The Study Center, Winter 2019

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THE S T U DY C E NT E R

A N N U A L F U N D 2019 – 20 20

THIS ISSUE: A SPOTLIGHT ON OUR PEOPLE Bill Wilder, page 3

STORIES OF THE STUDY CENTER Katie Carr, pages 4–6

STUDY CENTER STAFF

BUILDING COMMUNITY

BILL WILDER

Executive Director bill@studycenter.net

2019–2020 Annual Fund Update, page 7

FITZ GREEN

Senior Director for Education & Programs fitz@studycenter.net Photos by Katie Carr, Brittany Fan, Zeke Smith, and Lauren Stonestreet. Other photos provided by individuals.

RICK CAMPANELLI

Director of Graduate Ministries rick@studycenter.net

WWW.STUDYCENTER.NET The Study Center newsletter is published for our friends and supporters.

University Christian Ministries, Inc. (dba Center for Christian Study) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation EIN 51-0192618.

KATIE CARR

Communications Manager katiecarr@studycenter.net

NIKKI FLANNERY

Development Manager nikki@studycenter.net

ETHAN HIGHTOWER

Director of Undergraduate Ministries for Men ethan@studycenter.net

KATIE HIGHTOWER

Director of Undergraduate Ministries for Women katie@studycenter.net

JAN MATHEWS

Administrative Assistant jan@studycenter.net

ON THE COVER

TRISH OWEN

From left to right, top row to bottom row: Callie G. Charlottesville, VA Spice Dragon Red Chai Enthusiast

Christine K. Charlottesville, VA Study Center Ray of Sunshine

Robert W. Charlottesville, VA Resident Birder

Jacob D. Charlottesville, VA Conversation Curator

Chloe K. Charlottesville, VA Book Enthusiast

Nico R. Charlottesville, VA Back Room Community Organizer

Ahenfua A. Charlottesville, VA Study Center Star

Peter L. Charlottesville, VA Recipient of Fitz Green Engineering Services

Cassie S. Charlottesville, VA Mug & People Gatherer

Librarian trish@studycenter.net

BILL PORTER

Facilities Coordinator billporter@studycenter.net

DEBBIE RODRIGUEZ Director of Finance debbie@studycenter.net

CARLY VANNESS Programs Manager carly@studycenter.net

AMY ZELL

Director of Counseling Resources amy@studycenter.net

A NOTE ABOUT THIS NEWSLET TER: On the following pages, you will see many different photos. Some photos are featured alongside the person’s name, current location, and a mostly self-identified descriptor of his or her relationship to the Study Center. There is a story behind each descriptor. Some photos have a longer story featured with them. Together these small yet important details represent just a small part of our community. In these pages are the stories that display the Lord’s faithfulness and great care for our ministry. I hope that you enjoy meeting the friends featured in the following pages—you might even see some friends that you know!

–Katie Carr, Communications Manager

PAG E 2 S T H E ST U DY C E N T E R N E W S L E T T E R W I N T E R 2019

WHO WE ARE We are a non-profit education and outreach ministry serving the University of Virginia and Charlottesville since 1976. We seek to serve Jesus Christ by fostering the serious consideration in the university environment of a biblical worldview, and by encouraging and facilitating wise discussion of the Truth in light of the challenges of contemporary culture.

CONTACT US Phone: (434) 817-1050 Email: info@studycenter.net Website: www.studycenter.net Find us on social media: @studycenterUVA

A SPOTLIGHT ON OUR PEOPLE

by Bill Wilder Executive Director, bill@studycenter.net

This newsletter puts a spotlight on our people. You’ll see lots of faces, representing just a small part of a Study Center family that stretches all the way back to our founder Daryl Richman and all the way across North America (and the world). They are undergrads, grad students, alumni and friends, Study Bill W. Center staff, interns and residents, folks Charlottesville, VA living in Budapest or Portland, Atlanta or Executive Director Los Angeles, Charlotte or Chattanooga.

They come from each of the Study Center’s five decades of ministry.

Uniting us in all our diversity, of course, is a common commitment to the Lord Jesus and a very particular interest in furthering his witness and work at the University of Virginia.

I love this sense of a larger Study Center community, spread across time and space, coming together to bless the University by supporting a thoughtful Christian presence here – one that in turn continues to grow and expand into the future and the world.

states now pooling their resources for the sake of Christian service and outreach at UVA. This newsletter is the Study Center’s main end-of-year Annual Fund appeal. The flourishing of this ministry in its service to Christ at UVA depends on the generosity of nearly five hundred families each year. That means that your contribution is not just an individual gift; it’s also one way to participate in that larger community and to commit to its continuing growth. Thank you for your partnership!

I hope you’ll also be sharing in those other activities and benefits of rich community in Christ: that you’ll be praying for the students at UVA (particularly as they take exams now) and that you will enjoy rewarding friendships in him.

And now let’s turn the page and consider some of those friends in Christ, remembering (with Gerard Manley Hopkins) that “Christ plays in ten thousand places . . . to the Father through the features of their faces.”

“

In particular I like to think of the prayers going up, individually or in groups, for the students at UVA, for the University itself, and the Christian community here. That could be parents praying for their sons and daughters; it could be alumni praying for the flourishing of this school; it could be a Moms HOO Pray group gathering in Northern Virginia or Richmond or Charlottesville.

The Study Center is a shining example of the beauty of the body of Christ at UVA. Having recently stepped into a role of mentorship to younger students, I am often asked about housing. I can think of no better place to recommend than the Study Center. I came to live here by chance and feel sure that it was God's hand at work. It has been an invaluable experience to come face-to-face with, interact with, and become friends with students from other Grounds ministries.

I am filled with joy to see how the body of Christ interacts and thrives at UVA with the Study Center at the, well, center.”

I like to think of the friendships formed in college and often sustained over a lifetime. That network of friends from UVA may extend to include entire families who provide support for each other as well as for their children. Some of those friend groups may be formed later on as alumni move to new cities and connect with UVA and Study Center folks already there.

These too are ways of strengthening bonds in Christ and to him over the course of a lifetime.

I like to think of the financial support that flows to dozens of Grounds ministers and ministries at UVA, including the Center for Christian Study. I picture those gifts matched with faces from so many class years and now in so many cities and

Tristan A. Charlottesville, VA Wolf Pack Alumnus

PAG E 3 S T H E ST U DY C E N T E R N E W S L E T T E R W I N T E R 2019

STORIES OF THE STUDY CENTER Claire S. Portland, OR Former Study Center Gardener

Pamela & Lee B. Naples, FL Daryl Richman Friends

Matt C. Charlottesville, VA Pineapple Partitioner

Eleni L. Charlottesville, VA Theology Enthusiast Brendan B. Charlottesville, VA Study Center Regular

Eva V. Charlottesville, VA

Grace K. Charlottesville, VA Receipt Chronologer

Christy Y. Charlottesville, VA

“

Katie H. Charlottesville, VA Director of Undergraduate Ministries for Women

Joe N. Charlottesville, VA YoungLife Area Director

Michael H. Charlottesville, VA VP of Education, DCF

The Study Center means belonging, relationships, and foundation to me. It was at the Move-In Day Lunch my second year that my now husband and I reconnected as volunteers after a summer both working at different camps. The Study Center literally became the neutral, safe space for two scared-to-date over-analyzers to get to know each other. Besides the relationshipbuilding with my husband, I think of 72 Hours of Prayer, lectures, memorial services, inter-fellowship meetings, prayer room cries, Beach Week, and the obvious Exam Snacks as sweet and important ways in which I had new opportunities to relate with others. In times of sadness or confusion, the Study Center offered a space for conversation and reminder of God's faithfulness.

The Center for Christian Study is an accessible, welcoming space right next to grounds where instead of ‘do more,’ one hears, ‘come in.’”

Study Center Fridge Raccoon

Carly V. Charlottesville, VA Programs Manager

First Year Fellowship Groupie

Rachel G. Charlottesville, VA Originial Deck Intern

Cole J. Charlottesville, VA RUF Intern

Carson R. Charlottesville, VA

Sarah & Tim C. Richmond, VA

Animal Cracker Hunter Gatherer

First Time Parents of a First Year

Abby C. Charlottesville, VA Mug Connoisseur

Bret H. Charlottesville, VA Lunchtime Regular

Anna H. Charlotte, NC Crusher from Afar

PAG E 4 S T H E ST U DY C E N T E R N E W S L E T T E R W I N T E R 2019

Kaitlyn H. Charlottesville, VA Study Center Enthusiast Katie C. Charlottesville, VA Mountain Views & Small Group Snacks Aficionado

“

I was involved with the Center as an undergraduate in the very early days of Action Ministries led by founder Daryl Richman in the early 1970s. I overlapped in school with Drew Trotter and other early active members like Tom Tolleson and Beat Steiner. Daryl was a friend, spiritual mentor, counselor, and pastor during my college years, and some of my fondest memories are of times of fellowship with men who would eventually become part of the Center leadership. I have loved seeing the Center grow and move in new directions, but especially in its role as a resource to the many ministries on Grounds.”

Katie D. Charlottesville, VA Mostly a Study Center Tea Drinker

Chris-John B. Charlottesville, VA LCF Member

Addison M. Charlottesville, VA Nook Dweller

Bob V. Atlanta, GA

Liz E. Chattanooga, TN Study Center Squatter Anna H. Annandale, VA Grateful Groupie

Active Participant & Beneficiary

Kaitlyn C. Charlottesville, VA Grateful Vegan Dessert Consumer

Elizabeth A. Charlottesville, VA

Haven B. Charlottesville, VA Kitchen Counter Percher Ethan H. Charlottesville, VA

The One Who Keeps You Caffeinated

Parker H. Charlottesville, VA

Director of Undergraduate Ministries for Men

Michele & Win W. Charlottesville, VA Grateful Parents

Brooks B. Charlottesville, VA DCF Board Member Jessica T. Charlottesville, VA Bearings Editor

Gen C. Charlottesville, VA Front Room Regular Justin P. Aspen, CO Clubhouse Office Chiller

Chloe S. Charlottesville, VA Printer Patron

Caffeinated Conversationalist

Audrey D. Charlottesville, VA Greek InterVarsity Staff

Preston G. Princeton, NJ Brown Chair Brooder

Emily I. Charlottesville, VA InterVarsity Staff

Kiran M. Charlottesville, VA Nook Enthusiast

Ally R. Charlottesville, VA Back Room Regular

Callie F. Charlottesville, VA Proud Fridge Grazer Rachel D. Charlottesville, VA Carly’s Friday Morning Baking Apprentice

Mary Elizabeth C. Greensboro, NC Caretaker of the Coffee

PAG E 5 S T H E ST U DY C E N T E R N E W S L E T T E R W I N T E R 2019

“

The Study Center was a vessel of truth and light for me. Having come to Christ in my second year with no Christian background, I needed resources, teaching, mentoring, and friends to fight the good fight with, and the Study Center provided all these things for me.

I'll never forget messages I heard there from Ken Elzinga, Tony Giles and others, and I'll never forget the friendships. It was an impressionable time for me and the impressions made there are still bearing fruit 25 years later.”

Jeff S. Charlottesville, VA Cru Staff Katie C. Charlottesville, VA Communications Manger

Ravi S. Los Angeles, CA Former Student of the Study Center

Nikki F. Charlottesville, VA Development Manager

Bekah L. Budapest, Hungary Occasional Porch Sweeper

Madison G. Charlottesville, VA Tea Station Regular

Summer A. Charlottesville, VA Book Club Fan

Miller S. Charlottesville, VA Study Center Studier

Emily K. Charlottesville, VA

Ann H. Charlottesville, VA Professional Leaf Blower Andrew H. Charlottesville, VA Kitchen Island Theologian

Jay M. Virginia Beach, VA Lane’s Co-Director

David V. Los Angeles, CA Former ERSP Resident

Celeste M. Richmond, VA Back Room Inhabitant

Savannah H. Greenville, SC Study Center Socialite

Trish O. Charlottesville, VA Librarian

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Nancy R. Arlington, VA Daryl Richman Beneficiary Porter H. Burke, VA Seminary Student

Cecily W. Charlottesville, VA Corner Computer Regular PAG E 6 S T H E ST U DY C E N T E R N E W S L E T T E R W I N T E R 2019

Nook Resident (when introverted), Back Room Dweller (when extroverted)

Katie G. Charlottesville, VA LCF Member

During my student days, Trudi B. and I committed to spend an entire night in prayer.

What better place, we decided, than the Study Center? We both love that memory, including the doughnut break we took at midnight.

Fast forward to my sons’ years at UVA and to a Study Center transformed. Same location, same building with a few renovations, but with a different vibrancy than I remembered, a longer history, and a growing vision. This time I was the parent, not the student, seeing this place through the eyes of my sons.

The Study Center represents for me God's faithfulness and abundant provision for my whole family. We can NEVER repay the original visionaries, the staff, volunteers, fellow parents, and prayer warriors at the Study Center. God used them to increase our faith and to strengthen our sons’ love for Jesus, the one who has done immeasurably more than we could ever have asked or imagined.”

YOU See how your gifts are at work in our community: A GIFT OF $25 PROVIDES A MEAL BETWEEN A STUDENT AND A STAFF MEMBER “If I need someone to talk to, 99% of the time, one of my close friends or a Study Center staff member or a sweet upperclassman is there for me.” –Madison G.

A GIFT OF $30 PROVIDES BREAKFAST FOR A GROUNDS MINISTRY MEETING “Our kids and our family have been greatly blessed by the Study Center’s presence on Grounds, and in creating a climate of cooperation and support among the Christian ministries.” –Steve E.

A GIFT OF $400 PROVIDES ONE MONTH OF ERSP DINNERS “I lived in the Yellow House through the Elzinga Residential Scholars Program last year, and it was so meaningful to be in intentional inter-fellowship community.” –Kaitlyn H.

A GIFT OF $850 KEEPS OUR BUILDING WARM AND WELL-LIT FOR ONE MONTH “As a student, whenever I stepped into that building, the stresses of school were diminished by the peace of God’s presence and the joy of community found within.” –Matt C.

A GIFT OF $2000 PROVIDES ONE MONTH OF WAGES FOR OUR TEAM OF STUDENT INTERNS “Through my participation in the Intern Program, I received mentorship that taught me to bring my fears and anxieties to the feet of Jesus, trusting that he loves me.” –Rachel G.

A GIFT OF $5000 PROVIDES ONE YEAR OF FREE COFFEE AND TEA IN OUR BUILDING “My friends live so close by, there is never-ending tea, and everyone is welcoming and eager to chat with you.” –Gen C.

Please consider...

1

Setting up monthly recurring gifts through the UVA Fund for $25, $100, or $250

2

Supporting a specific program, like our upcoming Exam Snacks event

3

Giving a one-time gift at the end of 2019

Phil R. Charlottesville, VA Back Room Homework Interrupter

Hannah G. Charlottesville, VA Kitchen Island Enthusiast

Nicole T. Charlottesville, VA Cru Staff

Will & Johanna M. Arlington, VA Former Intern (and Her Husband) Who Fell In Love on the Roof

Visit www.studycenter.net/give for more information and to give online.

Questions? Contact Nikki Flannery, our Development Manager, at nikki@studycenter.net

PAG E 7 S T H E ST U DY C E N T E R N E W S L E T T E R W I N T E R 2019

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Charlottesville, Virginia Permit No. 144

Center for Christian Study 128 C H A N C E L LO R ST R E E T, C H A R LOT T E S V I L L E , VA 22903 (434) 817 - 10 5 0 W W W. ST U DYC E N T E R . N E T A D D R E SS S E R V I C E R E Q U E ST E D

exam snacks

December 9–16 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Visit studycenter.net/exam-snacks to get involved.

Questions? Contact Carly Vanness at carly@studycenter.net