youth Ministries, he oversees YouthQuest. This student-based ministry provides spiritual encouragement to the youth and youth leaders of churches through worship, drama and discipleship. “They’re not like a showy group that goes and does a show and then splits,” said Vandegriff.
Open the Door to Your Home Equity
“When they go to a church, they are there the whole weekend; they stay in homes with the teenagers. They bring in a lot of students.” The most recent and visible change to the SOR is its building. The 27-year-old structure, now known as the Elmer Towns Religion Hall, received an exterior facelift in the fall, and a new 900-seat lecture hall — named the Towns-Alumni Lecture Hall — opened in September. But the “big, new thing” for the SOR, according to Towns, is the Women’s Ministry major, led by Dr. Monica Rose, which prepares women to be directors of women’s ministries in local churches. The department has turned out more than 28 graduates in its first two years. Towns is fond of quoting Bill Bright of Campus Crusade, who said, “Liberty is the largest school training young people for ministry in the world … and maybe in history.”
Generation Mortgage CompanyTM has your key. les schofe r
USE A REVERSE MORTGAGE TO PURCHASE A HOME. CALL FOR DETAILS. For a no-obligation packet, call your Reverse Mortgage Professional:
Rayetta M. Webb, Regional Director Local 434.369.1050 Toll-free 1.877.361.9144
www.generationmortgagerep.com/va/rwebb
© Generation Mortgage Company. Licensed by the VA State Corporation Commission, License # ML-731
36
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
For mor e i n for mation ab out Li b e rty U n ive r sity’s School of R e lig ion, visit www. li b e rty.e du /
acade m ics/ r e lig ion .
Demand the Evidence. G Scientists Celebrate Darwin’s 200th Birthday Loyal followers comment on the impact of evolution’s patriarch.
Life is Godless.
Life is Purposeless.
Life is Meaningless.
“Darwinism removed the whole idea of God as the creator of organisms from the sphere
“Life has no higher purpose than to perpetuate the survival of DNA...life has no design, no purpose, no evil and no good,
“There are no gods, no purposes, and no goal-directed forces of any kind. There is no life after death…. There is no ultimate foundation for ethics, no ultimate meaning
of rational discussion.” – Sir Julian Huxley
nothing but blind pitiless indifference.” – Richard Dawkins
in life, and no free will for humans.” – William Provine
The Founders of Modern Science had a different point of view. “This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.” – Isaac Newton, Father of Universal Gravitation
“[When] I study the book of nature I find myself oftentimes reduced to exclaim with the Psalmist, How manifold are Thy works, O Lord! in wisdom hast Thou made them all!” – Robert Boyle, Father of Modern Chemistry
“Yet even in earthly matters I believe that ‘the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead.’” – Michael Faraday, Father of Electromagnetism
aca d e m i c Li f e
Academic
briefS
News and Notes on Programs, Faculty and Students
Archaeology course takes students to Dead Sea site
Four Liberty University students worked as “archaeologists in training” in Israel Dec. 5-23 under the supervision of Dr. Randall Price, Director of Excavations and Executive Director of LU’s new Center for Judaic Studies. Students Nathan LeMaster, David Sherret, Katelyn Thurston and Emilee Price traveled with Price and his wife, Beverlee, to learn about and perform land excavations at the 2,000-year-old remains of the historic Qumran Plateau, a site situated beside the Dead Sea, as part of an LU Field Archaeology course. Liberty’s group was part of a larger team that is now in its sixth season (2002-08) uncovering the ruins of the Qumran Community, believed to have once been inhabited by a Jewish sect that held a strict interpretation of the Scriptures and looked for the coming of the Messiah and the end of the age. Most scholars believe this community produced and preserved the famous Dead Sea Scrolls, many of which were hidden in caves carved in the plateau where the students did their digging.
40
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
School of Engineering wins $113,000 research grant
The School of Engineering and Computational Sciences (SECS) has been awarded a $113,000 contract by the Center for Advanced Engineering Research (CAER) to investigate vulnerabilities of certain communications systems in an unfriendly electromagnetic environment. The work was awarded in support of a local high-technology engineering company, in part to help stimulate the local Lynchburg economy. The research is expected to last one year and, if successful, could result in several new jobs in the area. The work will also help contribute to national security, a particular emphasis of research at LU’s SECS. Professor Michael Maiuzzo will lead the project, and Dean Dr. Ron Sones and electrical engineering students will contribute support on this funded research.
Church Planting Emphasis Week a big success The Liberty Center for Church Planting hosted “Storm the Gates” Church Planting Emphasis Week Nov. 5-8. Church planters spoke in numerous classes and in convocation. Students were given opportunities to sign up for summer ministry internships in more than 20 states. Three “Next Church” conferences were also held. Since the Center for Church Planting
was created in July 2006, the number of churches planted out of Liberty University has doubled each year, with more than 40 new churches planted in 2008. The Center for Ministry Training said its goal is to plant 500 Liberty churches within the next few years and to position Liberty as the primary site to resource church planters. The next Church Planting Emphasis week is scheduled for Feb. 27 through March 4, 2009.
VCAR major wins computer game design contest
Dave Lee, a junior majoring in Visual Communication Arts, won first place in an international computer game design competition held by Massive Entertainment, a leading producer of games and interactive entertainment software. The Malmo, Sweden, company, in conjunction with sponsor nVidia, announced an international 3D map design competition in April. The goal was to use Massive Entertainment’s design tools and software kit to create a multiplayer map for its World in Conflict game. Lee won the grand prize of $1,000 and two nVidia 9800 GTX graphics cards. Lee works in Resident Recruitment at Liberty and has contributed to the Digital Campus project on libertyu.com. He hopes to pursue a career in game development and 3D graphic design.
g ivi n g bac k
Loyal to Liberty Professor couple establishes trust, memorial scholarship
J e r o m e Stu r m
by m itz i b i b le
For Karen and Leonard Parker, their everyday jobs are their ministry. As professors at Liberty University’s School of Education, they want their years of hard work to continue, even after they have gone on to be with the Lord. “We feel that we can continue our teaching ministry after we are gone through our will,” Karen Parker says. “We have dedicated our lives to Christian education, which we consider to be our full-time ministry.” Karen, Dean of the School of Education, and Leonard, an associate professor, said they have seen more than 2,000 Christian teachers prepared at LU since they joined the School of Education faculty here in 1986. “All four of our daughters received their preparation at Liberty. We now
42
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
have nine grandchildren.” Karen says. “This has made our vision for Liberty even more personal. We want to ensure a quality Christian education for the next generation, which includes our precious grandchildren.” By working with Liberty’s Planned Giving Department, the Parkers were able to leave Liberty in their wills. “Including Liberty in our wills provides assurance for our family that they are fulfilling our wishes. It removes the burden of financial decisions from them. We have discussed our financial plans with our daughters, who love Liberty and support our decision.” The Parkers also received support from Liberty University’s Planned Giving officers, who understand the couple’s needs. “We received assistance that was personal and professional about how to prepare a will and the options that are
available. We still had dependent children when we first contacted the department. They showed us how to establish a trust that would meet our children’s needs and also accomplish our goals for planned giving.” The Planned Giving officers also tended to the Parkers’ specific request to honor their youngest daughter, Amy, in their will. Amy was killed in an automobile accident when she was a senior at LU. Her parents established the Parker Memorial Scholarship to provide tuition assistance for college students who are preparing to teach in Christian schools.
To fi n d out how Plan n e d G ivi ng office r s at Li b e rty U n ive r sity can h e lp you plan for th e futu r e, call (800) 543-5309 or visit www. lug ivi ng .com.
Save the Date for this year’s Alumni Weekend 2009 and make plans to attend. Start inviting your friends to enjoy the Homecoming game, parade, tailgating, special dinners, reunions, hockey, ice skating and the new Snowflex ski slope. You won’t want to miss this exciting weekend! Contact the Alumni Relations Office at (800) 628-7973 for Early Bird Registration. To view photos from Alumni Weekend 2008, go to www.LUalumni.com
g ivi n g bac k
Meet the Rabines: ‘Exciting’ times at Liberty University by m it z i b i b le
When you talk to George Rabine about Liberty University, one word keeps coming up: “exciting.” As longtime members of Liberty University’s Board of Regents and financial supporters through the school’s Planned Giving Department, George and Jeanne Rabine of Atlanta, Ga., have seen their gifts make a lasting impact. “It’s always good to get up there and see all the exciting things going on,” said George Rabine after a weekend visit to Liberty in September. “That’s the most exciting for me, to see how God has just blessed the university and supplied all the needs.”
44
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
Rabine’s first connection with Liberty was through his father, Dr. E.F. Rabine, a pastor who was a friend of the late Dr. Jerry Falwell. “He and mom supported them back when he [Falwell] first started the ‘Old Time Gospel Hour,’” he said. Rabine said the main reasons he has continued to support Liberty through the years are “the evangelistic output, the missions program and the spiritual emphasis that are placed there.” In his visits to Liberty, he has met one-on-one with students and has sometimes stayed up until midnight talking with them about their goals and where God may be calling them. “We’ve had some real good, wonderful times with some of the kids there, hearing their heart for missions. It thrills you to see that our young people today are coming up, turned on for the Lord, ready to get out and serve Him whatever the cost might be.” The Rabines get to see some of that firsthand in their own family, as their granddaughter, Laura Stewart, is currently a Resident Assistant at Liberty. Rabine, who worked for Sears, Roebuck and Company for 40 years travelling the southern territory from Virginia to Texas and Miami to Tennessee helping implement the stores’ computer systems, said Liberty is proving to be an attractive option for more and more students across the country. In Atlanta, George Rabine serves as a worship leader with the seniors group at his home church. He says he talks of Liberty University often. “I tell all of them there’s no better place you can invest your money for kids than to give it to Liberty because that place is really turning out some real dynamic Christian leaders.”
Create a Legacy of Giving Give a Gift That Will Bring a Lifetime of Benefits With a gift annuity, you make a gift to Liberty University and you receive fixed income for life. Your payment rate will be based on your age and a portion of your payment may even be tax-free. You may also receive valuable tax savings from a charitable income tax deduction in the year you make the gift. And your gift will help us further our mission. For more information on creating a charitable gift annuity, please visit our web site at www.LUgiving.com or call us today at (800) 543-5309.
Gerald and Rose Marie Evans
Copyright Š 2008 Crescendo Interactive, Inc. IN1108-104 PlannedGiving0203_08.indd 1
1/7/09 2:14:39 PM
li b e rty j o u r nal
45
alu m n i
Alumni snapshot NAME: Alan Rowe (left) was Liberty University’s first-ever Business graduate in 1979. Rowe was a featured speaker on Business Executives Day during Alumni Weekend in October and met with Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. (right). GRADUATING CLASS: 1979 RESIDENCE: Belle Isle, Fla. FAMILY: Wife of 22 years Machele, from Memphis; sons Taylor (17) and Kendall (13); daughter Monica, (11) OCCUPATION: President and CEO of First Commercial Bank of Florida HOBBIES: Football, basketball, boating and skiing
J e r o m e St u r m
AFFILIATIONS: Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau of Central Florida, Kiwanis Club of South Orlando, Rotary Club of Orlando, Orlando Union Rescue Mission Foundation, The Beacon Foundation, United Way Division Chairman, YMCA Board of Directors, The Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation Board of Trustees, First Presbyterian Church of Orlando EDUCATION: M.B.A., University of Memphis (1981); B.S. in Business, Liberty University (1979); A.A. in Business, Brevard Community College; American Institute of Banking Certificate; Professional Master of Banking diploma, LSU School of Banking
Why did you choose to attend Liberty University? My childhood church, First Baptist Church of Merritt Island, Fla., was such a big part of my life growing up on Florida’s Space Coast. They had a great youth and music ministry where I met many dear friends that I have to this day. I played trombone for the church’s brass ensemble, and one year a singing group from Liberty came to our church, and I went to hear them. Several of us were very impressed with the young people and the story of a pioneering Christian college up in Virginia. I’m a fourth-generation Floridian who had literally never seen snow, and the idea of living somewhere with a change of seasons was intriguing. So, after checking out the school, several of us enrolled and went up there in 1977. I originally planned to walk on for the football team at Liberty because I had played for the state championship team at Merritt Island High School, but couldn’t afford to give up the earnings from my summer job to go up early for summer training. I got assigned to the athletic dorms on Treasure Island anyway and had a blast meeting great kids from all over the country.
football all the time and pulling pranks on one another in the dorm. One particularly hilarious night was when some of my Florida friends, whom I had taught how to water-ski growing up, took me snow skiing for my first time at Wintergreen [Resort]. While I usually pick up sports pretty quickly, I was a one-man wrecking ball on the slopes and kept trying to snow ski like you’re supposed to water-ski — which doesn’t work! They were having so much fun watching me crash and burn all night that they didn’t even ski off and leave me, they just kept watching and laughing so hard they were crying.
What is your fondest memory of liberty? It was a great honor to be the first-ever Business graduate from Liberty in 1979. Because I had attended Brevard Community College in Florida and already received my Associate of Arts degree in Business, I transferred in as a junior. I also have memories of many great friends I met from all over the country at Liberty. We had a blast down on Treasure Island playing flag
What would people be surprised to know about you? Even though I’m in a serious and somewhat stodgy industry (banking), I’ve been told I have a great sense of humor. The banking business, especially in Florida, is brutal right now, but we still try to have some fun as best we can in our workplace. I haven’t admitted this to many people, but one of my favorite all-time TV shows is The Beverly Hillbillies.
46
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
How did Liberty prepare you for your life after graduation? In addition to receiving a great academic education, the real differentiator was the distinctively Christian values that you would rarely find at a secular institution. We were taught how important having integrity in your business dealings is, and we were taught strong leadership skills and how to effectively build teams and work with others.
Cultivating connections Alumni Relations expanding alumni chapters across country
J e r o m e St u r m
Alumni had a chance to meet with one another during the Chancellor’s Dinner at Liberty’s Alumni Weekend in October. BY s ar ah f u n d e r b u r k e
As Liberty University continues to grow and expand in all aspects of student life, LU alumni are working to expand their own network. In the past few years, three separate LU alumni chapters were launched in the U.S. and up to 10 more may be established in the next six months. “Long-term we would love to have at least one chapter in every state,” said Mark Watkins, LU Senior Alumni Relations Officer. By summer 2009, alumni chapters will be starting up in Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania, Lynchburg, and several other areas. With more than 125,000 alumni worldwide, these chapters allow alumni to have an active role in the future of Liberty while living in their hometown. Alumni chapters host a variety of social, fundraising and professional development
events. They also support local alumni in ministry and in church planting. San Diego-area alumni met for a beachside bonfire on Dec. 20. This fairly new chapter also met for a San Diego Padres baseball game in August 2008. “There can be different types of alumni events,” San Diego chapter coordinator Kevin Leinum (’98) said. “Some are specifically fun events, and other events can help the surrounding community.” Leinum said many alumni who attended these events took their classes through Liberty University Online (formerly the Distance Learning Program). Leinum and several other alumni chapter coordinators started their chapter by contacting the Alumni Association at Liberty. “I have always had a love for Liberty, and I knew several LU grads in the area, and we all kind of said we need to get a chapter together,” said David Hinshaw (’94),
co-coordinator with Melissa Fuquay (’00), for the Hampton Roads alumni chapter. The Hampton Roads chapter spans several Virginia cities, including Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Hampton and Newport News. “The university helped us by sending out postcards with the date of our first event and our contact information,” Hinshaw said. Washington, D.C., chapter co-coordinator Meghan Maginnis (’04) said sharing memories with other LU alumni has been one of the best parts of chapter events. “It’s such an incredible opportunity to meet other alumni,” Maginnis said. “Not that many years ago we were a small school, and there’s nothing like being able to swap stories with other alumni.” Maginnis has worked with cocoordinator Gary Moritz (’03) to host a kick-off reception and family picnic for D.C.-area alumni. Alumni chapters are encouraged to host two major events every year. “It’s just an opportunity for the alumni, wherever they may be, to have camaraderie with other alumni and a connection to the university,” Watkins said. “We will definitely be looking in the coming months for people to lead chapters.” Anyone interested in starting an alumni chapter in their area should contact the Alumni Relations office at 1 (800) 628-7973. Th e LU alu m n i we b site, www. li b e rty .e du /
deve lopm e nt/alu m n i , r ece ntly u n de rwe nt a com plete ove r hau l an d now lists contact i n for mation for th e existi ng alu m n i chapte r s an d a cale n dar of alu m n i chapte r eve nts. Many of th e cu r r e nt alu m n i chapte r s also have Face b ook, Yahoo & MySpace g rou ps on li n e.
li b e rty j o u r nal
47
alu m n i
Pressing on Alumnus, son share world weightlifting record
les schofe r
Liberty University strength and conditioning coordinator Bill Gillespie (’83) and son Cameron, an LU junior, share an enthusiasm for weightlifting. Together, the Gillespies’ best lifts equal just over 1,285 pounds, making them the world’s strongest father-son bench press tandem. BY e r i c b r own
During the 2001 Rose Bowl, a packed house of more than 94,000 fans watched the Washington Huskies ring in the New Year with a 34-24 victory over Purdue. Standing at the north entrance of the stadium, Liberty alumnus Bill Gillespie, the Huskies’ strength coach, stared up at a firework-filled sky with tears in his eyes and thought to himself, “Why couldn’t this be Liberty?” “It really bothered me,” he recalled. “It would really have meant something if it was Liberty.” After finishing his stint with Washington and serving on the Seattle Seahawks’ strength and conditioning staff for two years, Gillespie returned to his alma mater
48
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
in 2005 to serve as Liberty’s strength and conditioning coordinator. He remembers meeting with the late Dr. Jerry Falwell, who told him his vision for Liberty athletics — the same vision that prompted the former football player to ride on a bus 84 hours from Tacoma, Wash., to walk on the team at LU nearly 30 years ago. These days, Gillespie works primarily with LU’s football program, guiding players through intense weight room workouts that enhance their on-field performance. Aside from developing champions on the gridiron, the strength coach is a 15-time World Champion and 34-time world record holder in the bench press. When he first arrived at LU in the late 70s, a friend invited him to lift weights; convincing Gillespie he possessed the
potential to become even stronger. After steadily increasing his strength in college, he attended the National Powerlifting Championships where he competed against other lifters in the bench press, squat and deadlift. By meet’s end, he ranked last in the bench press by 35 pounds. For years, Gillespie viewed the bench press as a useless exercise, excelling more in the squat and deadlift. However, at the age of 35, he saw a dramatic change in his abilities. “It was sort of like Sarah and Abraham where Sarah laughed at God saying, ‘There’s no way I can have children. I’m too old.’ Here I was, 35, and I’m making fun of the bench press and God in his infinite sense of humor decides, ‘Guess what you’re going to be good at?’” At the 2005 World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters (WABDL) Southern U.S. Bench Press and Deadlift Championships in Atlanta, Gillespie became the first man over 40 to bench more than 800 pounds with a lift of 800.1. This powerful achievement is an obvious highlight in his career, but there is another moment that remains close to his heart. Growing up in Seattle, his son Cameron Gillespie (now a junior at Liberty) watched other World Champion powerlifters enter his dad’s gym and clean enormous amounts of weight. One day he told his dad he wanted to bench 500 pounds before he turned 17. Taken back initially by his son’s seemingly lofty goal, Gillespie prepared Cameron for the world championships and, at 16 years old, he set a world record in his age group with a lift of 462 pounds. Cameron’s personal best in the bench is now 485. Together, the Gillespies’ best lifts equal just over 1,285 pounds, making
?
Who are
them the world’s strongest father-son bench press tandem. “Getting the world record for me was probably the biggest achievement in my life, and it meant a lot to me to share that with my dad,” Cameron said. “Not a whole lot of people, especially father and son, get to share an achievement like that.” As an inside linebacker on Liberty’s football team, Cameron is not able to concentrate on powerlifting at the moment, but he hopes to break his dad’s 800-pound mark before he turns 30. In the meantime, Bill Gillespie is focused on returning to top form after cutting 65 pounds of bodyweight. A month prior to the 2008 WABDL World Bench Press Championships in November, he came down with the flu, making it difficult to train for the meet. Around the same time, an explosion occurred at a bonfire, leaving him with second-degree burns on the right side of his body. Refusing to miss a workout, Bill overcame pain and sickness as he prepared for the year’s biggest competition. “There are times when you are constantly fighting different things that are going to set you back and you’re not always going to feel like lifting,” he said. “You just learn a mentality that you are going to find a way to get it done.” Wanting to prove age is merely a number, the 49-year-old traveled to Las Vegas for the world championships, clearing 711 pounds en route to his 34th world record and 14th and 15th world titles. For the Gillespies, weightlifting is a tool that not only strengthens their bodies, but also their father-son relationship. While the elder Gillespie desires to reach his personal best once again, his son strives to follow in his footsteps. As they press on toward the high mark, they rely on a strength that is not measured by pounds or weights — the strength that comes from the Heavenly Father.
for
Your
Partners Your
Health Care
What partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? What fellowship has light with darkness? What portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? –from II Corinthians 6: 14-15 Whether you realize it or not, when you participate in a health insurance plan, you are agreeing that the premiums for your policy can be used to pay for anything your insurance company covers in any of their polices. Health insurance can actually support the opponents of Jesus Christ. You may be working and praying for abortion to end, but supporting abortions and the use of abortifacient drugs by helping pay for them with your health insurance premiums. You may be encouraging others to trust in Jesus Christ and turn away from the dangers of living in disobedience to Him. At the same time, the policies offered by your health insurance may be encouraging disobedience to Jesus Christ by agreeing, in advance, to cover the consequences of sexual promiscuity, drug or alcohol abuse, or other unbliblical practices.. We should not confuse health insurance with charitable giving. Charity is a compassionate, precise response to existing needs. Health insurance is a business agreement that indiscriminately agrees to cover things before they even happen. Members of Samaritan Ministries share one another’s medical needs through a simple, Biblical approach that doesn’t involve health insurance. They have agreed not to share in medical needs for unbiblical practices, and the monthly share for a family of any size has never exceeded $285*, even less for couples, singles, and single-parent families. Come experience the blessings, and the savings, that result when members of the body of Jesus Christ partner with one another instead of joining in partnerships that support the works of darkness.
To learn more about our Biblical, non-insurance ministry call us toll-free at 1.888.2.OTHERS (1.888.268.4377). *as of December 2008
Mention you saw us in the Liberty Journal.
Faith in God applied to health care
www.samaritanministries.org
li b e rty j o u r nal
49
alu m n i
C lass
note S
Updates from LU Alumni
C las s o f 19 8 6 Glenn and Kathy (Krebs) Ransom and their five children reside in the beautiful mountains of Upper East Tennessee. Glenn and Kathy first met through the Military Ministry at Liberty. Kathy has had the opportunity to invest her degree in Elem. Ed into their children by homeschooling them K-12. Glenn was recruited by the Varsity Internship Program in 1984, his freshman year, and began his career in the Bible and book business. God has allowed Glenn and Kathy to mentor hundreds of students through Varsity on how to recruit, train, manage, and motivate people.
’86 C las s o f 19 8 8 Terry Dorsett, 41, serves as Director of Missions for the Green Mountain Baptist Association. In that role he plants new churches across the state of Vermont and also helps strengthen existing churches. In the past seven years the association has grown from 17 churches to 37 churches, with new missions being planned annually. Dorsett also serves as the pastor of Faith Community Church in Barre, Vt. Dorsett is married to Karen Jonas (LU ’87-’88) and has three teenage children. Terry graduated from LU in 1988 and from LBTS in 1990. Donna Botts (Deck ’84) is the co-host of a one-hour live studio audience talk show called Looking UP. Donna has always had a desire for God centered, family friendly television shows and films. Looking UP airs weekly on Proclaim Broadcasting,
50
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
WPBM-TV31, Scottsville, Ky. Donna and her husband, John, live in Glasgow, Ky., along with their two children, Jenna, 17 and Jacoby, 11. Donna also enjoys being involved with a local theater group and her church drama team.
’84 C las s o f 19 91 Roger Adams has been the director of Henry County Parks & Recreation in Collinsville, Va., since 1999. He was the “first” Sports Management Graduate from Liberty. He received his degree in 1991, the first year Sports Management Degrees were awarded, along with three other students, but received his degree first because of his last name starting with an “A.” Upon receiving his degree from Liberty, Roger was a Graduate Assistant with the Intramural/Recreational Sports Department at the University of Arkansas. Roger received his Master of Education Degree from the University of Arkansas in Athletic Administration in 1992. Prior to his current job, Roger was the athletic director for the City of Roanoke, Va. Roger currently lives in Collinsville, Va., with his wife Kristite and Coco, a Miniature Schnauzer.
’91
C las s o f 19 92 Rev. Bob Fritch is the new volunteer state coordinator for Arizona for the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem event, which takes place on the first Sunday of October each year. This event is sponsored by Eagles’ Wings Ministry and co-sponsored by Dr. Jack Hayford. www.daytopray.com
’92 C las s o f 19 93 Alumnus Noelle Susan Wilson was married to Grady Lynn Bell in September in Sevierville, Tenn. Wilson is currently employed by Scripps Networks Interactive as an office coordinator for the media logistics department. She enjoys reading, hiking, photography and volunteering for Habitat for Humanity International. Wilson and Bell met one year ago through Soul Purpose, a community group at their place of worship, Fellowship Evangelical Free Church, in Knoxville. The couple resides in Knoxville.
’93 C las s o f 19 9 4 Dr. Thomas Hatley, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Rogers, Ark., celebrated 35 years of full-time ministry in December. Hatley has been married to Peggy Jean May since 1971 and has two children,
Andrea Jean and Daniel Eugene, and four grandchildren. Hatley has served on missions trips to India, China, Vietnam, Turkey, Thailand, Bangladesh, Haiti and Israel. www.ibcgocenter.com C las s o f 2000 Keith Miraldi, Liberty University Online professor, has joined the Five Oaks Community Church in Woodbury, Minn., as Hudson Campus Pastor and as Small Groups Director for both campuses. Before moving to Minnesota, Keith served as Administrative Dean for Graduate Programs and Distance Learning at Liberty University. Keith is married to Katherine and they have two boys, Isaac, 3, and Benjamin, 6 months. While attending Liberty, Keith played baseball. Keith received a B.S. Degree in Religion in 2000 and an M.A.R. Degree from the Seminary in 2002. He is currently working on an M.A. and expects to graduate in 2010. C las s o f 200 8 Brenda Pace currently lives in Washington, D.C., with Richard, her husband of 34 years. Richard is a U.S. Army chaplain assigned to the Pentagon. They are the parents of two married sons and the grandparents of Jolie and Noah. Brenda has served in various leadership roles for military organizations. For 10 years, she enjoyed serving on the board of Protestant Women of the Chapel–International, where she held the positions of USA president, vice president, advisor, and most recently resource coordinator. An active speaking ministry has allowed Brenda opportunities to address a variety of audiences in the U.S., Japan, Korea, Germany, Italy and Turkey. Brenda coauthored the devotional book “Medals above My Heart,” with her friend and fellow military spouse Carol McGlothlin
(Broadman and Holman, 2004). Brenda and Carol have just debuted a new book “The One Year Yellow Ribbon Devotional, Taking a Stand in Prayer for Our Nation and Those Who Serve” (Tyndale House). brendapace.com (40 minutes from Liberty University)
Enjoy year-round golf, tennis, fitness trails, pools, Lifestyle
’08 Miscellaneous An n o u n c e m e nts A Youth Aflame Reunion will be held in Lynchburg, Va., Sept. 10-12, 2009. This event is open to anyone who traveled with any of the singing teams — Youth Aflame Choir, All God’s Children, The Chorale, Young Believers, Youth Aflame Singers, SALT — plus anyone who worked under the leadership of Gordon Luff in any capacity. For more information, call Sheila Colclasure at (972) 484-2903 or e-mail larrysheila@sbcglobal.net.
Fitness Center, hot tubs, restaurants, boating, fishing, CALM, and so
much more!
LOTS, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, TOWNHOMES, & CONDOS! And coming soon! Ask about our waterfront fractional ownership! ove Special overnight preview packages at The Pointe
at t e n t i o n a l u m n i s e n d u s yo u r s u b m i s s i o n s
email:
ttmaxwell@liberty.edu fa x :
(434)582-7710 mail:
1971 University Blvd. Lynchburg, VA 24502 n ote: You may include a headshot in high resolution (300 dpi) JPEG format with your submissions
For more information, please contact Jay White at 800-851-4988 or jayw@marinerslanding.com. www.marinerslanding.com/lu Interested in SML auctions? Visit www.marinerslandingauction.com
li b e rty j o u r nal
51
Andrea Jean and Daniel Eugene, and four grandchildren. Hatley has served on missions trips to India, China, Vietnam, Turkey, Thailand, Bangladesh, Haiti and Israel. www.ibcgocenter.com C las s o f 2000 Keith Miraldi, Liberty University Online professor, has joined the Five Oaks Community Church in Woodbury, Minn., as Hudson Campus Pastor and as Small Groups Director for both campuses. Before moving to Minnesota, Keith served as Administrative Dean for Graduate Programs and Distance Learning at Liberty University. Keith is married to Katherine and they have two boys, Isaac, 3, and Benjamin, 6 months. While attending Liberty, Keith played baseball. Keith received a B.S. Degree in Religion in 2000 and an M.A.R. Degree from the Seminary in 2002. He is currently working on an M.A. and expects to graduate in 2010. C las s o f 200 8 Brenda Pace currently lives in Washington, D.C., with Richard, her husband of 34 years. Richard is a U.S. Army chaplain assigned to the Pentagon. They are the parents of two married sons and the grandparents of Jolie and Noah. Brenda has served in various leadership roles for military organizations. For 10 years, she enjoyed serving on the board of Protestant Women of the Chapel–International, where she held the positions of USA president, vice president, advisor, and most recently resource coordinator. An active speaking ministry has allowed Brenda opportunities to address a variety of audiences in the U.S., Japan, Korea, Germany, Italy and Turkey. Brenda coauthored the devotional book “Medals above My Heart,” with her friend and fellow military spouse Carol McGlothlin
(Broadman and Holman, 2004). Brenda and Carol have just debuted a new book “The One Year Yellow Ribbon Devotional, Taking a Stand in Prayer for Our Nation and Those Who Serve” (Tyndale House). brendapace.com (40 minutes from Liberty University)
Enjoy year-round golf, tennis, fitness trails, pools, Lifestyle
’08 Miscellaneous An n o u n c e m e nts A Youth Aflame Reunion will be held in Lynchburg, Va., Sept. 10-12, 2009. This event is open to anyone who traveled with any of the singing teams — Youth Aflame Choir, All God’s Children, The Chorale, Young Believers, Youth Aflame Singers, SALT — plus anyone who worked under the leadership of Gordon Luff in any capacity. For more information, call Sheila Colclasure at (972) 484-2903 or e-mail larrysheila@sbcglobal.net.
Fitness Center, hot tubs, restaurants, boating, fishing, CALM, and so
much more!
LOTS, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, TOWNHOMES, & CONDOS! And coming soon! Ask about our waterfront fractional ownership! ove Special overnight preview packages at The Pointe
at t e n t i o n a l u m n i s e n d u s yo u r s u b m i s s i o n s
email:
ttmaxwell@liberty.edu fa x :
(434)582-7710 mail:
1971 University Blvd. Lynchburg, VA 24502 n ote: You may include a headshot in high resolution (300 dpi) JPEG format with your submissions
For more information, please contact Jay White at 800-851-4988 or jayw@marinerslanding.com. www.marinerslanding.com/lu Interested in SML auctions? Visit www.marinerslandingauction.com
li b e rty j o u r nal
51
s po rts
Freeing the captive Former LU soccer coach finds purpose in prison ministry
les schofe r
Bill Bell (above) and his wife, Mary, visited Liberty University for Missions Emphasis Week in 1979. After seeing a number of students committed to serving God, Bill decided to come to Liberty, and became head soccer coach from 1980 - 2000. BY E r i c B r own
Awaiting surgery following a mild heart attack in 1993, Bill Bell, Liberty University’s Head Men’s Soccer Coach at the time, was distraught, but not afraid of dying. Confident he would spend eternity in heaven, his concern stemmed more from his earthly works. Sitting in his hospital bed, the 50-year-old Scotsman looked at his wife, Mary, and said, “If I die tomorrow morning, I haven’t much to lay at the Lord’s feet.” At that moment, the couple said a prayer, making themselves totally available to God’s calling. Five days later, Bill received letters from two prisoners in England. The men had only heard stories about the legendary defenseman, who accepted Christ
52
w w w. l i be r t y. e d u
after playing soccer at the highest professional level. They informed Bill of numerous suicidal hangings taking place behind the bars of Feltham prison, Europe’s largest young offenders institution. Feeling God tugging at their hearts, the Bells traveled to London to minister to the inmates. Upon arriving at the prison, the warden gave Bill and Mary complete access to the cells. The couple’s mission was simple — show the love of Christ to each prisoner. After befriending the inmates for two weeks, they discovered what the prison’s staff could not — a negative spiritual influence. “(The inmates) were playing with Ouija boards,” Bill said. “God revealed it to us, and He showed us why they were hanging themselves. When we left after two
months, we asked the staff to destroy the boards. The hangings stopped and the Lord was glorified.” After witnessing the power of God resonate through Feltham, the Bells founded Within the Walls, a ministry dedicated to sharing the message of Jesus Christ with detainees. Since 1993, the Bells have traveled to prisons throughout England, touching the lives of those who seem untouchable. Together, they train other married couples, instructing them on how to be Christ-like examples to convicts. “We’ve found that, especially with young offenders, they are drawn to married couples because there is no stable home,” Bill said. As a professional soccer player, Bill suited up with England’s Leeds United, squaring
les schofe r
off against the world-renowned Pele and the Brazilian international team. Following a successful playing career, he began coaching a professional club known as Birmingham City in 1970. Before moving to the U.S. to take over as head soccer coach at LU in 1979, Bill spent several years as manager at Birmingham as well as Lincoln City, a Division III professional team. During his coaching tenure, Bill guided the Flames up the ranks of collegiate soccer, reaching the NCAA Division I level in just five years. At the helm of LU men’s soccer, he viewed coaching as more than just a full-time job — it too was a ministry. In 1993, LU’s longtime rival, Radford, visited Liberty while riding a nine-game winless streak. Prior to the contest, Bill called Radford’s coach Don Staley, offering words of encouragement in the midst of the Highlanders’ challenging season. In the teams’ September meeting that year, Liberty prevailed with a 2-1 victory, handing Radford another loss. As the proverbial cloud of discouragement loomed over the Highlanders’ heads, Bill entered the visiting team’s locker room. He shared with them some of his most challenging experiences as a coach and a former player. Bill then concluded his talk by telling the players about Jesus Christ and the importance of having a relationship with Him. “When I was finished, I said, ‘Did any of you lads accept Christ this afternoon?’ And the whole team put their hand up. I came out of the dressing room and Don, the coach, said, ‘Bill, I accepted Christ today.’” In 2001, Bill and Mary left Liberty University to devote themselves to the prison ministry full time. Before he returned to England, Bill received an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from the late Dr. Jerry Falwell. A few years ago, the couple came back to the states after Mary suffered a stroke. Now an ordained minister, Bill, along with his wife, reside in South Carolina, visiting
Liberty Flames soccer coach Bill Bell leads the team in prayer during a game in 1998.
prisons throughout the state. Recently, the Bells teamed up with Kairos Prison Ministries International for a four-day crusade at Allendale Correctional in Fairfax, S.C. During their initial meeting, Bill and his crew greeted dozens of inmates at the prison’s conference room corridor, singing the famous hymn “This is the Day.” The men entered the room with their eyes directed at the floor, only interested in the food provided by local churches. The crew continued singing the hymn each morning as they ministered to the prisoners through small group meetings and various activities. On the final day, the team had trouble getting through security,
causing them to arrive to the meeting place 30 minutes late. When they finally arrived, the inmates stood at the conference room corridor to greet them, singing “This is the Day.” Touched by this miraculous four-day turnaround, the Bells hope to witness the same life-changing event replicated in England this April. During their stay, they will disciple other married couples, teaching them to go “within the walls” of prisons and break through the barriers that surround the inmates’ hearts. “The men are the same the world over, whether I’m in England or I’m in the United States,” Bill said. “The Savior is everywhere. There is nothing He can’t break down.” li b e rty j o u r nal
53
s po rts
S ports
roundu P
Flames make moves in Sasser Cup chase
BY Pau l Ca r ma n y P h oto s by Les Sc h o f e r
In the age of the Internet, sports enthusiasts around the world are discovering Liberty University’s Athletics Department and its achievements throughout the Commonwealth, the Big South Conference and beyond. During the 2007-08 athletic year, Liberty captured its sixth Sasser Cup, recognizing the best all-around athletics program in the Big South Conference. Through the fall sports season, the Flames are off to a strong start in the Sasser Cup chase again this year. The Liberty football team won a programrecord 10 games this season, including all five of its Big South contests, to repeat as conference champions. Leading the way was head coach Danny Rocco, tabbed Big South Coach of the Year for an unprecedented third straight season, and senior running back Rashad Jennings, who captured his second consecutive Big South Offensive
54
w w w. l i b e r t y. e d u
Player of the Year honor. The gridiron Flames were not the only repeat conference title holders on Liberty Mountain, as head coach Shane Pinder’s volleyball team also won its second Big South title in a row. Setter Kallie Corbin was voted Big South Player of the Year and Big South Tournament MVP for the 25-9 Lady Flames. Finally, the Liberty men’s cross country squad, under the direction of 39-time
Big South Coach of the Year Brant Tolsma, won its fourth Big South crown in succession. Sophomore sensation Sam Chelanga cruised to victory at the conference championship meet, held on Liberty’s campus for the first time. Chelanga (below) also proved to be the best collegiate cross country runner in Virginia on Nov. 24, when he nearly became Liberty’s second straight NCAA Division I National Cross Country Champion. Chelanga
led most of the race, before finishing a close second to Oregon senior Galen Rupp, a 2008 U.S. Olympian. The Lady Flames were the only Virginia squad to compete in the 2008 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship. For the second consecutive year, Liberty took a set off a Final Four qualifier in its opening-round match. The Lady Flames battled No. 4 national seed Nebraska hard on the Huskers’ home court before dropping a 3-1 decision. Most recently the Liberty men’s basketball squad has caused ripples around the Commonwealth, under the direction of secondyear head coach Ritchie McKay. During the first month of the season, the Flames defeated Commonwealth stalwarts Virginia, George Mason and William & Mary on the hardwood.
One of the key cogs for the Flames has been freshman guard Seth Curry. Averaging more than 20 points per game and already developing a penchant for clutch performances, Curry has garnered considerable media coverage, including a live interview on ESPN2’s “First Take” and an article in the New York Times. “USA Today” has also taken notice of Liberty’s athletics success, visiting campus in November to pen features on both Chelanga and the Frazee triplets of the Lady Flames women’s basketball team. Paul Carmany is Assistant Athletics Communications Director for Liberty University. For Li b e rty U n ive r sity ath letics n ews an d sch e dules visit www. libertyflames.com.
Come Experience College For A weekend February 12-15 // April 2-5 Call (800) 543-5317 to register, or for more information visit www.lIbERtyCFAw.com Concerts • Ice Skating • Sporting Events • Admissions Seminars • Stay in Residence Halls • Attend Classes • Meet Students • Meet Faculty
li b e rty j o u r nal
55
An intimate perspective of the most influential religious leader in America
Welcome to your new cl assroom. For the first time Macel Falwell, Rev. Falwell's widow, provides this official biography of the founder of Thomas Road Baptist Church and the Moral Majority. Along with never-before-seen photographs, Macel gives a personal viewpoint and tells readers stories from across the decades, including some from his children that show the man behind the passion. Readers will be given insight into his most publicized and controversial events, such as: • • • •
Back Cover
His friendship with Ronald Reagan (including bleed on top and side edges) His relationship to Larry Flynt What led to the concept and formation of 8 5⁄8 x 8 1⁄2 the Moral Majority (8.625 x 8.5) The reaction to his September 11 remarks
find your future at over 35 degree programs offered Available wherever books are sold