Liberty Journal July/August 2008

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS CHUCK NORRIS ADDRESSES CLASS OF ‘08

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JULY/AUGUST 2008

Letter from the Chancellor submitted photo

Summer has begun and the Liberty University campus is relatively quiet.

Over 19,000 attended commencement exercises on May 10, and more than 4,700 graduates received degrees. The graduation crowd witnessed history, not only because of the record number of graduates and record attendance, but because it was also the first LU commencement address to be delivered by a speaker wearing cowboy boots.

Accomplished television and film actor and martial arts expert Chuck Norris talked about how God has been instrumental in his family life and his career. He also told the graduates that they could not go wrong if they would allow God to direct their steps.

It was a spectacular end to a wonderful school year, my first as chancellor. God’s continued blessings after my father’s passing convinced us all once again that Liberty University is God’s school and His hand remains on the university. We are constantly reminded of the awesome responsibility that we have to this great institution and to the founding generation.

One poignant reminder of lessons learned from those who came before occurred to me recently when it was announced that Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor. Philosophically and politically, Liberty University Chancellor Kennedy and my father were diametrically opposed, but Jerry Falwell Jr. visits Senator that did not prevent their friendship. My father invited Ted Kennedy at Kennedy’s Kennedy to speak at Liberty University on Oct. 3, 1983. home in McLean, Va., in 1985.

I was in my third year at Liberty and remember the event well.

We were impressed with Kennedy as he and his family ate dinner at our family’s home. He was warm and personable and reminded me of Dad in many ways. When he spoke to Liberty University students, he was well received and, even though the students did not agree with much of what he said, they were polite and kind. He stayed in touch with my father after he left Lynchburg.

The next year, I applied for admission to the law school at the University of Virginia, where Kennedy had attended. He volunteered to write a letter of recommendation for me. I am sure the faculty was surprised to see a Kennedy recommending a Falwell, but I guess it helped because I was admitted. Later, when I was a student at the University of Virginia Law School, Kennedy invited our entire family to have dinner at his home in McLean, Va. On another occasion, when my father was in south Florida, Kennedy asked him to come and pray with his mother who was nearly 100 years old and in failing health. Dad was honored to oblige the request and visit with Rose Kennedy.

Over the years our family encountered the senator less frequently, but I was struck by one particular act of kindness on his part just a few years ago. In 2005, when my father was hospitalized with severe pulmonary edema, one of the first letters he received was from Kennedy. The letter was heartfelt and encouraging, wishing my father a quick recovery. I am sure that if my father were alive today, he would be the first to send a similar letter of well wishes to Kennedy.

I hope that our generation can learn from the relationship between my father and Senator Kennedy. Both of these men understood that they could disagree without being disagreeable. They were both lightning rods for their respective causes, but they treated each other with civility and respect.

4

LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

LIBERTY

Journal

Liberty Journal is an official bimonthly publication of Liberty University.

Publisher

Jerry Falwell Jr.

EXECUTIVE Editor Ron Brown

Managing Editor Tara Maxwell

CONTRIBUTING Editor Becki Falwell

ART DIRECTOR Krista Freeman

MANAGING DESIGNER Laura Sipple

DesignER

Brittany LaBarre

Design INTERN Becca Hughes

Writers

Carrie Barnhouse Mitzi Bible Eric Brown Ron Brown Teresa Dunham Carmen Fleischauer Johnnie Moore Todd Wetmore William H. Willimon

MANAGING PHOTOGRAPHER Jerome Sturm

Photographers Jordan Crossingham Les Schofer

Circulation & Quality Control Claire Diamond

Business & ADVERTISING MANAGER Steve Peterson

Sept./Oct. Advertising Deadline JULY 10, 2008 (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 434-582-2432 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.

CONTENTS Liberty Journal July/August 2008

6

FOLLOWING THEIR FAITH

14

SEASON OF OPPORTUNITY

28

D.C. DUTY

40

LIBERTY IN PRINT

48

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

58

CLASS NOTES

62

ON THE RUN

Chuck Norris addresses record number of graduates, visitors at commencement

LU alumnus diagnosed with AIDS shares his story of forgiveness

Partnership allows students to participate in variety of internships in our nation’s capital

New books by Liberty professors and ministry leaders hit the shelves

Pair of theatre students cast in film about Billy Graham’s early years

Stay connected to Liberty alumni across the country through updates and announcements

LU professor goes the ‘ultra’ mile

SECTIONS 6

GENERAL NEWS

24 STUDENT LIFE 37

THE CHURCH

43

MEMORIES FROM LIBERTY MOUNTAIN

46 ACADEMIC LIFE

ON THE COVER Commencement exercises were held May 10 at Williams Stadium; photo by Jordan Crossingham.

52

OPINION-Editorial

57

Alumni

62

Sports

www.liberty.edu

5

GENERAL NEWS

Liberty University Graduates CHAR G E D to follow their FAITH

by Ron Brown Liberty Journal

L

iberty Unive University graduates this year were urged to remain true to their Christian roo roots.

“Remember mber you are our o ambassadors wherever you go,” LU Provostt Boyd Rist told graduates at May 10 commencement. ncement.“Your associates will judge judg Christian higher education by how you conduct onduct yo yourselves.”

6

LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

Rist continued with a charge char for LU graduates uates to set an example for others.

“As you graduate, you should not find satisfaction faction with the commonplace in character, racter, attitude and values,” he sai said.

“By your example, you should raise the intellectual ellectual and the moral tone of society.”

Chancellor hancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. of offered some me parting words to graduates, graduate parents and nd grandparents. grandparent

About the Class of ’08 “I want to thank k parents for trusting us u with your most precious ecious possessions,” Falwell Fa Jr. said.“Because your children were at a LU, it is our prayer that they’ll never be the same s again.”

He told graduates to expect the unexpected d in life.

“There e will be many times time in your life that you see no connection between betw your life’s goal and nd what you’re experiencing, expe ” Falwell Jr. said.“But if you are like me, you’ll look back in hin hindsight nds dsig ight and unde understand why God put you ou through h everything everyth you experienced. ev In all likelihood, you’ll y see purpose in every experience of your yo life – because God had a plan for you ou the whole time, even when you couldn’ n’t see it. In the end, you will see that many ny of the trials and tribulat tribulations were we intended ed by God to toughen you up to endur ure more trying times ahead.”

Falwell Jr. drew on the lessons he learned lea as a young lawyer and general couns counsel for LU in the late 1980s, when the univ university was experiencing financial troubles. troubles “I spent the last 20 years helping to establish a firm financial foundation for this university,” he said.“I “ saw incredible miracles overr and over. God stepped in time and time again to provide the exact amount amo needed to keep the lights on and payroll pay

paid just in the nick of time. Itt was God’s way of letting us know thatt LU is His school. s ” Falwell Jr. said LU’s 2008 008 class is the first class to graduate from m a debt-free institution.

The Class of 2008 08 is also the th largest graduating class in the history histo of Liberty University with h 4,805 members, me compared with 3,598 graduates in i the class of 2007.

After showers blanketed b much of Central al Virginia o overnight, the graduation ceremonies monies went w off without a hitch under blue, lue, sunny skies.

Abou bout 20,000 people attended the ceremony ce held in LU’s Williams Foo ootball Stadium.

Just after sunrise, graduates es and their family members streamed toward the facility. f Proud graduates stopped topped occasionally occa to have photographs hs taken with loved ones.

In the stadium um seats, pa parents, grandparentss and friends friend of graduates sat patiently for a couple coupl of hours waiting for commencement men e cement to begin.

Shortly Shortl tlyy after 8:30 a.m., the procession of graduates began gan to file into their seats.

The cere ceremony ny was set to patriot patriotic and Christian music sic provided by b soloist Charles Billingsley, Sounds nds of Liberty, the LU Chamber singerss a an nd wind ensemble.

Graduates Present at commencement

4,782 2,751

Resident Distance Learning

1,896 2,886

Schools/Colleges Arts & Sciences Business Communication Engineering & Comp Science Education Government Law Religion Seminary Willmington School of Bible Liberty Home Bible Institute Institute of Biblical Studies Online Academy

1,893 796 309 48 288 125 37 598 627 15 36 5 5

DEGREES Graduate P.h.D./Doctoral Master’s Undergraduate Associate’s Bachelor’s Diplomas

138 1,422 189 2,972 61

Top Undergrad Majors Religion Business MLDS Psychology Communications

The late Dr. Jerry Falwell received the James W. Nance Medal of Freedom for public service from Jane Helms Knox, daughter of Senator Jesse Helms.

Miscellaneous facts States Countries Military Public Service

48 55 545 112

www.liberty.edu

7

GENERAL NEWS

Chuck Norris

gives commencement speech

C

by Mitzi Bible Liberty Journal

huck Norris, most known n for fo his good-guy role defending justice tice on TV’s Walker,Texas Ranger, was met with h loud d cheers ch from the crowd when he first appeare eared on stage before the start of commencement ent exercises May 10 at Williams Stadium.“Chuck! Chuc Chuck! Chuck!” they yelled.

After an introduction on b

by Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr., Norris took the stage age to receive his honorary Doctorate of Humanities ies d degree (shown at right with Falwell and Dr. Ron Godwin, LU’s executive vice president and God chief opera operating officer). r As “Dr. Chuck Norris,” in full commmencement commme regalia, he began his speech ch by first admitt admitting that being behind a podium was as not familiar territory. te “I have to tell you I don’t do this t very often — in fact, I don’t do it at all,” he grinned. g “But I hope that by the time you hear my testimony, you’ll see e how instrumental God G has been in my life.”

Norris shared his “journey in life,” about being born in Oklahoma to a poor family, ily being baptized at age 12, and having a mother who was strong in her faith and always reminded him:“God has plans for you.”

He told about his childhood with an alcoholic father, his shyness in school and not being athletic as a kid.

8

LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

He entered H ntered the Air Force after high schoo ol and was in K Korea when he was first introduced ntro oduced to martial arts arts, he said. That led him to become a martial arts instructor in when he returned rned to the U.S. and to w win many tournaments in the 1960s, including World Karate Championships. hips. Through this, th he met actor Bruce Lee and eventual ntually performed a fight scene for him in a movie. ovie.

This kicked off his entertainment career.

As he starred in more films, he said, “Myy career caree started building and unfortunatelyy I got ssucked into the entertainment world of Holly Hollywood, and I wound up drifting from my faith. th. I had been in films and I had fame and fortune, but I was w very unhappy and I couldn’t figure out why. I thoug thought the harder I worked, the happier I’d be. e. But the h harder I worked, the more famous I got, the bigger bigge the hole in my heart became, bec and I never could figure out why that was happening.”

One day his wife, Gena, read the Bible aloud to him. It was at that point, he said, “It was like the Holy Spirit h hit me. He said, ‘Chuck, uck, it’s time to come home. home ’… So I did. I renewed d my faith. … I was hot for tthe Lord and I still am m to this day.”

He left the graduates raduates with Proverb Proverbs 19:21:“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but the Lord directs his steps,” he said.“The Lord has directed my steps now through the e last 10 years. And I hope you’ll let Him direct your ur steps, because if you do, you can’t go wrong — I promise you you.”

This was not the first time this year Liberty students had a chance to see e Norris — that is, if you count his appearance on the big screens eens in the Vines Center in a commercial endorsing 2008 08 Presidential Presi candidate Mike Huckabee, who spoke at LU thi this fall.

In fact, it was during Huckabee’s ee’s se second trip to Lynchburg Lynchburg, to visit Thomas Road Baptist Church, that Falwell (who gave

GENERAL NEWS his personal ersonal endorsement of Huckabee Huckabee) decided ed he would try to contact c Norris.

“He e [Huckabee] gave me Mrs. Norris’ cell phone p one number,” Falwell said.“I called her and introduced ntroduced myself.We seemed to have much mu in n common with the Norris family. I then se sent a formal ormal invitation [to speak at graduation] graduation and d the Norris ffamily amil am ilyy a accepte cce ed.”

But Falwell said the idea started with B LU students. students “A A student named Joshua Grant starte started a Facebook group last fall asking that Chuck Norris orris be invited to speak at LU. Many other oth students asked me to invite him. him ” He said the announcement announcemen in March that at Norris would be the commencement commencemen speaker eaker energized ener zed the student body.

“Many have thanked me, an and the number ber who had planned to w walk in the ceremony mony steadily climbed since we made mad the announcement. nouncemen ” In addition ddition to Huckabee, Norris has also campaigned ned for President George Geor e W. Bush and for his father. her. He has authored Christian books books, including his autobiography autobi graphy “Against All Odds, Odd ” detailing etailing his faith journey. Outside of his KICK START ART foundation for at-risk youth, h his other humanitarian manitarian works include spoke spokesperson person for fo the United Way, the Veterans Administ Administration and the he Make-A-Wish Foundation. He also writes a column for the conservative n news website WorldNetDaily about political issues and fami familyy and faith values.

With all ll that he has done in his varying careers reers — and most importantly as a Christian istian — Norris was an obvious ch choice for commencement ommencement speaker, Falwell said.

“Liber berty’s ’s mission is to train gradu graduates to become leaders in every profession rofession and to represent Christ well in everything tthey do. Two of our students secured major parts in a Hollywood ollywood movie recently. recentl It is not out of the realm ealm of possibility p ssibility that the Chuc Chuck Norrises of the future are amon among the Class Cla of 2008 at Liberty University.

Univer ”

Becki Falwell, wife of Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr., sits with Gena Norris, wife of Chuck Norris, and the Norrises’ twins, Danilee and Dakota, during commencement. www.liberty.edu

9

GENERAL NEWS

Q&A with Chuck The Journal spoke to Norris before the graduation ceremonies began.

Q: Whyhy did you accept this inv invitation to

Q: Whatat do you have to say to encourage

come me to today?

seniors graduating from Liberty?

A:“I was always a fan of Jerry Jerr Falwell’s

A:“My My life was a ve very difficult life growing

(Sr.r.’s) and Jerry (Jr.) gave us a call and asked ked us. This is the first time tim I’ve ever done one anything like this. We pretty muc much stick ick close to home and we have our ou own charities harities that we do, but I just felt lik like the Lord ord directed me to come and do this. And I talked to [his wife] Gena about it and we discussed it and said,‘Well if we’re going to do one, this would be the great one to do.’”

up, and I had a lot of insecurities. … I didn’t know now where the Lord was directing me.

And here’s a ki kid who grew up extremely shy and non-athletic, and two of the things thin you would d never expect him to accomplish is becoming ming a world champion in martial martia arts and nd becoming an actor. … I’ve always alw wondered dered why the Lord directed me that way ay … and then I found out bec because it gave me the opportunity to sta start a foundation where I can work with a at-risk children and teach them martial a arts in the inner city schools as a wayy of raising their self-esteem and getting them hem on the right track. I could cou never have done that if I hadn’t had martial arts success cess and film success. My film su success iss what got me the opportunity to meet with h former President Bush when he was in office; he’s the one who helped help me get this [the he foundation] started.”

Q: You are receiving an honorary degree deg from om Liberty. What does that mean to yyou?

A:“I didn’t dn’t know that until we we were on our way here. For a little Oklahoma Oklahom boy who just barely got out of high school, th this is quite an honor.” [To which his wife sa said, laughing, ing,“They’ll probably kid you, because be they have to call you doctor now.”]

Past Commencement speakers who have honorary degrees from LU: Carlos Ray Norris Newt Gingrich Sean Hannity Karl C. Rove Adrian Rogers Bill Bright Franklin Graham, III

10

LIBERTY JOU JOURNAL July/August 200 2008

Anthony T. Evans John C. Maxwell Billy Graham Clarence Thomas Phil Gramm Jesse Helms James Dobson Pat Buchanan

George Bush W.A. Criswell Oliver North Edwin Meese Donald Hodel William Armstrong Robert Moore

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The last convocation of the semester, April 30, featured several announcements from Chancellor and President Jerry Falwell, Jr. that will greatly impact student life on campus.

Students cheered loud and long as he took the podium, a tradition that began when he spoke in his first convocation as chancellor last August.

The cheers continued when he announced $240,000 to be spent by Sodexho, the school’s dining services vendor, for more offerings next year as a result of its money-saving trayless initiative. Sodexho will offer more selections, including more proteins on the salad bar, increased beverage selections, filtered water selections, enhanced meat offerings, more fresh fruits, a larger dessert variety, and carved meats three times a week.

Falwell received even more applause when he announced he and his wife Becki’s “little gift� to students — an ice cream truck that would roam campus during the final week of the semester, giving free ice cream to students (pictured above).

Falwell also announced priorities for capital improvements to LU’s campus this year and next. They include: library space under construction in DeMoss Hall, a perimeter road that will run between the baseball field and railroad tracks to Campus North, a new Barnes & Noble ◆

12

LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

APPLAUD continued on page 23

Yet, there is one person who stood by his side during his entire ministry and for 49 years as his wife — Macel Falwell. And in this new book, Macel Falwell talks openly about her amazing journey through life with this man of faith.

It’s a story only she can tell.

Order your copy of this book today by visiting our website:

www.trbc.org

SPECIAL GUEST: RICHIE McDONALD

Former lead singer of “Lonestar”

Come join us for carnival rides, food, games and music beginning at 1:00 p.m. in Liberty University’s Williams Football Stadium for our annual Celebrate America extravaganza. The “God and Country” Celebration will begin at 7:00 p.m. and finish with the largest fireworks display in Central Virginia! Admission and parking are FREE! We invite you and your entire family to be a part of this exciting celebration.

www.liberty.edu

13

Season of

OPPORTUNITY

Jonathan Ervin sings “Affterall” during the Feb. 29 convocation service in the Vines Center at Liberty University. LU students also saw a taped interview with Ervin where he discussed d his former homosexual lifestyle, an AIDS diagnosis and committing the rest of his life to Christ.

“Iʼm not afraid of me being at the end of my life. Thereʼs just a peace, a peace you cannot explain, and there is excitement in me that I cannot wait to get there. I could be wrong, but I feel like this is the last thing on my list, to tell this story.”

by MITZI BIBLE Liberty Journal photos by JORDAN CROSSINGHAM

14

LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

J

onathan Ervin is dying, yet he appears healthy. His doctors can’t explain it, except to say there must be a reason he’s still alive.

Ervin, a 1983 Liberty alumnus, has AIDS. And while most AIDS patients with very low T-cell numbers are ill and bedridden (T-cells are healthy cells that protect the immune system), Ervin, 46, has been able to work, attend church and do most anything else healthy people do.

But he knows that could all change the instant he catches a bad cold or the flu.

That’s why he’s using his time wisely to share his story of God’s forgiveness.

“It’s amazing that God is sustaining me for a season for His purpose,” Ervin said in March.

“Jonny,” as friends call him, grew up the son of a preacher in Memphis, Tenn. He earned an associate’s degree in religion from Liberty; his siblings Pam, Mike and Penny also attended LU. He traveled through Europe with a student missions group and participated in music ministry. He always had a passion for music and longed to be a performer.

But those doors were shut many times, Ervin said. And God’s the one who shut them.

“I’ve always sung and that was my

GENERAL NEWS dream; I wanted to make my living singing.

But I had this secret place, a place I struggled in. When I look back over my life — I don’t believe God would use an unclean vessel — doors that would almost open, shut. …

When I look back now, I know why.”

The secret place Throughout his life Ervin has “fasted, prayed, screamed, begged” for God to take away desires that, if he acted on them, would be sin.

“I first realized that I had same-sex attraction as early as second or third grade.

Growing up in a preacher’s home, Christian school, Christian college, you can imagine how that would torment somebody who feels like they’re different.”

While some who live a homosexual lifestyle say it is natural to aact on their desires, Ervin has always felt conviction.

“I knew what the Biblee said about it.

And it was in such conflict with my spirit — my spirit with God’s trutth — and I just couldn’t accept it. But yet iit was there.”

And he feels it wass there since the beginning.

“I was never introduced to anything of the gay lifestyle. I had never seen pornography, nothing. I was never abused in any way. … It was just there. When I sayy we’re all born into a sin nature, maybe that w was mine.”

He suppressed those desires from time to time with God’s strength, but then gave in during the toughest moments in his life, such as after a divorce.

“Even though this was an area God has given me victory in, when I was down, depressed because of the divorce and hurting, that temptation came back [saying] ‘Walk with me and I can show you how to feel love, comfort, and all those things again.’ … I went back and started dabbling in that again.”

For the most part, Ervin kept his homosexual past and his AIDS diagnosis a secret. Only a couple close friends and family members knew.

Then, one Sunday night last November, he shared his story with hundreds.

A public testimony Ervin said he felt God asking him to go public a couple years ago.

“My first thought was, ‘Absolutely not, I’m not interested,’ and I just pushed it away,” he said. “Over two years’ time, my mind became consumed with it. I

would feel that in the morning when I woke up, at night when I went to bed, during my workday. So finally I said, ‘OK God, if you’re really in this, if you’re asking me to go public, [you’ve] got to prove it to me.’”

That proof came in a meeting with the Rev. Jonathan Falwell in August 2007.

“I told him what had gone on behind closed doors. Without any hesitation he immediately said, ‘Maybe God wants you to speak.’ … It was confirmation. I just shivered [and thought] ‘Oh my gosh, this really was you [God].’”

So on Nov. 18, 2007, Ervin shared his testimony (a sit-down video interview with Charles Billingsley) at Thomas Road Baptist Church and sang a song about God’s forgiveness.

At the end of the service, Falwell called him back on stage for a prayer.

When it was over, Ervin turned to Falwell.

“I’m up there thanking him [Falwell] for the opportunity and he said, ‘You don’t need to talk to me right now, there’s a lot of people that want to speak to you.’ So I looked down and there was a sea of people, all the way to the back of the church.’”

Ervin’s son Shaun, 20, a rising sophomore at Liberty, was there to watch his dad’s first public testimony.

Shaun Ervin, right, shares a laugh with his dad, Jonathan Ervin. Shaun “I was amazed at how is a rising sophomore at Liberty University, his dad’s alma mater. responsive they were to his story and how compassionate everyone was,” Shaun Ervin said. “With something like that, I was just on pins and needles the whole time. But everything went according to God’s plan.”

Although he said it was hard to face the news of his dad’s former homosexual lifestyle and AIDS, he has come to have respect for his changed life.

“I really admire the stand for Christ that he is taking publicly,” he said.

The confession didn’t hurt their father-son bond, he said.

“It hasn’t really changed, if anything it may have brought us a little bit closer.” ◆

SEASON continued on page 16 www.liberty.edu

15

GENERAL NEWS ◆

SEASON from page 15

Jonathan Ervin hugs his friend Sandy Bradshaw, who he also calls his “Lynchburg Mama,” after a recent service at Thomas Road Baptist Church.

A friend to the end Sandy Bradshaw first met Ervin about 15 years ago, through her daughter who worked with him.

“The first time I met him he asked me if I would be his ‘Lynchburg Mama.’

He said his family lived in Memphis and he needed a mom here,” she said. “We have been very close friends ever since.

I talk to him almost daily — he calls me early in the morning and we have coffee together on the phone.”

It was Bradshaw who encouraged him years ago to get a routine physical.

Like a good son, he heeded her advice.

While there, he requested an HIV test, “just to rule it out.”

Two weeks later the doctor called.

The test was positive.

“I was in such denial, [and said] no, you’ve mixed that up with somebody else’s blood and we’ll just do it again,” Ervin said.

But it was real. And not only did he test positive for HIV, but the numbers were already low enough to have done damage.

“HIV infects the body and starts turn-

ing off, one by one, each T-cell. When that number gets down to 200, you’re clinically diagnosed full-blown AIDS.” A normal count (for someone without HIV) is 800-1200, he said. His first count was 400 and has declined since. At his most recent appointment in May, it was 39.

“My nurse in the office just says, ‘You’re a walking miracle.’”

Ervin said he tried the HIV medications to help sustain his life, but they made him very sick so he chose not to take them.

“I made a decision that I wanted quality of life over time,” he said.

And that’s where his friendship with Bradshaw may mean more than ever.

“The amazing thing about all this,” she said, “is I’m a hospice nurse.”

“I have to think this whole meeting [with Ervin] was by God’s design because God knew even before I met Jonathan what his future held. I will certainly be an active participant in his care, to the end of his life.”

Bradshaw, a member of the TRBC choir and a nurse for more than 40 years, said she feels at peace with the situation.

“That is not to say that I will not be

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For a FREE brochure on charitable remainder trusts to Liberty University, please call: 1-800-543-5309 or log on to our award-winning web site: WWW.LUGIVING.COM

We look forward to helping you!

16

LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

GENERAL NEWS upset and miss him terribly, but when God is finished with Jonathan on this earth — I truly believe He’s leaving him here to share with more people and bring them to Christ — I’m OK to let him go.”

And she’s a proud Mama.

“Since he’s been diagnosed, he’s made a complete turnaround. He obeyed the call and I admire him for doing what he’s done. He’s not just talking the talk, Jonathan is living the good life now.”

Making a difference From her position as a registered nurse in Lynchburg’s Infectious Disease Center, Ave Connealy sees AIDS patients every day. Jonathan Ervin, she said, is different.

“Most patients are very reluctant to step out and let their name be known, or their face even. The fear of being exposed is big for them,” she said.

Connealy, who has become friends with Ervin, came to see him sing at Liberty in February.

“If his life can speak and say to others that they don’t have to stay in the lifestyle they are living and there is hope in Christ, then his life is making a differ-

ence,” she said.

At that same service, Ervin said a girl told him about a friend struggling with homosexuality and wanted to know if Ervin could help.

Ervin has given his e-mail address to anyone who asks and welcomes invitations t to sing and tell his story. (See box at right).

In the past few months Ervin has received many e-mails and cards, some from people who have not dealt with HIV or homosexuality, but have been impacted by his story nonetheless.

A woman in her 20s visited Ervin near Christmastime at the Lynchburg salon where he works as a hairdresser.

She had been a customer of his, but she wasn’t someone he remembered particularly. She immediately hugged him, gave him a card and left. He read it later; it said that someone had e-mailed her his testimony and it touched her.

“She said, ‘I was ready to tell my husband I didn’t love him anymore, ready to end my marriage.’ She said, ‘Here I was ready to toss all this away,’” Ervin recalls.

After seeing his testimony, the woman wrote she had realized life “is really about

ASSES FALL CL ing are form bout all a now – C ial FALL c our spe UNT! DISCO

your family and your relationship with God” and she changed her mind.

It’s obvious Ervin is blessing others with his story. But, in turn, he is being blessed. He is able to perform Christian music now — what he always wanted to do.

“It’s kind of To schedule Jonathan, write him at ironic how all JonathanErvin@aol.com. this has come full circle,” he said.

To hear Jonathan’s testimony and song, “I love perforgo to http://jonathanervin.com mance, love being on the stage, love being in front of people, but now it’s a whole new focus.”

Ervin said he has made friends since his first testimony and his old friendships are even stronger. But many would think Ervin has one foe — the disease that is eating away at the cells that are supposed to keep his body healthy.

But even that is not true.

“This is a trite statement but I can say it from my own life: God is certainly too kind to ever hurt you, too wise to ever make a mistake. I share in my story AIDS has become the greatest blessing in my life — absolutely.”

Liberty University®, the world’s largest evangelical university, un introduces Liberty University Online Academy for children in grades 3-12.

Call us at

1-866-418-8741

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 Flexible Program  LU Scholarship

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17

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SML STATE PARK

Les Schofer

Burial garden visitors honor Dr. Falwell

L

by TERESA DUNHAM Liberty Journal The office of the late Dr. Jerry Falwell, in the Carter Glass Mansion at the center of campus, was opened for tours in April. It has been preserved the way it was the day he died.

Tours are available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

iberty University staff, students and community members kept a steady vigil at the gravesite of Dr. Jerry Falwell on May 15 to honor the one-year anniversary of the Christian visionary’s death.

Falwell’s on-campus memorial drew many visitors to briefly reflect, share stories, or just gaze at the eternal flame lit nearby. Some stayed longer than others, but the remembrances were constant for the man who founded Liberty University and Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va. Matthew Smith, a 23-year-old nursing and music student, said it’s hard to believe that a year has passed.

Smith only spoke with Falwell

personally one time, but that single meeting left a big impression on the young man.

“He was your grandfather around campus. He brought out the best in everyone,” Smith said. “He always took a stand, and you don’t see that too much today.”

For Thomas Road Baptist Church singles pastor Jay Rebsamen, the day of Falwell’s death is still etched in his memory.

“I remember vividly what I was doing a year ago when … Dr. Falwell died and I got the news,” he said. “It was hard, and it still is hard. It was hard to come here [to the memorial].”

Yet he’s excited to see what God will do in the lives of Falwell’s sons.

“I think he would be pleased,” said associate professor of government Tom Metallo, referring to the leadership roles Falwell’s sons have assumed.

Coming soon to Lynchburg, VA! Enjoy luxury with the convenience of community. Come home to Cornerstone.

1. Great Location (close to Route 460, Timberlake Road and Liberty University) 2. nTelos Technology Backbone -all fiber optic access into LU’s network 3. Twenty Five Acre Park -playgrounds, gazebo, bike/walking trails, creeks with bridges 4. Pedestrian Friendly Community offering restaurants, shopping, and services 5. Diverse mix of housing opportunities 7. Mountain views

“Liberty University is pleased to join hands with Cornerstone to provide convenient, high-quality housing options for students, faculty, and staff.

Liberty University will provide a direct connection to LibertyNet to create an environment that offers Cornerstone residents many of the benefits and conveniences of being on campus.”

- Jerry Falwell, Jr. Chancellor, Liberty University

8. Open areas for studying, leisure, Frisbee, and related activities

To request more information, call 1-877-285-2612 or log on to www.liberty.edu/Cornerstone www.liberty.edu

19

Les Schofer

Liberty ACADEMIC Briefs

Jordan Crossingham

LUPD welcomes new chief

Liberty University’s Chief of Police Randy Smith spent his last day at the reins in April, before retired Virginia State Police Capt. Howard Gregory took over as the new chief.

Smith, who has been with LUPD for 15 years, has accepted a job as a deputy with Bedford County Sheriff’s Office.

Smith started as a security officer while he was a student at LU, often working security for Dr. Falwell’s residence.

He attended police academy in 1997, worked his way up through the LUPD ranks and became chief in 2001. He was also a bodyguard for the late Dr. Jerry Falwell when he went on the road for God Save America rallies and other speaking engagements.

Distance Learning program tops 27,000

Liberty University’s Distance Learning Program topped the 27,000 student mark for the first time in May. The program, which allows students to take courses online, has grown 141 percent over the past two years.

Current DLP students are taking just shy of 375,000 credit hours of coursework, more than double the number of credit hours taken just two years ago.

The program topped the 25,000 student mark for the first time in March.

Liberty to host mountain bike race

Workers put the finishing touches on Doc’s Diner on Campus East in April.

The diner, named after the late Dr. Jerry Falwell, is the newest eating establishment on campus.

It was opened exclusively to LU students for a two-week testing phase.

It will be closed for the summer and will open to the public on Aug. 14.

The diner is decorated with memorabilia and photographs of Falwell, Liberty University and Thomas Road Baptist Church.

Doc’s Diner is operated by Liberty Dining Services, a partnership of Sodexho Dining Services and Liberty University.

LU paintball team places third at national championships Liberty University’s paintball team took third place in the National Collegiate Paintball Association’s championships held in Lakeland, Fla., on April 19.

It was the team’s first trip to the national championships.

Liberty placed behind California State University-Long Beach, first, and Virginia Tech, second. The championships included 40 teams.

For more on paintball at LU, go to www. lupaintball.net Les Schofer

Assault on Liberty Mountain, part of the Virginia DeRailer Mountain Bike Race Series, will be held Sept. 20 at Liberty University.

The event is a “back country” type race course on the 5,000 acres that comprise Liberty Mountain (a.k.a. Candlers Mountain.)

A kids’ race will begin at 10 a.m. and will take place on the grounds of Camp Hydaway prior to the 11 a.m. start of the main race.

For more information visit http://vaderailerseries. com/?page_id=77

Doc’s Diner to open doors in August

Students go online to say thanks In the library past midnight during finals week, rising junior Lucy Anderson thought of a unique way to thank Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. and wife Becki for a year of caring involvement and strong leadership.

The New York native logged into Facebook, a social networking website, and created the group “Thank You Jerry Jr. and Becki Falwell!”

Eight days later, the site had more than 1,800 student members who posted comments about how much they appreciate the couple.

“Jerry Jr. and Becki have been so personal with the students,” Anderson said. “We just wanted to let them know what an incredible job they’ve been doing.”

Senior picnic held at Falwells’ farm A senior picnic was held at the Bedford County farm of Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. and wife Becki on May 3. It featured food, swimming, a concert and a bonfire. The first 500 students who arrived received free “Senior Picnic” T-shirts. Between 700 and 800 seniors attended.

Falwell Jr. announced the idea to seniors at convocation.

“When she [Becki] was growing up, her family always had a farm, so we bought a farm when we got married and thought it would be a great way to raise kids, but now we don’t have time to enjoy it that much anymore so I wanted to let you guys enjoy it,” he told the seniors.

The Falwells have lived on the farm since 1987.

www.liberty.edu

21

GENERAL NEWS

Y ears from now, Liberty University will receive money from a trust made possible by thousands and thousands of chickens.

Not literally, of course, but through the generosity of a Maryland farmer who placed his sizeable, working chicken farm — appraised at $1 million — into a Charitable Remainder Unitrust with the help of Liberty’s Planned Giving Department.

Liberty will receive the “remainder” of the money in that trust (which is growing daily) when the couple dies, and will be able to offer more young people a quality, Christian education.

Larry Porter and his wife, Sue Ellen, raised chickens and cattle for more than 20 years in Princess Anne, Md. Their 50-acre farm with five chicken houses held a flock of 136,000 chickens, with an average of five-and-a-half flocks housed each year.

Now in retirement age, the Porters depend on money from the trust with Liberty — and can live without the demanding, round-the-clock work that chicken farming requires.

Larry Porter said when he had the chickens it was hard to get away. He carried a cell phone at all times to receive alarms, which could mean anything from loss of electricity to a fire.

“Many, many times I’ve been at church or been shopping and For more information on have had to head Planned Giving at Liberty, home immediately when I get an go to www.LUgiving.com or alarm,” he said. call (800) 543-5309.

“You always have a potential great risk involved whenever there’s an alarm … if you were to lose a flock of chickens, it can take you many years to catch up again,” he said.

Larry Porter said his first impression of Liberty came when he toured the campus 12 years ago with his daughter, a prospective student. He has followed

22

LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

submitted photo

by Mitzi Bible Liberty Journal

Larry and Sue Ellen Porter of Princess Anne, Md. placed their working chicken farm – appraised for $1 million – into a charitable remainder unitrust with Liberty University’s Planned Giving Department.

the late Dr. Jerry Falwell’s ministry and watched the church services on television from time to time. All along, he said his goals have been right in line with the university’s, making the decision to support it financially an easier one.

“I am very much in favor of what I perceive as the goal of Liberty and that is to train more people to share the Gospel,” he said. “My own personal goal in life is to share the Gospel and share the truth as often and whenever I can. And I also know that is the Lord’s goal for all of us.

“What this [the trust] has done is it gives me the opportunity to have the influence on many others … to continue to do the same thing. … It’s a [naturally] good feeling to know that you can be a small part of that.”

Tom Arnold, director of LU’s Planned Giving, said the trust was a wise decision. The couple bypassed capital gains tax and was entitled to a chari-

table income tax deduction.

Plus, he said, “It’s a great way to get income and give to the Lord’s work.

He benefits from income from it ... when they both go on to be with the Lord, whatever’s left of that trust belongs to Liberty.”

Arnold said in reality the trust “could go a good 30 years before we get [money from] it,” but that’s where forward thinking is key.

“The larger that trust grows, the better it’s going to be for Liberty,” he said.

Planned Giving officers know the results of their work today may not be seen until far in the future. But the staff is willing to devote the time now and assist with donors’ long-range plans in return for the guarantee that Liberty’s success will continue.

“If we manage this trust properly, we know Liberty will get at least a million dollars someday,” Arnold said.

GENERAL NEWS

Soldier in Iraq earns DLP degree U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Robert White, senior optical fabrication noncommissioned officer for the 56th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, recently received his B.S. in Business through Liberty University’s Distance Learning Program while serving in Iraq.

While White expected to walk in LU’s Dec. 2007 graduation ceremony, his plans were put on hold by his military service. The 13-year Army veteran, who is now working on a MBA through DLP, was presented with his LU bachelor’s degree at a combat patch ceremony on Feb. 9.

For information on military benefits through DLP, go to www.luonline.com. ◆

APPLAUD from page 12

bookstore, a new student activities space at LaHaye Student Center (now being used as warehouse space) and a new vehicular tunnel.

Falwell also announced a recent gift from alumnus Glen Thomas that will make it possible to build an indoor soccer field attached to LaHaye Student Center.

The indoor turf can also be used for flag football and lacrosse.

Alumnus Greg Clendenin, who made it possible for LU’s baseball team to have a lighted field, spoke briefly on what it meant to him to give back to Liberty.

Clendenin Clendenin helped to build the largest privately-owned pest control company.

Falwell then commended students for their actions this year in academics, athletics and representing Liberty in the community. He spoke on “being a good alumnus” and the efforts of those who built the facilities that are here now.

“It’s the alumni in the end that must give back to LU,” he said. “That is the core group that will build our endowment.

If we have an endowment of sufficient size, we could help every student who needs help financially.” www.liberty.edu

23

STUDENT LIFE

Ask Pastor Johnnie Johnnie Moore

Jordan Crossingham

degree unprepared to live in an alien culture). So, you have much learning to do and the classroom is probably a safer environment than a village hut or Asian high-rise.

At Liberty, we integrate experience with the classroom. Many of our undergraduate missions majors choose to spend a semester or a year abroad on the mission field and learn a language. For more information you can go to www.luglobal.com/luabroad.

“Pastor, I’m very anxious about my life sometimes, any advice?”

– Emily

Liberty students pray during a morning convocation service at the Vines Center.

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety upon Him because he cares for you.”

This is a stunning truth. God cares for you. He really, really does and he gives you the freedom to roll the fullness of your worry upon his divine shoulders. When the weight of the world crowds in around you and pressures push you to your breaking point, remember the one who bore your cross on His back. It is by Jesus’ stripes that you are healed and it is by His resurrection that you have hope.

So, hang in there, Emily, and roll the worry on Jesus.

“Dear Johnnie, I’m in college but I just want to get out in the real world and be a missionary. It’s so frustrating to “I was reading the other day in Psalms sit around and do homework when I’m 37 and it says, ‘Delight yourself in just ready to go.”

– Matt the Lord, and He will give you the Matt, your passion for God’s work is obvious, and desires of your heart.’ Does this mean He will use you powerfully in His perfect timing, but that God will give me anything I remember Proverbs 19:2, “It is not good to have zeal – David without knowledge; nor to be hasty and miss the way.” want?”

It’s like driving quickly to a place you’re vaguely familiar with. It’s very easy to speed on past it because you thought you knew the way. Passion can press the gas pedal, but it takes knowledge to get the car to the right place at the right time. This is particularly true of the mission field.

Sometimes in our love for Jesus and desire for the adventurous, we are more willing than we are prepared and we may cause more damage than good.

So, I would advise you to be very, very careful in this decision. One thing is sure; you are unprepared for the mission field (all missionaries are to some

24

LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

“Delight” is a meaningful Hebrew word and it is the center of this truth. The word could be translated with a meaning like, “pliable.” The Psalmist is essentially saying, “Make your life pliable in the hands of the Lord,” like clay in a potter’s hand, and then as you are changed through your maker’s molding your desires will match His desires for you.

Your “wants” will match what He knows you need.

The Rev. Johnnie Moore is campus pastor at Liberty University. Please send e-mail to campuschurch@liberty.edu.

STUDENT LIFE

Liberty Students Follow the

Great Commission to the Amazon

by JOHNNIE MOORE Liberty Journal

Photos by Jon McGehee

B

ELEM, BRAZIL— L Before the ink was dry on their spring semester exams, 16 Liberty University students majoring in religion, education, athletic training, nursing, pre-med, and communication joined three Liberty University Center for Global Ministries [CGM] staff members for two weeks of missions and adventure on the Amazon River.

Their base of operations was a two-story river barge equipped with a kitchen and space for 30 hammocks.They ate, slept, and used the docked boat as a medical clinic for villagers with the help of Word of Life in Belem, Brazil.

Word of Life is a CGM partner working among the 30,000 communities situated on the 4,250-mile-long Amazon River. The river contains one-fifth of the world’s total river flow, and many of South America’s Unreached People Groups live on its banks.

Olivia Reyes, a 19-year-old student from New York City, enjoyed roughing it on the river.

“Our eyes were opened in so many ways,” she said.“We didn’t need a warm shower or shampoo. Being on the Amazon taught us to live on what we had.”

Two to three times a day the boat would dock on the banks of an Amazon village so that the team of LU nursing students could hold medical clinics while other team members played with children and held impromptu church services.

The medical clinics were facilitated by 2006 Liberty Nursing Alumnus Kata McLaren. The new crop of students from her alma mater impressed her.

“I just tear up when I think about it. …

Some of these villagers were very sick, yet even our girls ignored their own inhibitions, and told

and showed them how much Christ loves them.

It was so encouraging to be around another generation of Liberty students,”she said.

Many of the students were deeply moved through encounters with villagers.

Sabrena Carter, who is studying for a master’s degree in communications, recalled a frail old man who arrived at the clinic with an incurable foot condition.

“The missionary told us there’s nothing we can do for him, but wash his feet and to pray for him,” she said.“In that moment I knew that this was all that I had to give to him, and that’s all the Lord required of me.

This act showed this man Christ’s love, and I told him ‘I’m honored to wash your feet because Christ has washed my sins away.’” ◆

AMAZON continued on page 60 www.liberty.edu

25

Jordan Crossingham

L

ooking at Amber Kaufman, you see a beautiful young woman who is highly motivated and heavily involved in impacting the world around her. Her confidence and agility would never lead you to suspect anything about her is different.

But sit down and talk to her for just a few minutes, and you will realize this senior’s experience is nothing less than extraordinary.

Born prematurely with a cleft lip and palate, Kaufman has undergone 17 corrective surgeries, the last of which occurred just over a year ago. Shortly after birth, she and her twin sister were given standard vaccinations, including one for polio. Instead of becoming immune, Kaufman contracted a strain of the disease that wreaked havoc throughout her body, weakening her immune system, throwing offer her equilibrium and severely altering her vision. Diagnosed as legally blind, Kaufman’s central vision is very weak, and her peripheral vision is nonexistent.

Despite her limitations, Kaufman was raised without the knowledge that she was different.

“My parents never treated me like I was handicapped. There were never any excuses like, ‘I can’t do this because of my eyes.’ Instead it was, ‘Find a way around

Able to

Overcome Liberty University student Amber Kaufman works in the school bookstore and hopes to one day be an author of books dealing with issues facing today’s youth.

LU closes out it,’ or ‘Find a way to adapt.’ I really appreciated that because it has given me the strength to not be handicapped by my handicap.”

Kaufman encountered the first effects of her handicap when she began school.

Influenced by the cruelty of some of the children around her, she became withdrawn and insecure, taking her frustration out on her family and on God. The reasoning of a little girl could not understand why God would not heal her eyes if he was able to do so.

During high school things got a little better. Kaufman’s parents sent her to a public high school, and accepting a dare by a friend, Kaufman joined ROTC. “I couldn’t compete, or do much, but my colonel and my sergeant saw leadership potential in me and forced me outside of my shell. My parents had taught me that nothing was an excuse within the home. I could achieve whatever I wanted to – my eyesight didn’t matter. Colonel and Sergeant took it beyond that and said ‘You can do whatever you want to; you don’t have to be handicapped.’”

Kaufman heeded her ROTC leaders’ advice and put it into action. She decided she wanted to be an author, and to do so she needed to attend college. ◆

OVERCOME continued on page 32

by CARMEN FLEISCHAUER Liberty Journal

by MITZI BIBLE Liberty Journal

enrollment

Move is first in school’s history

W

hile other colleges may be struggling to keep enrollment numbers high, Liberty University has been encountering a rise in enrollment, causing leaders — for the first time in the school’s history —to set a deadline to close out enrollment for the residential program.

The deadline for the Fall 2008 semester is June 30, and any new applicants or applicants still completing enrollment requirements will be put on a waiting list.

Because of the tremendous growth of the university — with an expected 11,300 students this fall — university leaders felt the need to set the closing date. With an expected 3,500 new students to arrive this fall, the move will allow for facilities and staffing to catch up with the current growth and for the administration to make plans for future growth.

Leaders see this move as a positive sign that Liberty is standing true to its mission to train champions for Christ.

“The sheer number of students who are choosing Liberty is evidence that Christian education is sorely needed in today’s world,” said Chancellor and President Jerry Falwell Jr. Chris Johnson, executive director of Resident Recruitment for Liberty, said closing enrollment is a sign

of success.

“From a university standpoint, we don’t need to be a second, third, fourth choice out there,” he said. “We’re moving in a direction where we are becoming the first choice for parents who want to send their students to a place where they are going to get a solid, Christian education.”

Johnson said closing enrollment will help internal operations (housing, facilities management, hiring of adjunct professors/staff) and will help recruitment efforts as more and more parents and prospective students hear what the university has to offer.; As of June 5, about 5,000 new students had confirmed their enrollment (meaning they have put down a deposit), which is 15 percent higher than last year’s number at this time.

Students who complete Financial Check-In (the final stage in the enrollment process) prior to June 30 are guaranteed enrollment; however, all those who have only submitted Confirmation Deposits will be placed on a waiting list after June 30. Those on the waiting list will receive notification of their status by July 15.

For more information on the enrollment process, call the Admissions Office at (800) 543-5317 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. and Sat 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET). www.liberty.edu

27

GENERAL NEWS

by CARRIE BARNHOUSE Special to Liberty Journal

Conqu e Liberty Student Interns Live and Work in Washington, D.C.

T

he White House, Concerned Women for America headquarters and the U.S. District Attorney’s Office were just a few of the places Liberty University interns spent the spring 2008 semester in Washington, D.C. Considered full-time residential students at LU, they earned internship credit while working full time in the nation’s capital.

But for the few dozen students, it was much more than class credit.

“I never thought this experience would be as big as it was. It has helped develop my skills and abilities, as well as opened doors for future opportunities,” said Jose Interiano, an intern at the Council

2

LIBERTY JOURNAL March/April 2008

Intern Photos: Jerome Sturm

Liberty students (left to right) Kevin Zimmerman (D.C. Metro Police Department), Marquita Cozart (Attorney General), Jose Interiano (Council on Hemispheric Affairs) and Sara Griffith (Concerned Women of America) served their spring 2008 internships in D.C. ‘This is the opportunity of a lifetime. The classroom gave me the book knowledge but this program has given me real-world experience,’ said Zimmerman, a junior Criminal Justice major from New Jersey.

u ering the Capital on Hemispheric Affairs, what he calls a “think tank” for Latin American economics and politics.

The 2008 graduate was one of a select few chosen to prepare press releases, conduct research and analyze issues affecting Latin Americans. He wrote a report that was published, earning him a spot on the televised “Voice of America” roundtable discussion where he served as a political analyst — and that was just his first month.

Internships like Interiano’s are made possible by a partnership between Liberty and the Strategic Policies Institute (SPI). SPI is a non-profit education company. Liberty was SPI’s first university client.Dr. Charles Murphy, founder and president of SPI, said the program is based on the conviction to train and equip students to move into decision-making positions in the nation’s pipeline.

“If you look around our nation’s capital, you’ll see the powerbrokers are young,” he said. “They’re making decisions, getting noticed. I wanted my students to have the same opportunity.”

Murphy’s son, Ron, serves as vice president and manager of day-to-day operations for SPI.“We’re teaching them [interns] how to be a Christian in the professional world, while helping them build a life plan to make the transition from the college learning environment to the work environment,” he said.

After four successful semesters of students interning in the capital, SPI reported 50 percent of their students being offered

jobs or other internships in D.C., and 40 percent of students had come back to work full time in the area.

“Offices are now calling us and specifically asking for LU students — places like the Virginia State Congressman Eric Cantor’s office, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the U.S. Business and Industrial Council. These students stand out — their character and work ethic is being seen and requested,” Ron said.

The program allows students to maintain full-time status at LU by taking six credits of internship and six credits through Distance Learning courses. In addition to their classwork, the focus of the semester is the 36 hours each week at their internship sites.

Government major Marquita Cozart, who interned with the D.C. Attorney General’s Office, plans to attend law school and become an attorney in D.C. “I was looking for hands-on experience to make sure this was what I wanted to do,” she said. “It has helped solidify where I’m headed in my career.”

With the proven success of what students have come to know as “The Washington Semester,” SPI will reach another goal with the launch of “The Richmond Semester” during fall 2008.

“We want to take the program to state capitals around the country and Richmond seemed like the best place to start,” Ron Murphy said. “With hundreds of business locations, state government offices and an international port, the city is full of opportunity.”

www.liberty.edu

29

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by RON BROWN Liberty Journal

aeronautics school soar Liberty University officials dedicated the site of a future LU School of Aeronautics training facility at Lynchburg Regional Airport on April 24.

The ceremony also served as the official kickoff of a $10 million fundraising drive to finance the new 56,000-square-foot building, airplanes and support facilities.

The School of Aeronautics, the 10th school authorized at LU, hopes to one day have the facilities to train between 300 and 350 student pilots per year.

“We dedicate this land to the Lord,” said Ernie Rogers, who heads LU’s aeronautics program.

“This day is something I’ve dreamed of.”

The dedication was attended by dignitaries including Liberty University Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr., the Rev. Jonathan Falwell, senior pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg Mayor Joan Foster and several members of Lynchburg City Council.

The aeronautics program hopes to grow to educate fix winged pilots, helicopter pilots, aircraft mechanics, air traffic controllers and possibly aeronautical engineers.

In the past four years, the aviation program has grown from just four students to 186.

◆

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LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

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OVERCOME from page 27

It was after she went away to college, at Word of Life Bible Institute in New York, that Kaufman began to reconcile her bitterness and anger toward the Lord.

“I must have read the story in John 9, about Jesus healing the blind man with the clay, hundreds of times. Jesus says that it’s not anybody’s fault; it’s so that the will of God can be revealed – so that God can be glorified. It finally hit me and I broke down, and that was the beginning of a turning point with me.”

Kaufman says she still struggles with bitterness and frustration, but that moment in her life began a process of healing and repentance that has brought her to where she is today. Described by friends as “a unique mix of confidence and vulnerability,” Kaufman has experienced things that she would not have been able to with full use of her eyes.

“I feel that, to make up for my lack of physical sight, the Lord gave me large amounts of intuition and discernment.”

Kaufman, now an English literature major at Liberty, still has hopes of becoming an author. She is currently working on writing her first novel.

At Liberty she is part of the youth ministry team, Vision, where she serves through drama and lesson plan writing. She has a heart for high school girls and plans to co-author a book for high school teens about biblical womanhood and manhood.

“I’m not afraid to address issues like sexuality and modesty and insecurities – really deep issues I’m not afraid to address because I think they are really important.”

Her other goals include having a large family and home schooling her children to teach them how to be involved and have an impact on American society.

As encouragement to others with difficulties to overcome, Kaufman says, “Any limitation you have is an opportunity to serve, but it’s also an opportunity to overcome. Even though I haven’t overcome by solving the initial problem of my eyesight, I’ve overcome in different ways. I’ve overcome in my attitude, the way I view life. I am able to look at my handicap and see how God has used this. I see why I am where I am.”

www.liberty.edu

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THE CHURCH

Compassion Weekend

by MITZI BIBLE Liberty Journal

T

at TRBC

he May/June Liberty Journal featured Thomas Road Baptist Church’s Community Groups, an outreach that invites members of the community to the church for sports, recreation, crafts, music and every hobby in between.

This edition highlights TRBC’s Compassion Weekend, held April 18-20,where instead of the community coming to the church, the church went to the community.

More than 1,250 people were involved, serving as gardeners, housekeepers, builders, cooks and even gas pumpers. Some groups teamed with area agencies, such as Habitat for Humanity and The Salvation Army,while others went to nursing homes, the hospital and individuals’homes.

Tim Grandstaff, of TRBC’s Missions Department, and his wife, Theresa, organized the event.

“The concept … is to awaken the church to the reality that we’re not here to just do church; we’re supposed to be the church,” he said. “We may be a big church, but there’s incredible needs out here and we have a responsibility to love these people to a relationship with Jesus Christ.”

This “blitz of caring,” as he puts it,

involved all ages and several ministries within the church and Liberty University.

Grandstaff has a motto: “Meet a need, melt a heart, make a disciple.” There was no hidden agenda for the event, he said.

“My way is, and I think Jesus exemplified it, you go out and you love on people. You meet their needs. That tears down walls and barriers and melts hearts, and then you have an incredible opportunity, an open door to share Christ.”

He said the event was in line with the Rev. Jonathan Falwell’s goal he set forth in a July 1, 2007, sermon: “We have a dream of having 5,000 of our members, of you, involved as lay ministers — meeting the needs of our members, meeting the needs of our community, feeding the hungry, providing shelter to the homeless, helping the less fortunate, and letting the world see Christ within us!”

Grandstaff said the outreach won’t stop here.

“This is not to do a big event on this one weekend and say, ‘OK we’ll do it again next year.’ It’s to springboard our people, to say we’re going to continue doing monthly ministry throughout our community, we’re going to go to other states, we’re going to do weekend trips, week trips, and we’re going to get you involved in ministry.”

An intimate perspective of the most visible religious leader in America

For the first time Macel Falwell, Rev. Falwell’s widow, provides this official biography of the founder of Liberty University, Thomas Road Baptist Church, and the Moral Majority.

Available wherever books are sold

GENE www.howardpublishing.com www.liberty.edu

37

TRBC expands scope of conference Top To speakers called on to lead sessions

by MITZI BIBLE Liberty Journal

The innovatechurch 2008 Conference is designed for Christian workers and all those who have influence for Christ.

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38

LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

A large church conference — a “super” conference if you will — has become an annual tradition at Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty University. Typically featuring top Christian speakers, preachers and ministry leaders from all over the country, the conference has offered workshops on everything from missions to music and prayer.

This year’s conference, scheduled for Aug. 11-13, promises to be “super” as well, said TRBC Senior Pastor Jonathan Falwell. But it has a new, more specific name than just “Superconference.” It is being called the “innovatechurch 2008 Conference,” and is “designed for Christian workers and all those who have influence for Christ,” Falwell says.

In the last few months, as planners mapped out this year’s conference schedule, more ideas came and more speakers were added to the lineup. This year participants can expect to hear from bestselling author Rick Warren, (“The Purpose-Driven Life”); Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship; Jim Cymbala, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York City and also an established author; Tom Mullins, pastor of the 12,000-member Christ Fellowship church in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; and other noted guests. Several of Liberty’s and TRBC’s own scholars will give their time and talents to teach.

There will be six professional tracks (Healthy Churches, Healthy Faith, Healthy Outreach, Healthy Worship, Healthy Relationships and Healthy Leadership). Though offered before, but not emphasized, there will also be sessions on women’s ministry and reaching out to the abused, addicted and hurting.

It will all take place under the theme “Not I, But Christ.”

“Since Dad died last year, that’s the portion of Scripture God gave me to strengthen my heart and our church family,” Falwell says.

This year a special “get to know you” dessert reception will kick off the event on Monday night. Tuesday night is the Night of Praise, featuring TRBC worship leader Charles Billingsley. There will also be a pastor-to-pastor luncheon, hosted by Falwell. And as in years before, there will be several exhibitors and sponsors offering the latest products, services and resources for church leaders.

All conference attendees will receive a copy of the book, “innovatechurch” (See Page 39).

Registration is open now and discounts are offered for those who register early. The Super Early Bird registration deadline has been extended to June 30.

For more details, go to www.trbc.org or call (800) 424-9592.

Featured Speakers...

JONATHAN FALWELL, CONFERENCE HOST SENIOR PASTOR, THOMAS ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH

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SENIOR PASTOR, BROOKLYN TABERNACLE

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Innovatechurch will focus on six main tracks: healthy leadership, healthy worship, healthy outreach, healthy churches, healthy relationships and healthy faith. Each of these areas will be addressed in the plenary sessions and workshops throughout the

Each registrant will receive a FREE copy of Jonathan Falwell’s new book, innovatechurch!

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Seminary contributors include: Dr. Timothy Chong, Dr. Leo Percer, Dr. David Pettus, Dr. Fred Smith, Dr. Edward Smither, Dr. David Wheeler, and Dr. Gary Yates.

The book is available online at www.christianbook.com Hindson is Dean of the Institute of Biblical Studies and Distinguished Professor of Religion; Caner is President and Dean of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.

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Publication: Publication Date:

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Size: Studio Contact:

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This book tells the stories of 10 praying churches and will warm your heart with great answers to prayer and challenge your church to have a greater prayer life. It shows how God answers prayer for evangelism, revival, purchasing property, healings, and much more. One chapter titled “The Prayer of Faith” focuses on Thomas Road Baptist ◆

PRINT continued on page 56

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42

LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

GENERAL NEWS

MEMORIES FROM LIBERTY MOUNTAIN

Remember When ... ?

t s to the camp, bu rted by school bu po ns tra to be gh uld Children wo s not strong enou e to the island wa fore because the bridg had to stop just be it d, t was fully loade up tha s ck bu ba a d t loa or n pp su ross and the off the kids, go ac the bridge, drop s had crossed. again after the kid

“In 1962, TRBC purchased a 40-acre island in the midst of the James River. It had been named YMCA Island early in the 20th Century when it was the recreational center of Lynchburg. We immediately renamed it Treasure Island. … We bought it from Skin Woody for $49,000.

With the help of lumberman G.D. Smith, we built a magnificent youth camp and, for many years, until 1985 when the big flood destroyed the bridge and buildings, led thousands of Central Virginia youth to Christ. They all came to camp FREE. Over 2,000 attended each summer. The spiritual results are still being felt worldwide.”

— excerpted from a May 18, 2003 sermon by the late Dr. Jerry Falwell.

28

LIBERTY JOURNAL Jan./Feb. 2008

Jordan Crossingham

Pastor Larry Covington, a 1981 Liberty University graduate, is shown at Ebenezer United Church of Christ in Burlington, N.C. Covington has been pastor of the church since 1996.

SOURCE OF

by TARA MAXWELL Liberty Journal

44

LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

PRIDE

A great sense of humor, unceasing patience and steadfast faith are essential tools to any great college Resident Assistant, and it’s these same qualities that have aided Pastor Larry Covington in his life-long service to God. In 1980 Covington became Liberty University’s (then Liberty Baptist College) first African-American RA. Covington, along with roommate Malcolm Myers, was in charge of the fourth floor, home to 80 male students at the Stewart Arms Hotel located on the corner of Eighth and Church streets in downtown Lynchburg, Va. (Liberty had dorms both on-campus and at the hotel until 1981 when the entire student body moved onto main campus.)

Graduate reflects on days as RA “It was a challenge being a peer as well as being over these guys, and it gave me an opportunity to use my counseling skills and of course pray with them,” he said. “Some of them I’ve kept up with through the years.”

Covington was born and raised in Danville, Va. He attended Danville Community College and planned to attend Virginia Union University in Richmond in 1979.

“It’s one of those unique mysteries and miracles how I ended up at Liberty.

I believe I saw Thomas Road on TV and I was interested in getting an education, but I wanted to make sure I did it in a Christian environment. One thing led to another and I landed in Lynchburg.”

MEMORIES FROM

GENERAL NEWS

HISTORY from page 45

further by creating a museum, he jumped at the chance.

LIBERTY MOUNTAIN Founded two years ago, the museum, located in a room on the second floor of DeMoss Learning Center, recognizes something I could get into.â&#x20AC;?

Covington, who infrom 1981Berea team in Tennessee where he founded a rabbis, and a 3-year-old the dedication of the priests andgranddaughter. pastors who boosted Aftergraduated graduating College, with a B.A. in psychology, he was church in inner-city Nashville.

Covington to the visitCivil Liberty religion and morale amongst the troopstries during War. a Rowlettesaid moved to Lynchburg.

Since able to build a solid foundation at Liberty After leaving Tennessee, Covington few timeseraa relics year including to catch up with old The museum houses Civil-War bibles, 1989, he has regularly participated in University. became assistant pastor of uniforms a church and in more. friends and attend conferences. Liberty books, local re-enactments as a Union and â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was probably Confederate two of the soldier, most and Corsicana, pastored Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vice will President Rowlette saidinhe hopes the museum expand of intoStudent a says he Texas, enjoys and then exciting years of mythelife.

It because was a they Bermuda at Emmanuel Baptist Churcharea Affairs, Mark Hine, was Resident Director 10,000-square-foot events are a family different culture. I found Emmanuel Covington the third floor of at the Stewart activity.my learning for nearly six years.onFrom ForArms more when information on the experience was excellent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Both It wasofexciting Baptist, Covington moved to Miami, Fla., The two share fond DeMoss and will modelwas the an acting RA.National my daughters have Civil War being around Dr. Falwell.

He wasina re-enactments man before moving to Greensboro, N.C., andof the memories of their experiences together.

National Museum participated with me,â&#x20AC;?

Chaplains Museum, please visit of tremendous courage, conviction, value eventuallywesettling Burlington, N.C., â&#x20AC;&#x153;The hotel made a good situation for War in Petersburg, Rowlette said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was something could inCivil www.cwm.westlys3d.com. and vision.â&#x20AC;? pastor ifofyou Ebenezerwhich United Churchinteractive of really building community,â&#x20AC;? Hine said. features bring the family into,as whereas Covington said Falwell wasand thought Christ 1996. â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;Ś The cafeteria was off the grand lobby displays and movies that hunt fish or play golf,inyou do of as a jokester by the studentsthat whowithout knew the family.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Getting into Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s word battles is key by forsimulating and all our were there. It really was recreate themeals sounds of bullets whizzing by. him well. me,â&#x20AC;?theCovington said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then trying to alike a huge â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to take visitor to afamily.â&#x20AC;? camp meeting,â&#x20AC;? Rowlette Since joining LU â&#x20AC;&#x153;He kept you laughing and you never minister holistically, help â&#x20AC;&#x153;While peoplestanding with in a room Thereyou were 10 RAs at the hotel, two said. would be next to holograms faculty in 1980, Rowlette has knew what he was going to do next.â&#x20AC;? social problems as theYou Great floor. varied in size of soldiers. would per be able to The heardorm their rooms thoughts by using incorporated his love for the as well The youngest of five sons born to into Commission, has really keptiPods me balanced fromtotwo single room up to little while listening thestudents chaplainper speak.â&#x20AC;?

Civil War his classes.

Johnny and Edna Covington, Larry was andamoving forward.â&#x20AC;? eight the in double suites.

According to Rowlette, museum is only â&#x20AC;&#x153;the tip of the He developed course called the first in his family to attend college. from Liberty,He hopes Hine, who had five tip of the iceberg.â&#x20AC;? a strong fundraising effortfreshman aided the Literature of After the Civilgraduating War â&#x20AC;&#x153;My mother was very in supportive.

Covington went on toby receive a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s roommates said he used to prominent board members suchhis asjunior Col. J.year, W. Brinsfield, 1992 and regularly addresses Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m the only one in my family go to Theology from Jacksonville Baptist hangatout inArmy Covingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room frequently. a chaplain corps historian the Chaplain School in thetoCivil War in in his American college, and it was a moment ofLiterature pride for classes.

Theological SeminaryFt. andJackson, a D.Min.S.C., from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Malcolm Larry made who officially joined and the museum boarda ingreat her. She went through great sacrifice thetheEast College.

They museum really hadtothe spiritual interest January, will bring theteam. expanded fruition.

When late Carolina Dr. Jerry Christian first year and when I becameFalwell, an RAformer it Covington currently lives in Graham, of their heart.

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They really the â&#x20AC;&#x153;It helps us be a historical andwere cultural take his a calling to ministry, left love Liberty after of Duluth, Ga.,to and Jodiandwhole package of fun.

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45

Les Schofer

FACULTY FOCUS

Originally from Suffolk,Va., Cooper attended Liberty to pursue a youth ministries degree. But she was led by her professors to focus on her music and playwriting. She worked at Liberty as assistant band director with the marching band while studying for her master’s degree and became an English professor at Liberty in 1992. She began directing theater in 1997.

HONORS: • Charles M. Getchell national award for playwriting • Four Kennedy Center American College Theatre Merit Awards for excellence in directing • Finalist, national Lehman Engel Musical Theater Competition, 2002, for lyrics in “Rebel Cry” • National finalist, 2003 David Mark Cohen Playwriting Competition sponsored by the Kennedy Center, for “Rebel Cry” • Manny Award for documentary “Share Your Love” Cooper is executive producer for “The Miracle,” a show now in its third year in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. For more on her professional works, go to www.liberty.edu/libertyjournal/

Linda Nell Cooper Head of LU’s Theatre Arts Department, teaches playwriting, acting, directing and dramatic literature EDUCATION Bachelor’s degree, Liberty University, 1986, double major in Music and English with a theater minor Master of Arts in Humanities, Hollins University Completed ABD of her Ph.D., University of Virginia MEMBERSHIPS & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS BMI, registered songwriter Dramatists Guild of America, professional playwright Gospel Music Association, gospel music writer, lyricist and songwriter Southeastern Theater Conference Association, professional casting director Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, professional director Fee-Hedrick Family Entertainment, Inc., commissioned writer, director, producer

“

My dream would be to have a theater built up here on the side of the mountain, where it’s built into the mountain … part of the landscape. And the outside of the facility would be glass, so that as you’re standing in the lobby, you would look out over Lynchburg, just a beautiful view.

on booming theater program

Jerome Sturm

by MITZI BIBLE Liberty Journal

Curtain rises

Theater students perform a dance number in a contemporary version of West Side Story in April.

I

f you’ve been to a theater performance at Liberty University lately, you can call yourself one lucky person — and that’s just because you’ve held a ticket in your hand.

“We have sold out almost every single show this year,” said Linda Nell Cooper, chair of the Theatre Arts Department.

For West Side Story, the school’s last show of the theater season, “We sold it out before we ever got to opening night,” she said. “So we’ve added even more shows and we’re selling them out. We turn hundreds of people away and that’s sad. ...”

As is the case for some departments at LU, the buzzword for Theatre Arts is “cramped.” The theater space it now uses for six main stage productions a year is a renovated lecture hall and seats 250. According to Cooper, most college theater programs as large as Liberty’s have a theater that seats 500-750 for main productions and a separate 250-seat blackbox theater for student productions.

In the Performance Arts Hall behind the DeMoss Learning Center on main campus, it isn’t unusual to see theater students rehearsing in the hallways. And the need for more space is evident when students in a production have to arrive as early as three hours before a performance to have enough time to trade space in the small dressing rooms. And once they make it out on stage, the conditions are cramped

there, too.

“We have no fly space; we have no wing space; we have no place to push sets on and off — whatever we do, it’s the set that’s on the stage and it stays there,” said Cooper.

Liberty University Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. said plans are under way for a new theater.

“We have considered several locations for the new theater but have decided to build a 500- to 750-seat theater near the existing Fine Arts Department and black box theater. The most logical site seems to be attached to the rear wall of Demoss Hall where the small fountain is now located.”

Anyone who is interested in donating toward the project can contact Cooper at (434) 582-2078.

Though under some constraints at the present, the theater program has continued to churn out high-caliber graduates well prepared for a career in the entertainment field.

“We haven’t had much difficulty with them getting professional contracts,” Cooper said. “The first graduate was last year, and she has worked professionally steadily since she graduated.”

She said the two students who are currently working on a film featuring the younger years of Billy Graham (see Page 48) aren’t the first to land major roles.

“We’ve had students in film prior to

this; just this is the first time people have taken notice,” she said. “We’ve had students in major motion pictures and in television, like CSI and Law and Order. Alumni have also been in the films A Brave New World, with Colin Farrell; Miss Congeniality, with Sandra Bullock; a new film, Homecoming, 2008-2009 starring Mischa theater season: Barton, and an Fiddler on the Roof HBO series on John Adams.”

Dancing at Lughnasa Cooper said LU’s (an Irish folkplay) theater students are My Fair Lady No.1 among Christian The Crucible colleges and in the A Doll’s House top three for secular The Music Man colleges with theater programs in Virginia.

For dates, ticket prices Students have and other information, go to www.liberty.edu/theatre ranked with superior placement at the Virginia Theater Association, the American College Theater Festival and the National Artistic Teachers of Music competitions.

The Theatre Arts major was established three years ago and offers five concentrations: Acting, Musical Theatre, Production, Drama Ministry and Theatre Arts Education. A minor is also offered.

Majors are required to participate in at least eight productions before they graduate.

Cooper said the program stresses biblical principles throughout the curriculum.

“In theatre arts, it’s very important for our students to understand how they can balance their professional work with their Christian walk,” she said. “This means sometimes you say no to a contract, or you say no for what you think might be the ‘big break’ — and God is sovereign and He will open another door for you. … [Here] we do the classics; we do secular work, but we show them this is how it can be done from a Christian point of view; this is how you can act in it as a Christian, this is where you draw the line.”

For more information on Theatre Arts at Liberty University, go to www.liberty.edu/ theatre. www.liberty.edu

47

Photos by Les Schofer

Liberty University theatre students Cody Carwile (left) and Josh DeVries take a break from shooting Billy: The Early Years in Watertown, Tenn., in April.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

by TARA MAXWELL Liberty Journal

Two Liberty University theater students will make the momentous leap from stage to silver screen this fall — as sophomores.

Cast in major roles as brothers T.W. and Grady Wilson in Billy: The Early Years, Cody Carwile and Josh DeVries got a rare opportunity for young performers who had never even had a screen test.

The film, directed by Robby Benson, follows the life of evangelist Billy Graham starting in his teenage years, including his courtship of Ruth Bell and the early days of his burgeoning ministry.

The Wilson brothers were

Liberty students cast in Billy Graham film friends and close associates of Graham, traveling worldwide with him on crusades.

“This is the type of thing that you never actually expect to happen, especially not as a sophomore in college,” DeVries said. “It’s nothing other than a God thing … it seems God is up to something and I’m just along for the ride.”

Linda Nell Cooper, chairwoman of Liberty University’s Theatre Arts Department, walked the students through the casting process and oversaw their screen tests on Liberty’s stage. Cooper, who worked closely with the producers and the director, said they were impressed with the students’ talent.

“He [producer

Bill McKay] called me into the room and shook my hand and said, ‘I have hired both of them. They are wonderful.’ The producers were all standing there and applauded them and said they were incredible. I said, ‘I have 150 more.’

McKay said, ‘I look forward to meeting the other 148.’”

The producers got a chance to meet more Liberty students in April, when they cast close to 50 as extras for several scenes shot in Watertown, Tenn.

The theater students were transformed, with the aid of a team of talented makeup artists, hair stylists and costumers, back to the 1930s — complete with rolled hair, striped suits and saddle shoes.

The students were put through their paces in a 12-hour day on the set and got to be a part of the action.

“The help of Liberty University was

!

ACADEMIC LIFE most appreciated, especially with the work of its gifted acting students,” said producer Martin Shiel.

Senior Liberty University Theatre major Erica Smith said she was in awe of the movie-making process and hopes to one day teach theater.

“It’s really eye-opening to see how they run everything. It’s quite a system, and it all comes together.”

Billy: The Early Years, produced

by Nashville-based 821 Entertainment Group, features Armie Hammer as Billy Graham and co-stars Martin Landau, Lindsay Wagner and Stefanie Butler. The film is slated for release this fall.

“We have carried into the film the dream of making a true homage to the dedicated life of Billy Graham,” producer Larry Mortorff said. “We trust that the dedication we showed will be appreciated by film audiences for years to come.”

Mortorff and McKay said a team scouted for actors at several Christian schools, and they knew they had found the perfect Wilson brothers when they auditioned DeVries and Carwile.

“They [Josh and Cody] were the best candidates for T.W. and Grady. Liberty

ON THE SET

A group of

Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. and the Liberty community to pursue the movie roles, are appreciative for the experience and are excited about what the future will bring.

“The main thing about acting is networking and meeting new people and of course we met all sorts of cool and interesting people with all sorts of different aspects of the job,” Carwile said.

“You really couldn’t ask for a better group of people to do your first movie with. We have very supportive producers. Mr. Benson — he’s just amazing.”

DeVries and Carwile aren’t the only people at Liberty University with a unique interest in the movie, though.

Billy Graham’s great-grandchildren, Hope and Stetson Tchividjian, both attend LU — and T.W. Wilson’s 24-yearold granddaughter, Emily Pereira Meyer, works as an admissions counselor in the university’s Visitors Center.

“It was definitely a surprise. It’s a big honor to have part of his life commemorated in a movie,” said Pereira Meyer of her legendary grandfather.

“He was a wonderful man of God and somebody I strive to be like.”

flew them in and we auditioned them both for both parts. In the middle of it Robbie and I turned to each other and said, ‘Let’s just hire them both and we’ll figure out which one is T.W. and which one is Grady,’” Mortorff said. “They are the right look and feel and had Christianity to their backgrounds.”

DeVries and Carwile’s backgrounds in theater worked to their advantage in securing the roles.

“Both had studied at their craft and had stage experience. Robby has tremendous stage experience — we figured that from stage actors to this they could work with him. They have been terrific at picking up his pace, his instructions, his suggestions and also some of the levity,” Mortorff said.

Filming the movie has been challenging and rewarding for DeVries and Carwile who both hail from Lynchburg, Va., and had not planned on being film stars. Carwile is a Communications major with a minor in theatre and DeVries said his dream has always been to be a filmmaker.

Both students, who received full support from Liberty University

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BEHIND THE SCE

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Jordan Crossingham

ACADEMIC LIFE

Jerome Sturm

ACADEMIC Briefs

Engineering students build medieval machines

Debate center renamed in honor of former director Former Liberty University Debate Director Brett O’Donnell (at far left in photo above) took time away from his duties as Communications Strategist for Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain’s campaign to attend the surprise unveiling of the debate center’s renaming as the Brett O’Donnell Center for Debate and to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award in May. O’Donnell led Liberty’s debate team for 18 years, with his teams winning 18 national rankings championships. He has coached more than 10 individual novice, junior varsity and varsity teams to national championships.

Financial Aid Office sets milestone For the first time in Liberty University’s history, more than $300 million in financial aid was processed for 2007-2008 (paid from all sources).

Liberty University Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. congratulated Financial Aid Director Rob Ritz and the entire Financial Aid Office staff for reaching this historic milestone.

“Without their efforts, it would not be possible for many of our students to attend Liberty,” Falwell said. “The demand for Christian higher education has never been greater, and it is exciting to see so many students choosing Liberty University.”

50

LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

LU engineering students recently designed and built small-scale trebuchets — machines used in medieval warfare to hurl rocks and missiles over castle walls.

Students in Dr. Ed Lewis’ Engineering 110 class used 3D and simulation software to design their trebuchets and then built them in the garage of Dr. Ron Sones, Dean of the School of Engineering and Computational Sciences. The prototypes were then tested, each successfully launching a golf ball about 40 feet.

The project is part of an emphasis to help students learn hands-on engineering applications through the one-year-old School of Engineering. To learn more about what the program offers students, visit www.liberty.edu/engineering.

New Ph.D. program approved for Seminary Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary recently received approval from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to offer a Ph.D. in Theology and Apologetics this fall.

The 54-hour program also includes optional seminars in Church History and Biblical Studies. The courses will include traditional classroom instruction with one-week intensives and individualized computer-assisted coursework.

LBTS also recently celebrated its first graduate to receive a Master of Arts in Global Apologetics. Keith Dayton Hartman, a native of Hagerstown, Md., completed the requirements for the degree program offered by the Graduate Studies department.

WHO WAS HERE Liberty University played host to a wide range of dynamic speakers this spring, from evangelists to musicians, to former National Football League players and an astronaut: • Tony Nolan, youth evangelist, shared his testimony at the April 28 convocation. Nolan, who has been tour pastor for top Christian band Casting Crowns, spoke of being abused in foster care and then adopted by an alcoholic father who made him feel worthless at times.

Nolan used his testimony to challenge students to view themselves as God’s “work of art.”

• Pastor Matt Holman spoke in convocation on April 25 about never “crying uncle” but pressing on in our Christian lives.

Lead pastor at Landmark Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, he is known for being an animated speaker. He jumped, shouted and even did little dances across the stage, mixing humorous tales of his own college experience at a strict Bible college 30 years ago with Biblical lessons from Nehemiah’s life pursuits.

• Army Master Sergeant Rodney Whaley, a Liberty Distance Learning professor, shared his firsttime experience in the 2008 Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race at the April 21 convocation. Whaley, of Franklin, Tenn., was the first Tennessean to enter the Iditarod, held in Alaska in March. Whaley thanked LU for being a sponsor. He ended the 1,150-mile race early out of concern for the health of his dogs; several had become sick.

• Jamey Ragle, an evangelist with a passion for young adults, spoke at the April 18 convocation.

Adding in some humorous tales about marriage, dating, ice cream and tattoos, he talked about confidence coming only from God and not the world. He asked students who

… and what they had to say

wanted their “Saturday nights to match their Sunday mornings” to “come back home and do the right thing.” Ragle was joined by Christian band Austins Bridge, who was part of the “Shake the Foundation” concert that night at Thomas Road Baptist Church.

• Ricky Skaggs, Grammy-winning bluegrass artist, spoke at the Center for Worship on April 15.

He shared his testimony, including coming to a point in his career where he realized “that my ministry was not to be a Christian artist, but to be an artist that was Christian.” He was here to serve on the worship center’s advisory council, alongside other successful musicians, songwriters and others in the entertainment industry.

• Dinesh D’Souza, top lecturer, debater and bestselling author, gave students some solid arguments to use against what he calls “new atheism” at the April 14 convocation.

He also signed copies of his latest book, “What’s So Great About Christianity.” At age 26, D’Souza served as a policy analyst in the Ronald Reagan White House. He has been named by New York Times Magazine as one of America’s most influential conservative thinkers.

• Mark Hall, lead singer of Casting Crowns, spoke at the Momentum Youth Ministry Conference on April 12 at Liberty. The conference was for youth leaders and sixth- to 12thgraders. There was also a session for LU students interested in youth work. Hall performed with his band at the College For A Weekend concert that night.

• Leland Melvin, NASA astronaut and Lynchburg, Va., native, was the

guest at the April 7 convocation. He showed video from his mission to space aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis, Feb. 7-20 and was honored by Lynchburg’s mayor. Melvin, also a star athlete, was chosen by the Detroit Lions in the 11th round of the 1986 NFL college draft and participated in the Toronto Argonauts and Dallas Cowboys football training camps.

• Derwin Gray, a former NFL player, spoke at the April 4 convocation.

He is founder of One Heart at a Time ministries and a pastor with the Gathering, a multi-ethnic church in Charlotte, N.C. Known for the movie, “Evangelism Linebacker,” he talked about relationship issues and the need for the church to not be segregated on Sunday mornings by racial and ethnic groups.

• Dr. Laurence White, senior pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas, and an outspoken pro-lifer, was the featured speaker at the April 2 convocation service.

Liberty awarded White a Doctor of Divinity degree in 1997 for his work on behalf of the nation’s unborn.

He travels the nation rallying Americans to stand against abortion.

• Tim Clinton, president of the American Association of Christian Counselors and executive director of the Center for Counseling and Family Studies at Liberty, spoke at the last March convocation.

His talk, titled “Change Your Life” focused on key steps in turning from a life that does not honor God to one that does. www.liberty.edu

51

OPINION/EDITORIAL

Free?

Land of the

V

irginia has become home to a disturbing trend in environmentalism.

Private property rights are being sacrificed in the name of protecting streams, wetlands (defined to include almost any low-lying land) and, as of recently, ditches. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality informed Liberty University in late May that it had decided to extend governmental protection to drainage ditches all over the state.

When the United States Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972, intentions were good and the law was necessary given the condition of America’s rivers at that time. The law served its purpose by stopping industries from

52

LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

dumping toxins in rivers and killing fish and wildlife in the process. Then, the abuse of CWA by extreme environmentalists began with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies playing a duplicitous role.

The definition of “waters of the United States” was broadened to include not only navigable waterways, but also swamps, small streams and even isolated wetlands. The definition of “pollution” was broadened to include dirt and silt from any cleared land except farmland.

The federal government contended that migratory birds flying from state to state and making their homes in isolated wetlands constituted interstate commerce, thus placing private property

OPINION/EDITORIAL

under federal control. This meant that landowners could not disturb or develop any low-lying portion of their property if it contained certain types of plants that government-approved “scientists” defined as wetland plants.

Finally, in Virginia in 1997, the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled that the CWA was never intended by Congress to grant the government such broad powers over the properties of private citizens. For Virginia and the rest of the 4th circuit, property rights were returned to the citizens — but not for long.

Environmentalists then used the fact that so many acres of wetlands were being drained as justification for enacting state laws to regulate wetlands and streams that were now off-limits to the federal government.

The environmentalists’ champion was Del. Preston Bryant, then a Republican from Lynchburg.

Many Lynchburg area voters mistakenly assumed that Bryant, who attended Lynchburg Christian Academy, was a conservative because of his party affiliation.

The state legislation co-sponsored by Bryant, who is now the Secretary of Natural Resources for Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine, defines “state waters” broadly to include “all water on the surface and under the ground, wholly or partially within or bordering the Commonwealth or within

its jurisdiction, including wetlands.”

Thanks to Bryant, all the abuses of the Clean Water Act that were stopped by federal court action were now embraced by the Commonwealth of Virginia and codified into law. In practicality, the state law means that no property owner in Virginia may excavate, drain, fill, dump or engage in any other activity impacting a stream or wetland without an extremely costly permit issued by state government.

Because of its rapid growth, Liberty University often finds itself in negotiations with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, which seems to provide a moving target with the regulations it enforces. Until recently, the DEQ only regulated intermittent streams, and the DEQ allowed developers to disturb or pipe up to 300 linear feet of stream or one-tenth of an acre of wetland without penalty or mitigation. The DEQ also allowed landowners to impact up to one-third of an acre of wetlands without penalty or mitigation.

But now, under the Bryant regime, the state has informed LU that ephemeral streams (basically ditches that fill up during heavy rain) will fall under government regulation.

That sudden rule change will mean that the Crossroads Colonnade Shopping Center planned near the LU campus will incur increased state regulation and unnecessary costs.

When developers face such obstacles and retail projects are delayed, many projects are cancelled. That could rob the region of millions of dollars in sales tax revenue, a shortfall that will be mitigated on the backs of local taxpayers.

The stifling effects of government overreach and its subsequent increased

costs may also adversely impact the future development of Liberty University, the Lynchburg area’s premier growth industry.

LU had planned to build a 130-acre lake in the middle of 5,000 acres of forestland that it owns along the U.S. 460/U.S. 29 corridor. The lake would have been used for recreation for the college community and the general public.

Liberty University officials were told that they must convince DEQ officials that Liberty really needed a lake of that size.

State government officials have the power to completely deny the permit if they determine that the property owner has not shown a justifiable purpose or need for the proposed improvement.

Should the bureaucrats decide that Liberty University will be permitted to build the lake, mitigation will be required because the DEQ says that a lake “destroys” the wetlands and streams that are flooded by it just as if a 130-acre parking lot were being built on top of the streams and wetlands.

This should be frightening to all citizens of Virginia. Since almost every piece of real estate in the state includes streams or drainage ditches of some type, this means that private landowners no longer have the right to decide how their property is used. Instead, state bureaucrats now have that power. If Bryant’s goal in passing the wetlands legislation was to stifle economic development and abolish private property rights in Virginia, then he succeeded. It is amazing that this happened without any outcry from the citizenry.

The state’s estimate price tag for Liberty’s permit to build the lake: $16 million in contributions to environmentalist mitigation efforts.

Who says America is a free country?

www.liberty.edu

53

OPINION/EDITORIAL

A reminiscence: Falwell Goes The Rev. Dr. William H. Willimon

‘D

id you ever meet Jerry Falwell?” someone asked me the day Falwell died.

“Meet him? Jerry nearly got me fired,” I responded.

This was true. Back during Jerry’s fire-breathing Moral Majority days a student dared me to ask Falwell to speak at Duke University. Never thinking that a famous, busy man like him would come, I invited him. A gracious acceptance followed in a couple of days. I had underestimated Jerry’s love of publicity and a good fight.

Having not mentioned money in my invitation, I wrote him back, telling him that we could only pay for his travel from Lynchburg to Durham — no honorarium. Jerry immediately replied that the honor

“The man’s no fool,” I said to myself. “Lord, give me a portion of his gift of manipulation of an academic audience.” of speaking at a place like Duke for a fine Christian writer like me was payment enough and that, since he was flying down in his private jet, travel would be on him. He asked only for my prayers.

There was no deterring this man once he had been invited.

The first hint of trouble came when I asked Duke’s president if she would like to introduce Falwell when he spoke. “Are you crazy?” she graciously replied. “Who put the idea to invite Jerry Falwell in your head anyway? When are you next up for a job evaluation?”

I advised against any publicity but once the “Duke Chronicle” heard the rumor, a storm of protest arose. After the headline, “Dean of the Chapel Invites Notorious Homophobe Christian to Duke,” things got nasty. Even my disclaimers that I didn’t personally know Falwell, that I had hardly read the Book of Leviticus, and that I had only been in the vicinity of Lynchburg (Va.) once didn’t help.

The Lesbian-Bisexual-Pre-Operative and PostOperative Transgendered Alliance called for my resignation and for a massive show of defiance against

54

LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

Falwell’s “closed-minded, racist, homophobic, selfrighteous, incendiary rhetoric.”

Another letter read: “Jerry Falwell says that God doesn’t hear the prayers of Jews.” My pointing out that the then-president of the Southern Baptist Convention was the one who said that had little effect. “After we get through with you, the only place you’ll ever be chaplain is at Liberty Baptist,” was the reply.

I dreaded his arrival on the appointed evening.

That afternoon, as a thunderstorm approached, I received a phone call from Jerry (we were now on a first-name basis). “Will, just calling so you won’t worry. My pilot tells me we can avoid this storm. No problem. The Lord is with us, Will! See you at 6!”

What did it take to get this guy not to show up?

Jerry wasn’t at all like he was on Larry King Live. I was unnerved by his charm and grace, which I figured was the way he softened people up before the homophobic, self-righteous, incendiary rhetoric to follow. We arrived on campus to find the auditorium packed. I now had the task of introducing Jerry while at the same time distancing myself from him. At my first mention of Jerry’s name in my cold, terse introduction, people began to hiss and boo, the same tone they took with Dean Smith when we played UNC in basketball. This is going to be a long evening, I thought.

Jerry, grinning from ear to ear, got up and said what an honor it was for him to be at this great Christian university. More boos and hisses. He said he would like to talk on the role of faith in higher education. Assorted hisses. He rambled for about 30 minutes, speaking of the founding of Harvard as a place of Christian learning. He mentioned Princeton, too. In fact, he managed to mention every school with which Duke competed, noting that we had the church to thank for their existence today. Gradually the hissing and booing silenced as students grew weary. They were obviously disappointed that he had yet to say anything offensive or even interesting.

When Jerry ended his remarks, he asked for open conversation. Now things would get nasty. The first student at the microphone was an African-American.

She asked a question that went something like, “I can’t stand your right-wing, narrow-mindedness.

OPINION/EDITORIAL

to Duke University Les Schofer

You say you are a Christian, but you preach hate.

How many African-Americans do you have at your Liberty University?” The audience responded with jeers and applause.

Jerry paused, wiped his brow, and said, “Young lady, you could not have asked a question that hurts me more deeply.” Some hissing. “In asking about minority student enrollment, you have named my most regrettable failure at Liberty University. I have prayed, I have worked, I have been throughout this country attempting to recruit ethnic minority students, and though we have had greater success among some ethnic minority groups, I am sad to report that our enrollment today stands at only about 12 percent African-Americans.” A few guffaws from the audience.

Jerry continued, “Of course, we are a very young university, less than a decade in existence. We have such a small endowment. But how can I be sure that I am not simply deceiving myself? I am unwilling to accept excuses for our infidelity in regard to our ministry with African-Americans. Just the other day I was pouring my heart out on this very matter to Coretta — you know, Coretta Scott King, we try to get together every few months, she is a wonderful person — and she told me not to be so consumed with this problem. But I can’t help myself.”

At the mention of Coretta’s name, the audience became eerily quiet.

“Do you know, by the way, how many African Americans are enrolled here at Duke?” he asked.

No response.

“I’ll tell you. Six percent. Six percent! Your endowment is 50 times bigger than ours. You have had years to work on this issue (though admittedly you spent half of your life as a racially segregated school). In fact, I struggled with whether the Lord wanted me to come here tonight to a school that, though you have been given great gifts, has such a poor record of minority enrollment. I pray that you will let the Lord help you do better in this area.”

Dead silence throughout the packed auditorium.

From there Jerry went on to field every question with greatest aplomb. I sat there seething with contempt for the wimpishness of the Duke audience.

Is this all it took to shut them up? They were putty in a Baptist’s hands. When Jerry finally finished his

Liberty University founder Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. travelled across America spreading the Word of God and sharing his ideals during his Moral Majority years and beyond.

avuncular banter, he received — if not a standing at least a warm — ovation.

“The man’s no fool,” I said to myself. “Lord, give me a portion of his gift of manipulation of an academic audience.”

“You can have a great ministry here,” Jerry jovially told me on the way back to his jet. “You can have a remarkable influence upon talented young lives.”

Only if I were you, I muttered.

The Rev. Dr. William H. Willimon was elected in July 2004 as Bishop of The United Methodist Church.

He leads the 157,000 Methodists and 792 pastors in North Alabama. For 23 years he was Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University, Durham, N.C. www.liberty.edu

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PRINT from page 40

Church and the late Dr. Jerry Falwell.

The book is being released this month and is available online at www.navpress. com or by calling 1 (800) 366-7788. It is also available in bookstores, including TRBC. Henderson is Pastor of Prayer and Renewal at TRBC and teaches at LU. Towns is Vice President/Co-founder of LU and Dean of the School of Religion.

“Prayer: The Timeless Secret of High-impact Leaders”

played in the lives of Christian leaders, from Abraham to Billy Graham. Earley discusses eight key practices Christian leaders can do to become more effective in their prayer lives, and consequently as a spiritual leader.

The book is scheduled for release in stores June 28. It will also be available online.

Earley is Director of the Lovett Center for Ministry Training and the Center for Church Planting at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.

“Jerry Falwell: His Life and Legacy”

by Dave Earley (Living Ink Books)

By Macel Falwell (Howard Books)

This was written “for Christians in the pew as well as for pastors, church leaders, small group leaders, Christian college students, missionaries, and anyone else who hopes to make a difference for God,” the publisher writes. It reveals the role prayer

Macel Falwell, wife of the late Dr. Jerry Falwell, released her first book on May 15, the one-year anniversary of her husband’s death.

The book begins with a dinner date the day before Jerry Falwell’s death. The story is a flashback to Macel Falwell’s life with the

56

LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

man she knew as a devoted husband, father and pastor. There is also insight into his most publicized and controversial events.

The book can be ordered at www. trbc.org.

“C.S. Lewis as Philosopher: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty” Co-edited by David Baggett, Gary Habermas and Jerry Walls (InterVarsity Press) This book, released in April, includes 15 essays that explore three major philosophical themes from Lewis’ works. The editors provide an overview of Lewis’ philosophies on “arguments for Christianity, the character of God, theodicy, moral goodness, heaven and hell, a theory of literature, and the place of the imagination.”

Baggett is Associate Professor of Philosophy.

ALUMNI

Alumni Snapshot Jerome Sturm

Q&A: Why did you choose to attend Liberty University?

I was offered a football scholarship, but ultimately the decision came down to the fact that I felt that the Lord was leading me to Liberty. At the time I didn’t know why, but the conviction was so strong that I couldn’t ignore it. It ended up being one of the best decisions I ever made.

What is your fondest memory of Liberty?

I’ve got many fond memories of Liberty and it’s almost unfair to ask for one, but one of the many that sticks out in my mind was during a snow day in ’04. School had been cancelled and a group of my buddies congregated at a friend’s house. His dad had stopped by to see him and what was intended to be a short stay ended with us literally at his feet, as he told us of what true ministry looked like and what it earnestly meant to be a man of God. He talked into the wee hours of the morning and not one person moved because God was speaking to us through him that night. I’ll never forget it.

How did attending Liberty prepare you for your life after graduation?

Liberty university alumnus and NFL player Sam Gado speaks at Liberty University in April.

Name: Samkon

Gado

graduating class: 2005

What would people be surprised to know about you?

Residence: Columbia, S.C.

I am a music fiend. I especially love finding new music. I get the greatest joy out of finding an artist that not so many people have heard of.

CAREER: Professional

future plans: Gado

moved to the U.S. from Nigeria at age 9. He plans to become a medical missionary in his native country and is using the NFL to save money to attend medical school.

Hobbies: Music, photography,

reading Education: B.S. Health Promotions, Liberty University

Green Bay Packers Public Relations

athlete, has played football for the Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans and Miami Dolphins. He is currently a free agent.

God used Liberty to grow my faith through many avenues. But of all the things Liberty had to offer that prepared me for life after college, the friends I had the privilege of knowing left the most indelible mark. I met guys who had deep passions for true Christianity and their lives gave me a righteous envy and jealousy that could only be fulfilled by going to the Source. That righteous jealousy drove me to Christ and it is Christ, through them, that has prepared me for whatever is to come.

Gado was signed to the Green Bay Packers roster in October 2005. In his career, he has received two NFL awards for his rookie performance: NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month (November 2005) and Rookie of the Week, (Weeks 10 and 14).

www.liberty.edu

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Class of 1977 Gary Hornberger has announced his intention to run for the Pennsylvania State Legislature representing a portion of Central Pennsylvania. He has served as the Schuylkill County Controller in Schuylkill County, Pa., for the last 12 years. www. garyhornberger.com/liberty

‘77

Auxiliary Annual Conference held at Fort Dix. Guyer, who resides in Lakehurst, N.J., recently trained at the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation and was certified in the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Group Intervention Course and CISM Pastoral Crisis Intervention Course. He is certified as a New Jersey State emergency medical technician-basic.

Class of 1993

Class of 1988 Brian Ratlifff will become the superintendent of Amherst County (Va.) Public Schools on July1. He has previously served as assistant superintendent. Ratliff started his career at Heritage High and Sandusky Middle schools (in Virginia) and was principal of Amherst Middle School.

58

‘95

Dr. Marc Clauson recently received tenure at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio, as an associate professor of history and law, effective August 2008. He earned his M.Th. and a M.A. from Liberty University in 1993 and a Ph.D. at the University of the Orange Free State, South Africa in 2001. He resides in Xenia, Ohio.

‘93

Class of 2000

the largest creation apologetics ministry in the world with offices in seven countries.

CMI is a Christ-centered non-denominational ministry dedicated to upholding the authority of the Bible.

Class of 2006 Kimberly Carter-Lassiter, who received her MBA from Liberty, has published her first book with BookSurge, “My Life Stages: Broken, Bitter then Blessed.” Lassiter is an entrepreneur from Ahoskie, N.C. She and her husband of 18 years own and operate The Alpha Group Inc., and she also gives motivational talks to small groups. She has three children: Dorian, Andre and Moriah. e-mail: mylifestages@ yahoo.com

‘06

Jared K. Vallorani was recently hired as Chief Operations Officer for Creation Ministries International (USA),

‘00

Class of 1992 Civil Air Patrol Chaplain Capt. George H. Guyer III was named the New Jersey Wing Chaplain of the Year at the 2008 New Jersey Wing Civil Air Patrol U.S. Air Force

won the title of Mrs. VirginiaAmerica in 2007 and competed on the nationally televised Mrs. America pageant on the WE network. She is an English teacher in Chesapeake, Va., where she resides with her husband David Lacey, class of 1991, and their two children, Blaine and Logan. They are active members of Deep Creek Baptist Church. www.mrsvirginia2007.com

Class of 2007 Class of 1995 Darla (Cline) Lacey, who holds a B.S. in English with a teaching certificate from LU,

LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

Brian K. Walsh was presented the Outstanding Alumnus Award for 2008 by Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg, Va., where he

gave this year’s commencement address. Walsh serves as Clinical Research Coordinator for Respiratory Care at the Children’s Hospital Boston, the primary pediatric hospital of Harvard Medical School.

Walsh has served on numerous boards and committees over the past 10 years and is a former president of the Virginia Society for Respiratory Care. He was named the 2003 Neonatal-Pediatric Specialty Practitioner of the Year by the American Society for Respiratory Care.

Class of 2008 Dr. Dennis Kirkland has published his first book, “Mormons and Muslims: A Case of Matching Fingerprints.” The idea came from Dennis’ military and missionary experience, and he was encouraged

by Dr. Ergun Caner, Dean of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. After more than 20 years of missionary service, he now serves as chair of the missions department at

‘08

Appalachian Bible College in Bradley, W.Va. e-mail: dennis. kirklant@abc.edu Rollan A. Roberts II, MBA Distance Learning graduate, is a business owner, investor, thought leader, keynote speaker and published author.

After finishing his first year of college at age 19, he purchased his first home. Nine months later, he owned seven properties representing 30 units worth $1.2 million. Today, Rollan is known as “The Virtual Dreambuilder.” Roberts is author of “Born to be Rich” and “Born to Dream” and has founded idream and SAFE School. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of NW Florida and the Leadership Council of Covenant Hospice.

‘08

Miscellaneous announcements BB&T has promoted Brandon Rich to banking officer. Rich, who joined the Greenville, S.C., bank in 2000, is a business services officer in BB&T’s Commercial Loans department.

The Lynchburg, Va., native earned his bachelor’s (2005) and master’s (2008) degrees in business administration from Liberty University.

‘08

Dr. Charles David Hodges Jr. (1989 M.A. in counseling, 2002 M.A.R. in religion), a member of St. Francis Medical Group, has joined Plainfield Family Medicine in Indianapolis, Ind. Hodges is board-certified in family practice and geriatrics and is a licensed marital family therapist. He received a bachelor’s degree in history at Indiana University and a medical degree from the IU School of Medicine.

attention alumni: send us your submissions E-MAIL: TTMAXWELL@LIBERTY.EDU FAX: 434-582-7710 MAIL: 1971 UNIVERSITY BLVD. LYNCHBURG, VA 24502

note: PLEASE INCLUDE A HEADSHOT IN HIGH RESOLUTION (300dpi) JPEG FORMAT WITH YOUR SUBMISSIONS.

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59

Photos by Jon McGehee

◆

AMAZON continued from page 25

In one village a dozen Brazilians accepted Christ as their savior, and in another a man stood anxiously outside of the church embarrassed to enter the building because he didn’t have a shirt to wear. Immediately this need prompted a student to give the man his own shirt.

One village had been closed to Christianity for 11 years until the Liberty team arrived. Their short visit ended with village leaders pleading for another team to return.

In all, Liberty students assisted 468 patients with everything from parasites to small cuts.They also pulled 141 infected teeth, building upon a dental ministry initiated by CGM director Don Fanning on a previous trip.

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LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

Liberty students put smiles on the faces of hundreds of children, prayed for the elderly, and prepared the way for Christian missionaries to spread the Gospel among the Amazon basin.

“It was awesome to see how meeting physical needs pointed these people to their spiritual needs,” said Chris Deitsch, a campus pastor who led the trip with Pastor David McKinney.“At one point we traveled 12 hours to a single village. These people couldn’t believe we loved them enough to come so far to clean their wounds. We didn’t just tell them the love of Christ, we demonstrated it.”

The CGM team will leave after holding an English Language retreat for more than 50 local business leaders. They will use

American football, education, and medicine as a means to teach English, and English as a means to present the Gospel.

This missions excursion was funded by private donors and Liberty University’s Campus Church. Each year Liberty’s Center for Global Ministries facilitates dozens of missions campaigns on every inhabited continent, sending hundreds of students to the frontlines of the Great Commission. Next year students will have the opportunity to travel again to the Amazon or to one of 20 other nations.

The Rev. Johnnie Moore, campus pastor at Liberty University, visited the team in Brazil in May.

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The seminar is designed to provide accurate, authoritative information. Merrill Lynch is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or tax advice. If legal, accounting or tax assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision, which should not be based upon advertising. Before you decide, ask the attorney to send you free written information stating his or her qualifications and experience. The Total Merrill brand is used to refer to the broad range of brokerage, investment advisory (including financial planning), banking, trust, mortgage, and other financial services and products offered by Merrill Lynch. The nature and degree of advice and assistance provided, the fees charged, and client rights and Merrill Lynch’s obligations will differ among these services. Total Merrill (design) is a registered service mark of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. It’s about achieving life and Total Merrill are service marks of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. © 2008 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. Member SIPC.

www.liberty.edu

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SPORTS

n t h u n r O e

P

LU p 2,95 rofess 9-m or ta ile jo ckle urne s hyysi h ysiica call ex exer xer e ci cise se com se omes in ma m nyy y fo form orm ms — bi biki k ngg, ju ki ump mpiin ing ro ing rop pe e,,we w ig we ight ght ht

l ft li ftin ingg or in o eve ven a br bris isk wa is walk walk lk.. Fo Forr Dr Dr..

Davi Da viid Ho vid H rt r on on,,hi his hi is fa avo oriite t hea art r -p pum u pi p ng ng ac cti t vi vity tyy is of o a sliigh g tl tly ly diff diiff f er e en nt br bree ee e ed.. N No, o, he does do e not spe es end n cou oun nttle esss ho ou u urs rrss p pra ra ract act ctic icin ic icin ingg yo ogga a or do d in ng P Piila ate ess.. He is i an ulltrram mar arat attho on runn ru nerr, co omp mpet etin et iin ng in n foo otr tra ac ces tha h tc co ove v r dist di stan st tance an nce c s of of 30 m miile es or o mor ore.

Whe Wh en n peo e pl ple ea assk sk tth he 58 58-y -yye ea arr ol old wh w y he e ru uns ns,, he gla ladl dly dl ly ex e pllai an nss.

“T Th ha at is i a mullti t -ffac acto to oriial a a ans nswe ns wer.r.r The we h simp si m le mp est vver errsi sion on is be beca ca c ausse I ca can, n,” Ho ort r on n said sa id d..“T “Thi “T hiss is is tthe h ta he allen entt th he Lo Lord rd hass giv iven iven en me e..”

Hort Ho rton rt on ser e ve ved d as cha hair irma ma man an of L Lib iber ib e ty er ty Univ Un nivver ersi sityy’ss kin ines esio es olo logy ogyy dep epar artm ar tmen tm e t fr en f om 1983 19 9833-2 -200 0033 an 00 and ha and hass ta aug ught htt at th the e un univ iversi errsiityy for 29 fo 2 yea ears arss. He e now w insstrruc uctss two cla lass sses ss e, es P ysio Ph ysio ys iolo lo ogy gy of Ex xe errci cise se e and Exe x rc cis ise e Pre Pr essc crrip rip pttiion on. Th Thes ese cl ese c as a se sess al allo low lo w st stud ud u de en nttss to o dev evel e op el op an ap appr prrec prec cia ati tion n ffor orr hea o e lt lthy hy ex exer xe errciise se whi h le e rrun u n un niingg on so some me of the me th he uniq un que e tra ail i s ne ear cam ampu p s. pu Th hro ouggho out u hiss ill l us ustr trrio ouss car aree ee eer er a ass a ru unn nner err, H e Ho ortton ort on has as cov over ered er ed ab bo out out u 107 07,0 ,000 ,0 000 miile m es of of terra errra ain in,, in incl incl clud lud din i g 3300 mar arat atho at hons ho n and ns d more mo r tha re han 17 1 0 ul ultr tras as.. Al as Alth thou ho ou ugh he ha ugh has wo won n 40 rac aces ces sin ince ince e com ompl plet pl let e in i g his hiis fi firs rstt ulltr rs t a in in 1979 19 9799, Ho Hort r on rt o ’s lat ates esst chal chal ch alle leng le n e is u ng unl nlik nl ike ik e an a y comp co pe ettit i io ion n he hass e eve ve er fa aced. ce ed. d He is c He cu urr rren en nttlly ru unnin nnin nn ng th he Co Cont ont ntin in nen nta tall Diivviide de Trra ail i ((CD CDT) CD T , a 2, T) 2,95 9 99 miile l jo ou urn ney ey begi be egi gn nn niin ng in n ssou ou uth he errn Ne New w Me M xi x co c and conc and an co onclu nc clu ludi diingg at th d the Ca an na adi dian

b rd bo der er.. He H sta tart rted rt ed d the run on Ju J n ne e 7 and nd plan pl anss to an o rrea ea e ach h tthe he e end nd by Au Aug. g. 115.

55.. Dur u in ingg h s qu hi q es est, th t, he e wi will lll enc count ount ou n er er rug ugge g d te ge terr rrrai a n, incl in ncl clem e en em entt w we eat ah he er an and w wiild d ani nima m ls ma l, a l wh al w il ile e tr tryi y ng yi n tto o st stay ay as en ener ergi er giize zed an and d hydr hy ydr d at a ed a ass po p sssib ible le.. Ho le Hort rton rt on nh hop opes op e to es a co ac c mpli mplish mp liish tthe he e fea e t in n rec ecor ord or d ti time m . me “L Log ogic ical ic ally al l spe ly p ak a in ing, g, I sho houl uldn ul dn’t’t be dn do d oing in ng th his i ,” Hor orto t n sa to aid i .“II’m m olld d. I’ I m no nott ass fast fa ast as I us used e tto ed o be be.. I ca can’ n’tt ru n’ run n as ffas ast, as t, but I ca c an st stil ill so sortt o sort off d do o thiis tyype pe of th hin ing. g”” g.

Ho Hort ortton n is no n strran angge er to t set etti t ngg spe ti eed reco re co ord ds on o ttra ra ail ilss c co overi ve eri r ng n thous ho ous u an a ds d of mi m le es. s Hiss fi Hi firs rstt b rs biig en e de d avvor or occ ccur u re ur r d in n 199 991, 1 1, wh hen he ra an th he en enti tire ti re e Appal pp pal alac a hi ac h an n Tra aill (AT) (A T)) iin n 52 5 day ays, s, nin ine e ho h ur urs, s,, b bre reak re ak kin ingg th t e prev pr evio ev io ous rec ecor ecor o d. d. Sin ince c the ce en, n, two m men en havve ssu urp pas a se s d th t e barr barrrie ba i r,r, mak akin ing hi in h m th the e th hir ird d fa ast s esst al a l ti time m .F Fo our ur yea ars aftter run u ni ning ng tthe he AT,, Ho AT Hort rton rt on p on par arrti arti tici ici cipa pate ted in te n th he e Tra ran nss A Ame me eri r ca a Foot Fo o ra ot race c , fi ce fini nish ni shin ingg th in thir ird rd o ovver e al all. all. l.

T e da Th days ys of be bein ingg th in he th thir irrdd fa ast stes esst ru unn nner e came er ame to am o an en e d in n 200 0 5.

5. At the th he age age ag of 555,, h he e at atte temp m ted mp te ed th the Pa Paci ciifi c fic c Cres Cres Cr estt Tr T ai aill (PCT (P CT), CT ) a 2,66500-m -mil ille vo voya oya age g str tret e ch et hiin ng frro om m M xi Me x co to Ca C na nada da da. a. H Ho ortton n reach eached ea ch hed d tthe he fin nal al al trai tr a l ma ai mark rk kerr iin n just just 66 days ju da ayss, sh shat a te at eri ring ngg tthe he he o d re ol eco cord r by a li rd litt ttle tt le m mor o e th or han n two we tw week eek ekss..

by ERIC BROWN Special to Liberty Journal

Afte Af terr co c nq que u ri ring ngg tthe he PCT CT, he CT, he pro romi misse ed h s wi hi wife fe e he woul wo oul u d ne neve v r un ve u de ert r ak ake e su uch c a r na ru aggai a n. n. Whi h le e he in i te t nd nded ed d on ke eep epin ing ing his vo his hi vow, w a tho w, h ught ught cro ug oss s ed d his m min ind d la last st su umm mmer er pro er romp m ti mp ting ng a cha ng h ng nge e in pla lans ns.

“II was on th the e PC PCT T in Was a hiinggto t n Stat ate, w lk wa lkin kin ng up up the he tra tra raiill by my m se s lf and d I tho houg ught ht, ht ‘II’v ’ve e go ot to od do o th t e CD CDT, T,’” Hor T’” T, o to on re eca call lled ed..

Ovverr 25 ye Over ear arss ag ago, o Hor o to ton n st star arte ted a 5 -m 50 mil ile e ra race c in th ce t e Ce Cent ntra nt r l Vi ra Virg rgginia in nia a are rea a know kn ow wn as a the h Mou o nt ntai ain ai n Ma Maso soch chis ch istt Trrai al R n (M Ru MMT TR) R .A Affte t r winningg th he MM MMTR TR its t in inau nau augu gura ura al ye year ar, he b beg egan an sser ervi v ng as the race c dire di rect re c or ct o , gr grow o in ow ingg it iint nto o an e eve vent nt ttha hatt now feat fe atur ures es mor o e th han 3300 00 run unne ners rs fro rom m ar around t e co th coun untr try. tr y Hea y. adi d ng n int n o th he ra ace c ’ss 26t 6th h ye year ar,, itts fo foun unde un d r ha de had d a di d fficul u t ch hoi o ce tto o ma make ke.

Hort Ho rto rt on n’ss w wif ife, if e, N Nan ancy an cy,, wh cy who o is c con o ce on ern rned ed ffor or h r hu he husb ban nd’ ds w we ell ll-b -b bei eing n whe ng h n ru runn nnin ing lo ongg,,mo m un mo nta ain inou o s trrai ou a lss,,to t ld him she to h wou ould ld ssu upp ppor o t hi or hiss de deci eci cisi issiion o to ru un th the C CD DT iff he step st ep ppe ped d do d wn wn as Maso Ma aso och chisst di d re rect co ct orr.

“I kne new w he h wan ante ted d to o [ru r n th the e CD CDT] T T] re eal ally lly bad ad,,” Nan a cy H Hor orto to on sa s id id. d.“IIt wa wass a ha h ard d dec eciissio on fo forr hi h m to mak ake e be beca caus ca usse he e lo ove vess th the e Ma Maso so och chis isst. I don n’tt llik ike ik e th he id idea ea a off him m going oiin ngg off f ano noth ther th ther er ttwo wo and wo nd a half allf m nt mo nths hss, bu butt I re eal a ly ly bellie ieve eve ve thi h s wi will ll be hiis ll la last ast o one ne a ne and nd I wa nd an nt hi him m to o go ah hea ead d an nd do it. do t” Ta aki king ng ovve er ass MMT M R d re di rect c or ct o will ill b il be e Drr..

Clar Cl arrk Zeal Zeal Ze a an and, da d,

n avid Horto ssor Dr. D fe tain ro n p u y o it M ivers iberty Liberty Un g run on L gin n n e lle v a e h y earl the c enjoys an complete in to il s n ra T la p e orton l Divid in May. H Continenta ile -m 0 0 3,0 ing, nearly t. s u g u mid-A

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LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

SPORTS

Ph ho oto toss by b Le L

s Sch ch ho ofe f r

To track Dr. David Horton’s running progress this summer, visit www.eco-xsports.com.

fo orm rmer stu t de tu dent nt o off Ho Hort rton rt o ’ss. on Zeal Ze alan a d, who ho ove vers rsee rsee ees es th hre ree ree oth ot oth he er tr trai ail ai il ra race ces, s wil illl be begi gin gi n At 58-years teac te eac a h hiingg a att Li Libe bertty this be th hiss fal all.l.

-old, Libert y Universit Dr. David H Befo Be fore fo ore re rret ettur e urn ning ni ingg to to hi hiss al a ma y professo orton is still r running ult Throughou m te ma er,r he w wiilll ass ssis istt Ho is ort r on o ramarathon t the years s.

H o rt on has cove about 107,0 duri du riing hiss jjou ou o urn neyy on tth he CD CDT. CDT T. red 00 miles of te rrain, includ marathons “O On o otthe her er oc occa c ssiiion ca on ns ing 30 and more th an 170 ultra [Hor [H orto ton] to n]] h has asn’ as n t ha n’ had d ju just st s. on o ne pe ers rson o with h hi him m th he enti en tirre tim me,” Zealan and d no noted. d.““Th This is ttim ime e he has JJon he o atha han n Ba Bash ham [[Ho Hort rton on’s ’s fri rien e d en and AT crew w me memb mber er of on one of hiss for o me merr wild wi ld der e ne esss. Ass Hor o to ton ma m k ke es hi hiss w wa ay ay stud ude ents], ], w who ho is go goin ingg to be e ther ere e th he en nti t re e thro th r ug ugh h th he st stat ate at e off Mon onta nta tana na a iin n Au Augu g st s , hi hs summ mmer er w witth hi him. m He is als l o go oin ng to o hav ave ve form fo rm mer e stu tude d nt de n willl re retu etu t rn rn tto o en ensu sure su re tha at peop pe ple c com o in i g in n att difffer eren entt se sect c io ct ions ns tto o so ort th he pr p of o es esso sorr c so co omple omp mp ple ette es hiis jo j ur urne ne ey sa s fe elyy. of rrel elie ieve ve Jon nat atha han n an and d br brin in ng ex extr t a su tr upp por ort. t.

Allth thou o gh ou h he ha has th he su s pp ppor orrt of oth ort her ers ers That’s som omet ethi hing ng II’m ’m d doi oing n .” ng arou ar ound ou nd n d him m, Ho Hort rrtton rton on is re ely lyin ing on in ing on mor ore th than an Zeal Ze alan and d wi will ll rrun un alo long nggsiide de his fri rien end en d ju ust st his is cre rew w an and ru and unn nin ng ab abil illiitty to t rea each c ch and an d fo form rmer er pro rofe fess fe ssor or,, as assi sist si stiin st ing in ing i wha h te teve v r ve tth he tr traiil’ ls e en nd. d w y po wa poss ssib i le d ib dur urin ur ingg 14 in 1466 mi m le es of Col olor orad or ado ad o ““II fee e l that th hat a the h Lo orrd is is in th this his i ,” Horrto ton n s id sa d.“II ha avve ve pe p a ac ce ab abou abou o t th hatt goi o ng ng forrwa w rd rd and an d if if yyou ou havve pe pea ac ce ab abou ou ut some so ome m thin th hin ing, g, g, th hen n th hiing ngs wi ngs will wor ork ou out ass the out hey sh hou ould lld d.”

www.liberty.edu

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SPORTS

Todd’s s Sport ook Noteb

E

very entity at Liberty University entered the 2007-08 academic year with a singular focus — to carry on the vision of its beloved founder and former chancellor, Dr. Jerry Falwell.

The larger-than-life figure was famous for challenging 20-something college students to become “Champions for Christ” in whatever field to which the Lord had called them.

Kirby Lee/Image of Sport

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LIBERTY JOURNAL July/August 2008

by TODD WETMORE Liberty Journal

For Liberty’s 4000-plus student-athletes, th he directive is simple — to be the best by not only com mpeting against the na ation’s elite, but by finishing with a victorious ou utcome.

Nearly tw wo decades ago, Liberty’s student-athletes were given that exact opportunity when the Athletics D Department was granted full-time NCAA Divission I status.

Three years later, the Flames ga ained conference affiliation with the Big South Conference, quickly setting their sigghts on dominating the league.And that’s what the department has done, winning 84 conference championships over the past 20 years to set a new standard of excellence in the Big South.

Annually, the league presents the coveted Sasser Cup to the member

institution based on regular season performances and championship finishes.

Liberty and Coastal Carolina University have had a strangle-hold on the honor the past decade, earning five Sasser Cups apiece. However, Coastal has taken home the trophy the past four years and five out of the last seven.

In keeping with Dr. Falwell’s vision, Liberty’s student-athletes banded together this past school year to regain possession of the Cup, returning the award to its rightful home on Liberty Mountain.

The year began with the most successful run in Big South history. Liberty claimed five out of six conference titles in the fall and the cross country programs kicked off the “Season of Champions” by sweeping the men’s and women’s team titles for the fourth time in program history.

Liberty’s volleyball program dominated Big South play to claim its fourth league title. The Lady Flames ended Winthrop’s

G N I C N ADVA

SPORTS

reign in the sport, including their regularseason victory which halted the Eagles’ 63match conference winning streak.

The men’s football and soccer teams earned conference championship rings following their first-ever titles, capping off the most victorious season in league history.

Individually, a student-athlete achieved a benchmark only one other had previously accomplished. Senior cross country runner Josh McDougal capped an already star-studded career with his crowning achievement, when he won the NCAA Men’s Cross Country National Championship in Terre Haute, Ind. The cold winds of the winter didn’t cool the Flames’ fervor for victories, as the winter clubs continued Liberty’s run of success.

After having its 10-year run of conference titles snapped last year by arch rival Radford, the women’s basketball program returned to the top, dashing the hopes of the Highlanders with a last-second victory to claim the program’s 11th Big South title.

The men’s indoor track program continued its unprecedented run in the league, winning its 11th-straight conference title — hoisting the trophy each year the Big South has sponsored the sport at the championship level.

The second-year wrestling program proved that its victory at last year’s NCAA East Regional was not a fluke, dominating this year’s championship in the first-ever NCAA Championship event hosted by LU. The Flames also sent a program-best six grapplers to the NCAA National Championships, where two advanced to the “Sweet 16” level.

The men’s track program completed the league “Triple Crown” by claiming victory at the Big South Outdoor Championship.

An up-and-coming women’s tennis program finished the regular season in second place and advanced to the league championship’s semifinal round.

N O I S I V E H T G

Closing out the Big South h se s asons were the softball and baseball programs ms. A young and upstart softball program was upset etminded and made its fourth Big South championship game appearance.

The baseball program quickly followed suit, pushing No. 13 and eventual NCAA Regional top seed Coastal Carolina to the brink of elimination with its thirdstraight title game showing.

All in all, Liberty claimed eight Big South titles and had a trio of programs post runner-up finishes to claim the department’s sixth Big South “Sasser Cup” championship. The Flames also swept the Men’s and Women’s All-Sport trophies for the second time in league history.

The best way to honor a visionary like Dr. Falwell, who was and will always be Liberty’s No. 1 fan.

Todd Wetmore is Liberty University’s Assistant AD for Athletic Media Relations.

Photos by Les Schofer

www.liberty.edu

65

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