CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY’S CAMPAIGN TO RESOURCE A NEW GENERATION OF INFLUENCERS
A letter from our president Cornerstone University continues to play an increasingly significant role in the shaping of the next generation through the enterprise of Christ-centered Christian Higher Education. With growing enrollments and a strong reputation for a rigorous academic and a spiritually contagious learning environment, Cornerstone is emerging as a destination of choice for many families. In particular, its uniqueness as an intentionally Christ-centered learning-environment means that all of its intellectual, professional, spiritual and community pursuits are driven and defined by the preeminence of Jesus Christ as Lord of our campus culture. Our singular focus is to raise a new generation that is equipped, empowered and impassioned to influence the cultures of our world for Christ. Our students distinguish themselves in their callings and careers so that they can effectively bring the transformative values of the Kingdom to bear on their spheres of influence. Our entire university structure and programming is focused on this outcome. I can’t think of a more worthy cause than to light an increasingly dark world with the transforming power of the gospel through this next generation. Three fronts relate directly to the success of our mission – the building of a chapel, the expansion of our Media Division facilities and the expansion of our Music Division facilities. Please consider joining us in this venture!
Joe Stowell President, Cornerstone University
CHAPEL The design for our new chapel is highly missional. It is structured to achieve a similar effect as in ancient times when villagers who lived in hovels of existence would look to the end of the marketplace and see the cathedral which represented God’s presence in the midst of their daily routines. Walking into the cathedral they were impressed with a sense of the presence of a majestically transcendent God who at the same time could be intimately experienced. The addition of a chapel to our community relates directly to our intention to provide a robust spiritual environment where students can develop not just academically but as devoted followers of Jesus Christ. In addition, we believe that a chapel on campus will stand as an icon to both our internal and external communities that we are a worshipping community where Jesus Christ is central. Currently chapel is held in our gymnasium on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sunday nights. While this has provided marginally effective temporary space, the growth of our student body and the need to worship without distraction now demands a permanent place specifically designed for worship. We view community worship and interaction with God’s Word as a primary distinctive of our commitment to a Christ-centered experience. That makes the chapel even more compelling,
“My late husband Ed and I had prayed for years that the Lord would provide a chapel for Cornerstone. It is at the heart of who they desire to be; worshippers of Jesus Christ. I am pleased to see it becoming a reality and Lord willing, be part of the Christ Chapel Dedication and Celebration in 2015.”
– Marge Daverman Friend of Cornerstone University
To emphasize the fact that we worship as community, the seating is designed in a round space which reflects our commitment to actualize our faith both vertically and horizontally. The chapel will be strategically placed at the south end of the campus between one of our major classroom buildings and student commons area to give it primary visibility in the life of the campus.
We are building the chapel with the broader community in mind as well. We would like to make a contribution to greater Grand Rapids by constructing space that would attract major civic functions and community gatherings.
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MEDIA In addition to our need for a chapel, two of our growing divisions are in need of expanded facilities. These two divisions—Media and Music—are particularly relevant to the outcome of equipping graduates who will effectively influence culture for Christ.
“CU’s media department taught me how to better tell the story of the brokenness and how to spread awareness to the world around me when I went to Zambia in 2014. I had a chance to document firsthand the relief work happening there so that others can see how they can get involved and also be the hands and feet of Christ.” – Matthew Miller (CU ‘13) Owner/Director, Shadowshine Productions
Our Media Division serves one of our largest majors. Our Media majors select from a menu of opportunities that prepare them to excel in areas of influence such as film production, audio technology, social media, communications, public relations, digital media and other specialties that hold great potential for impacting our world for Christ.
Matt Miller (holding the camera) a CU film alum, uses his degree in Zambia, Africa, to raise awareness of how to prevent malaria through bed nets.
In order to provide the appropriate facilities and equipment for the enrollment growth in this strategic part of our mission, we are in need of expanding our capacity with stateof-the-art equipment and educational space to maximize our potential. This campaign seeks to raise funds to develop classroom space, a viewing theater, editing suites and a cutting edge sound stage that will enable us to produce media products where creativity can be nurtured and encouraged.
COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA ALUMNI Matthew Miller (‘13) – Owner/director, Shadowshine Pictures Katie Webb (‘12) – Locations manager, Independent Feature Films Michael Cervantes (‘11) – Recording engineer, Masterdisk, New York Sarah Schaefer (‘11) – Recording engineer, Brilliance Audio Tim Devaney (‘10) – National reporter, The Washington Times Luke Stier (‘07) – Executive Director at Wood TV 8 (NBC) CORNE RSTONE WWW.CO R N E RSTONE.EDU/CHAPEL-PROJECT Dan Martinez (‘10) – Cinematographer, 15four Productions Ryan Humm (‘11) – Freelance filmmaker
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MEDIA IS PERHAPS THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL OF SOCIETAL CHANGE AND WE WANT TO ENGAGE OUR CULTURE WITH MESSAGE OF FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE. – PETE MUIR DIVISION CHAIR, COMMUNICATIONS & MEDIA
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MUSIC Our Music Division is focused on preparing biblically and theologically grounded musicians who will use their talents to encourage and inspire the church world-wide as well as impacting the culture with music that brings the glory of God and the message of the gospel to an increasingly needy world. One has only to look around to see how many people exercise, work and spend leisure time with ear buds feeding music into their souls, to say nothing of the multitude of Christians who count on music to inspire, encourage and support them in their walks of life. Throughout the history of the church music has been the backbone of Kingdom enterprise. From Paul and Silas singing in jail, to the great hymns of the Reformation, to the “CU is where I realized that music was something that I really majestic works of Handel, Bach and needed to pursue, and through voice lessons, theory courses, Beethoven, to slaves singing of and other opportunities within the Music Division, learned Jesus as they toiled in the fields, to skills that I needed to get to where I am today. I am so grateful contemporary composers and artists for my time at CU, the friendships made, the mentorship of like the Gettys, Chris Tomlin and Matt incredible leaders, and the way God used CU to play a big Redman, music has played a central part in propelling me into my destiny.” role in the advance of church. We are glad to be involved in the enterprise of feeding Christ-centered musicians into this mainstream of the Spirit’s work.
– Megan Tibbits (CU ‘10), Professional Musician Worship leader at The Oasis Church in Los Angeles L.A. Music Awards Female Singer/Songwriter of the Year
The renovated Matthews Performing Arts Center opened in February 2014.
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CU offers majors like Music Education (K-12), Worship Arts, Contemporary Christian Music Instrumental/Vocal Performance.
and
For many years our music groups have had to rent off-campus venues for their concerts. There was no suitable performance space on campus, which hindered the accessibility for many of our students to enjoy and benefit from the ministry of our music groups. That has all changed! We now have a newly renovated Matthews Performing Arts Center to meet the need for a performance venue. To complement to new venue, the Music Division seeks to expand teaching and practice suites, rehearsal space for worship teams and small ensembles, as well as faculty offices and teaching space.
“This performing arts center benefits both musician and audience alike. A new stage and room lighting, as well as new sound and acoustical features complete the renovation. This will be a space from which students will benefit for many years to come for their concerts and recitals.” – Michael Stockdale Division Chair, Music Division, ARCM, DipRCM
The University Chorale, pictured above, is one of several vocal ensembles at Cornerstone University. The CU Influence Campaign helped expand and renovate the Music Division facilities that reopened in February 2014. WWW.CO R N E RSTONE.EDU/CHAPEL-PROJECT
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the artists Peter Brandes, a renowned artist from Denmark, was commissioned by Cornerstone University to create four original stained glass windows for the 29,000 sq. ft. chapel. He and his wife, Maja Lisa Engelhardt, pictured, are two leading artists in their home country of Denmark. The couple will visit campus in September to set up a studio where the stained glass windows will be constructed. The four windows will grace the walls of the chapel’s sanctuary, reflecting a posture of worship and reflection. Each of the four stained glass windows will be installed 23 feet high above the floor on each wall of the sanctuary with natural light pouring through the colored glass. The windows serve as both works of art and symbols of faith, depicting different Biblical accounts in both the Old Testament and New Testament. The corners of each window include symbols of the twelve apostles that are incorporated in many of Brandes’ other works. Along with the stained glass, a large cross, sculpted by Maja Lisa, will be a focal point of the chapel’s sanctuary interior. It will be positioned in the worship center, suspended from the north facing wall.
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Stained Glass
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The interior seating of Christ Chapel is purposely designed in a round space to reflect our commitment to actualize our faith both vertically and horizontally.
To meet the growing needs of the Music Divisions, included in the Christ Chapel construction are new and expanded practice suites, rehearsal space for worship teams and small ensembles, as well as faculty offices and teaching space. WWW.CO R N E RSTONE.EDU/CHAPEL-PROJECT
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A drop-off location on the West side of Christ Chapel will be used as the main entrance for the community.
The entrance facing the clock tower on campus will invite the campus community to worship together.
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CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY’S CAMPAIGN TO RESOURCE A NEW GENERATION OF INFLUENCERS Cornerstone University continues to play an increasingly significant role in shaping the next generation through the enterprise of Christian Higher Education. In particular, our uniqueness as an intentionally Christ-centered university means that all of our intellectual, professional and spiritual pursuits are driven and defined by the preeminence of Jesus Christ as Lord of our campus culture. Our entire university structure and programming is focused on this outcome. Given our growing enrollment and strategic opportunities to maximize our capacity to graduate young men and women who will activate a faithful presence for Christ, we stand at a critical juncture in terms of needing to expand and add facilities that relate directly to the success of our mission. Given the comprehensive scope of the campaign, the financial requirement to create space to enable us to advance our mission, prepare students and influence the cultures of our world for Christ is $23,550,000. CHRIST CHAPEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $13.75 MILLION MUSIC (GORDON & MATTHEWS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.4 MILLION MEDIA FACILITIES (FABER) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 3.0 MILLION ENDOWMENT FOR SCHOLARSHIPS & PROGRAMMING ���������������������������������$ 3.4 MILLION CU INFLUENCE TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 23.55 MILLION RAISED TO DATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 17 MILLION
HOW WILL YOU BE INVOLVED? Will you help us to advance our mission by: •
Prayer for the ongoing growth of Cornerstone University
•
Considering a generous gift to CU Influence over and above your current level of support. Your gift over the next three years will fund CU Influence and 10% of each gift will grow the Student Fund.
•
Types of Gifts: Cash/Check, Land/Property, Deferred Gifts, Stocks, Appreciated Assets, In Kind Gifts
•
Consider assisting Cornerstone by sharing the good things happening at CU with your network of friends
•
Consider giving at www.cornerstone.edu/chapel-project
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GIFT CHART
remaining $6,600,000 goal
GIFT
GIFTS
GIFT LEVEL
CUMULATIVE
LEVEL
NEEDED
TOTAL
TOTAL
$1,000,000
1
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
$750,000
2
$1,500,000
$2,500,000
$500,000
4
$2,000,000
$4,500,000
$250,000
4
$1,000,000
$5,500,000
$100,000
2
$200,000
$5,700,000
$75,000
1
$75,000
$5,775,000
$50,000
1
$50,000
$5,825,000
$25,000
4
$100,000
$5,925,000
$15,000
8
$120,000
$6,045,000
$10,000
11
$110,000
$6,155,000
$7,500
16
$120,000
$6,275,000
$5,000
20
$100,000
$6,375,000
$3,000
25
$75,000
$6,450,000
$1,500
50
$75,000
$6,525,000
$750
100
$75,000
Totals
249
$6,600,000 $6,600,000
If you would like to support a specific facet of the campaign (chapel, media, music, endowment) or dedicate a certain part of a building, we would certainly enjoy talking with you about this possibility.
Cornerstone students lead worship at one of the CU weekly chapel services.
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Gordon Music Hall will be attached to the new chapel after the completion of the facility allowing music students to enjoy renovated practice rooms and additional class space.
Funds from the CU Influence Campaign will be used to provide additional practice rooms as the one pictured above to meet the growing demand.
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“To God be the glory...now and forever”; Chapel Groundbreaking, Jan. 22, 2014
“We have a blueprint of the new chapel hanging in the Campus Service Office that we put Bible verses on. One of the verses is Psalm 90:17 ‘Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!’ This verse has been an encouragement to the crews and the many students who have worked diligently to set up and tear down the chapel space for worship. The verse has become somewhat of a mission statement for the setup/tear down crews. The mission of Psalm 90:17 is being continued by building a chapel and further engaging our students and community to a life of worship and influencing our world for Christ.” – Darron Schroeder (CU ‘16) Student worker with Campus Services “Our mission at Cornerstone University is to equip our students to influence their world for Christ. Christ Chapel, along with the expansion of our music and media facilities is core to this commitment! Each day as I drive past the university and see Christ Chapel at the center of campus, I’m reminded of what is fundamental at Cornerstone: the worship, praise and service of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!”
“Having a dedicated chapel has long been a goal of the university, and to see plans for one coming to fruition is terribly exciting. You pray for something and you dream about something for so many years, and then finally see it really begin to come to pass.” – Charles Alber (CU ‘62) Cornerstone University Trustee for 40 years
– Steve Hawks (CU ‘81) Cornerstone University Board Chairman
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