The
GREAT COMMISSION CENTER WE ARE CALLED TO TEACH WE ARE CALLED TO GO
WE ARE CALLED TO TEACH WE ARE CALLED TO GO
Dear ETBU Family, On behalf of East Texas Baptist University, I express our sincere appreciation for the generosity you have shown ETBU through your faithfulness to advance the Christ-centered mission of the University. Your friendship and enduring partnership in supporting East Texas Baptist has been such an encouragement to our shared Kingdom calling. In Ephesians 4, Paul urges the church at Ephesus, “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Paul then declares, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” As I look around at the brokenness and division that entangles humanity, this passage has become a reminder that we as God’s people share one faith. We share one calling. We serve one Lord. We trust one hope. We proclaim one great name. Thus, we are called to love others the way He loves us. We are called to make disciples. WE ARE CALLED TO TEACH others about His name, the one name that remains supreme throughout the ages. WE ARE CALLED TO GO. At ETBU, we believe that when we remain steadfast in our reliance upon the Holy Spirit’s power and true to Christ’s mission, others are drawn to His truth and wisdom. Then, by His grace, they become enthusiastic partners with us in God’s work. Committed to living out the Great Commission from Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20, ETBU serves a pivotal role to engage, educate, equip, and empower East Texas Baptist students and graduates as pillars of influence in their academic discipline and future vocations. Our prayer is that all of the ETBU Family will be used by God to significantly impact the lives of other people with the Gospel of Christ. I am grateful for your unwavering support to East Texas Baptist University and for your faithful proclamation of His one great name.
Dr. J. Blair Blackburn President
“THEN JESUS CAME TO THEM AND SAID, ‘ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME. THEREFORE GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. AND SURELY I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE VERY END OF THE AGE.’” MATTHEW 28:18-20
The
GREAT COMMISSION CENTER God continues to call more and more students to pursue Christ-centered education at ETBU. This enrollment growth necessitated the building of additional housing in recent years, and now additional educational space is needed to accommodate the new generation of ETBU Tigers. After prayer, discussion, and reflection, God etched a strategic vision on the heart of East Texas Baptist University to construct a center for academic learning, spiritual discipleship, business leadership, and career development. Called the Great Commission Center, the building will be the physical manifestation of ETBU’s core mission of developing Christian servant leaders and encouraging all believers to fulfill the Great Commission from Matthew 28:18-20. Through its academic and spiritual programs, the Great Commission Center will serve as the central facility and primary catalyst for teaching students to gain an understanding of their responsibility to live as a disciple of Christ and to go make disciples for the Kingdom of God. The Great Commission Center will also be home to one of ETBU’s largest academic programs, the Fred Hale School of Business. The new Hale School of Business building will serve as a training ground for ETBU graduates to pursue their career callings. The modern 21st century learning facility will be dedicated to educating ethical Christian business leaders for corporate America and for an international marketplace spanning global economies.
EMBRACE faith
ENGAGE minds
EMPOWER leaders
ENHANCE community
WE ARE CALLED TO WE ARE CALLED TO
TEACH GO With inspiration from Baker Library at Harvard University, which also houses the Harvard Business School, the Great Commission Center will stand at the forefront of the ETBU campus and will become the focal symbol for quality Christian education, servant leadership, ethics, and excellence in business leadership throughout the East Texas region and beyond. This beautiful, iconic building will reflect the institution’s adopted Classical Georgian Collegiate architecture. The approximately 23,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility will provide for vital academic, student services, and co-curricular space for the ETBU campus community.
EMBRACE faith
Developing the mind, body, and soul of our students transpires through the integration of faith and learning. As we offer the Christ-centered educational experience provided through East Texas Baptist University, we understand that intellectual development and spiritual formation begin with challenging students, faculty, and staff, to embrace their faith in Christ Jesus. Our campus community achieves this, in part, through the Great Commission Program, an institution-wide initiative which connects students, faculty, and staff with local communities in East Texas, cities throughout the United States, and cultures across the world in fulfillment of the Great Commission call in Scripture. This ETBU mission-centered and ministry-minded program will be housed within the future Great Commission Center strategically located at the apex of campus. This new facility will allow for the expansion of the Great Commission Program which fulfills Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations in three primary ways: Promote missions and ministries Prepare individuals for serving Provide opportunities for service and ministry locally and globally e share with students the University’s theme verse, Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and W lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” With a unified discernment strategy by faculty and staff, students are encouraged to concentrate their educational preparation and professional training toward the pursuit of God’s career, ministry, and service callings. The Great Commission Center will be a prominent display of the building’s namesake, as the new home for the Great Commission Program and the epicenter for ETBU mission training and deployment.
FIRST FLOOR A LOOK INSIDE Fred Hale School of Business Office Suite Great Commission Program Office Suite Career Development Office Suite Business Faculty Offices
Colonnade
SECOND FLOOR
Discipleship Hall Student Individual and Group Study Rooms Innovation Learning Lab Market Student Commons Lecture Hall Instructional Classrooms Great Hall (multi-purpose room for banquets, worship, performing arts, seminars, concerts, conferences, and community events)
THIRD FLOOR
EXTERIOR ELEVATIONS
A LOOK OUTSIDE 12
Classical Georgian Collegiate Architecture with red/brown brick blend Cupola Tower, featuring Cross of Christ
SITE PLAN
Belfry, housing a digital bell system for playing of hymns, praises, and patriotic anthems Proverbs 3:5-6 Path
Psalm 37 Steps The Calling Garden, featuring Max Greiner’s “The Great Commission” Sculpture
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ENGAGE minds
ETBU is committed to equipping students through excellence in teaching, scholarship, and research to explore God’s truths and provide the knowledge, skills, and resources for academic success, degree completion, employment opportunity, and lifelong learning. The Great Commission Center will accommodate ETBU’s need for large classrooms, medium-size classrooms, and conference meeting rooms, along with dedicated space for individual and group student study in the Market Student Commons. The building will also house the University’s Office of Career Development, bridging students from academic study to career preparation to vocational placement.
SECOND FLOOR
EMPOWER leaders
An innovative 21st century learning center with historic architectural and educational identity, the Great Commission Center will advance the Fred Hale School of Business’ awareness, relevance, and reputation as a leading Christ-centered business school for undergraduate and graduate studies.
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FIRST FLOOR
The marriage of the Business School with the Great Commission Program is not just a convenient way to house two departments. It is a recognition of the call of every Christian to make disciples as they go into the world with their God-given vocation, whether that be as an executive, entrepreneur, financial planner, teacher, nurse, physical therapist, coach, or minister. filler
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— Dr. Barry Evans Dean, Fred Hale School of Business
ENHANCE community
This cornerstone project will support the foundation for ETBU to be agile as the University continues to thrive. Building this facility will enhance existing academic programs while simultaneously opening the campus doors even wider to the East Texas community with a variety of versatile spaces for community support organizations, area non-profits, and churches.
THIRD FLOOR
The Great Commission Center’s Great Hall will be a centerpiece for Christian scholarship, business and leadership programming, fellowship, performing arts, worship activities, and community life enrichment, meeting the University and Marshall’s need for an expanded, multi-purpose event space.
THE LORD’S PROVISION DR. JIM TEAGUE ETBC Alumnus, Dr. Jim Teague (’68) gave the initial lead gift to launch the campaign, and we are grateful to report that more than $3,000,000 has already been committed to the $7,500,000 Great Commission Center Building Campaign. Dr. Teague was the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Humanities for his service to God and humanity at ETBU’s Spring 2018 Commencement ceremony. We are grateful for Dr. Teague’s generosity and partnership to support business education and student learning development during this pivotal point in our institution’s history.
J.E. AND L.E. MABEE FOUNDATION The J.E. and L. E. Mabee Foundation recently awarded East Texas Baptist University a challenge grant in the amount of $1,500,000 toward the construction of the Great Commission Center. To receive the challenge grant funds from the Mabee Foundation, the University will need to raise an additional $3,000,000 for the project by July 2021. The Mabee Foundation has generously contributed to the Christ-centered mission of East Texas Baptist in recent years by assisting with the restoration of the Marshall Grand in downtown Marshall, which now houses ETBU’s School of Nursing, as well as past gifts that brought several well-known facilities to reality, including the Ornelas Residential Center, Mabee Housing Complex, and Jenna Guest Music Building. Since its formation in 1948, the Mabee Foundation has made grants totaling over $1.2 billion for non-profit organizations in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas.
Will you GO with us? The Great Commission Center will be a magnificent facility for articulating ETBU’s Christ-centered mission and equipping students to live out their vocation for Jesus’ calling on their lives, while serving, simultaneously, as a gathering place for the campus community to be empowered to TEACH, and to GO, and to make disciples for His one great name. Throughout the years, ETBU alumni and donors have been faithful to support the growth and development of the University. This Kingdom Vision will require broader participation and greater support from the ETBU Family. Will you pray that God will draw individuals, families, and businesses to partner with us to create a center for academic learning, spiritual discipleship, and career development? WILL YOU PRAY TO GO WITH US?
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This beautiful site will be a brick and mortar representation of our understanding of the depth and breadth of the Great Commission: to make disciples. The ministry through the Great Commission Program will reach into the world for Christ through those ETBU teaches and influences. One of the things I am most looking forward to with the new Great Commission Center is having a central location for students, faculty, staff, and campus guests to find information, training, and encouragement as they seek to fulfill the Great Commission in their daily lives. To focus our work on instilling these teachings, literally making disciples on our campus and in our community, is a life changing ministry. — Dr. Lisa Seeley Director, Global Education and the Great Commission Program
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FIRST FLOOR
PSALM 37 STEPS
DEAN’S OFFICE
FACULTY OFFICES
CONFERENCE ROOM C AREER LAB INTERVIEW ROOM
GREAT COMMISSION PROGRAM SUITE GREAT COMMISSION DIRECTOR’S OFFICE
DISCIPLESHIP HALL
ADVISOR’S OFFICE
MINISTRY RESOURCE ROOM
FACULTY RESOURCE ROOM SCHOOL OF BUSINESS SUITE
FACULTY OFFICES
SUPPLY PANTRY MINISTRY CLOSET COLONNADE
SECOND FLOOR
C AREER DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR’S OFFICE
STUDENT STUDY ROOMS
GROUP STUDY ROOMS
PRAYER ROOM
STUDENT STUDY ROOMS
INNOVATION LEARNING LAB MARKET STUDENT COMMONS LECTURE HALL
THIRD FLOOR
INSTRUCTIONAL CLASSROOMS
GREAT HALL STORAGE ROOM GREAT HALL KITCHEN
HEBREWS 10:24-25 GATHERING GALLERY GREAT HALL TECHNOLOGY ROOM
NAMING OPPORTUNITIES Great Commission Center $2,000,000 First Floor $1,000,000 Second Floor $1,000,000 Third Floor $1,000,000 Great Hall $1,000,000 Psalm 37 Steps $250,000 Colonnade $250,000 Lecture Hall $100,000 The Calling Garden $100,000 “The Great Commission”® Sculpture $80,000 Market Student Commons $75,000 Discipleship Hall $75,000 (2) Instructional Classrooms $50,000 Hebrews 10:24-25 Gathering Gallery $50,000 Great Commission Suite $40,000 School of Business Suite $40,000 Innovation Learning Lab $35,000 Dean’s Office $25,000 Great Commission Director’s Office $25,000 Career Development Director’s Office $25,000 (6) Faculty Offices $15,000 Student Conference Room $15,000 (2) Group Study Rooms $10,000 Advisor’s Office $10,000 Conference Room $10,000 Prayer Room $10,000 (4) Student Study Rooms $5,000 Faculty Resource Room $5,000 Ministry Resource Room $5,000 Career Development Laboratory $5,000 Career Development Interview Room $5,000 Ministry Closet $5,000 Supply Pantry $5,000 Great Hall Technology Room $2,500 Great Hall Storage Room $2,500 Great Hall Kitchen $2,500
with us! Name Email Phone kindly accepts the invitation to partner in building the Great Commission Center and Fred Hale School of Business. Please contact me regarding special naming opportunities. I would like to make a one-time contribution of $ I would like to make a monthly contribution of $ for (2-36) months. I would like to make a pledge of $ and will pay it in full within 36 months. To carry out the Lord’s vision for the Great Commission Center and the Fred Hale School of Business, please complete and return this commitment card or make a donation online at www.ETBU.edu/GCC. If you prefer to schedule a meeting with Vice President for Advancement Scott Bryant or President J. Blair Blackburn, please email advancement@ETBU.edu, or call 903.923.2071.
TO PARTNER WITH US IN FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION VISIT WWW.ETBU.EDU/GCC