70th
Anniversary
Special
Edition
‘15 - ’16
VOL.2
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A UNIVERSITY IS BORN A letter from our president expressing his gratitude for God’s faithfulness as TM achieved university status.
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NIGHT TO SHINE Limos, lights and red carpet. This magical night brought smiles to many participants and volunteers.
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TMU SPOTLIGHTS Students, faculty, staff and alum – We highlighted a few of our friends along with a quick glimpse into how God moved in their lives.
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TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH TMU strives for boldness as we share the gospel of Jesus Christ through local and global missions.
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FINISH STRONG We are preparing for TMU’s multi-million dollar Student Wellness Center grand opening. Make a lasting impact on our campus and check out the naming opportunities still available!
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CELEBRATING 70 YEARS Happy birthday to us! So many exciting changes since 1946. We hope you will join in on this time of celebration.
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE Interested in a career in the field of criminal justice? We are excited to announce our new Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree program.
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ATHLETICS OVERVIEW Our coaches at TMU have made this academic year one to remember. Go Bears!
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PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL GIVING REPORT
E D I T O R I A L S TA F F
PUBLISHER Dr. Gary Jarnagin
EDITOR IN CHIEF Valarie M. Reeves
LEAD EDITOR Jenny Gregory
DESIGNER / PHOTOGRAPHER Adam Roark
WRITERS Blake Bramblett Jenny Gregory Bailey Jarnagin Dr. Gary Jarnagin Katie Louise Leach Walker McCrary Nathan Welsh Jordan West
CONTRIBUTORS Dr. Emir Caner Dr. David Drake Dr. Brad Reynolds Ethan Watkins Dr. John Yarbrough
THE FOUNTAIN: TMU students celebrate their induction as alumni in the school’s newly renovated landmark.
Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the data presented. Thank you for your understanding. Email amccall@truett.edu for corrections.
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U N I V E R S I T Y
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I S
B O R N !
A year after the Greatest Generation defeated the threats of Nazism and Fascism, Georgia Baptists chartered a junior college in the mountains of North Georgia. The hopes and dreams of many Baptists, including the College’s first president, Clinton Cutts, was to provide a biblical education to a new generation, a generation given such rich opportunities due to the valiant sacrifice of their fathers and mothers. For 70 years, students have accepted the Lord’s calling and pitched their tents at Truett-McConnell College, first in downtown Cleveland and then, ten years later, here at its present location. Many alumni still treasure those precious memories spent in notorious buildings like the “Cardboard Castle” or walking across the way to the Tasty Freeze. They considered the College their second home; some still do. Few could imagine a day when we would become Truett McConnell University; a home where students could fulfill God’s high calling through undergraduate and graduate degrees. From 1946-2003, the College conferred thousands of associate degrees. Beginning in 2003, the College began its venture into baccalaureate degrees. More than a decade later, Truett McConnell University grants degrees in nine schools: Business, Education, Humanities, Music, Nursing, Psychology and Biblical Counseling, Public Service, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and Theology and Missions. I’ve met scores of these alumni who have stated repeatedly: “If they offered more than that degree, I would have stayed.” Now they can.
On May 14, 2016, we officially became Truett McConnell University. On that day, the first graduate degree, a Master of Arts in Theology, was conferred upon Benjamin Garrison. Ben will go down as the first person in our rich, 70-year history to receive an advanced degree. As a distinctively Christian institution that raises up ministers to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is fitting that the first degree given would be to one who is already serving in full-time ministry. It must be stated that our academic footprint is expanding rapidly, but our vision remains the same. From our formation to our present, we are an unapologetically Christian institution that seeks to invest in students whose desires are to love the Lord, love His Word, love the Church and love the lost. All baccalaureate graduates earn a Great Commission Minor. All classes and all disciplines are taught from a biblical worldview. Scripture permeates everything we do on campus – inside and outside the classroom. Such will continue to be the case with any and all graduate degrees we offer. Only God can receive the glory for all He has done at Truett McConnell for 70 years. During many points in our history, it was a miracle we even survived. But we are grateful God continued to smile upon the feeble endeavors of His servants. Were you one of those who said you would have stayed if the school offered even more? Then imagine the impact Truett McConnell University can have on the next generation now that students can stay not for two years, but four years – or now, even longer. Truth is Immortal.
“I’VE MET SCORES OF THESE ALUMNI WHO HAVE STATED REPEATEDLY: ‘IF THEY OFFERED MORE THAN THAT DEGREE, I WOULD HAVE STAYED.’ NOW THEY CAN.”
PICTURED: Caner prays with students moments before their graduation ceremony commences. Dr. Emir Caner, President
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W H Y U N I V E R S I T Y ? Dr. Brad Reynolds, Vice President of Academic Services
feel I can shed light on why University status is desirable from an academic perspective. I arrived at TMU in early summer 2009. At the time, we had eleven bachelor's degree programs and seven associate's degree programs. TMU has now dissolved her associate's degree programs, has thirty bachelor's degree programs residentially, seven bachelor's degree programs online, and a master’s degree program offered both online and residentially. Further, she has four additional master's degree programs which were passed by faculty this spring (to be sent for consideration and possible approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)). In other words, TMU is no longer what she has been academically. She has not deserted her historical Christian roots but deepened them to produce an institution few would have imagined. While strengthening her Biblical moorings, she has developed into a unique institution of higher education.
...higher education has been hijacked by secularists who have bullied Christian truths into the closet of “religion” and then placed yellow tape across the door of the closet with the words “DO NOT OPEN”.
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How does one inform Georgia Baptists, Southern Baptists, Evangelicals and Christians of such growth? The quickest and perhaps most effective way to do so is a name change. But to change the name “Truett-McConnell” might lead to questions on whether we were deserting our Christian heritage. Thus, by moving from College to University, TMU is broadcasting:
1) her commitment to her Christian heritage; 2) the changes that have occurred; and 3) the direction she is headed. Historically the term University has been associated with scholarship and research. One glance at Truett McConnell’s faculty page reflects her commitment to both. When I interview a potential faculty member, I ask him/her “How would you teach your subject matter differently at Truett McConnell than at UGA?” I am not asking if he/she will pray before each class. I am asking about his/her Christian worldview. Blaise Pascal, because of his worldview, had an ability and desire to use math to point to God. Of course, our students need to be educated concerning “truths” in biology when they take our biology courses; but such knowledge does not address the core of biology (the study of life). Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the LIFE…” When one truly looks into the study of life, it should not just tell him about “organisms” but also give insight about the One who created the organisms. Such is the case with all truths. They point to TRUTH.
in Missiology is fully approved*, a freshman will be able to attend TMU and within five years complete both an RN and a Master of Arts in Missiology. Our students will be prepared both professionally and missionally to serve the Lord wherever He calls with a true Biblical and Scholarly education. So why is the move to TMU important academically? To both affirm who we have become, and to share what God is doing in the mountains of North BR Georgia. *Needs approval by SACSCOC.
For too long, higher education has been hijacked by secularists who have bullied Christian truths into the closet of “religion” and then placed yellow tape across the door of the closet with the words “DO NOT OPEN”. Claiming such truths are off-limits to education. That type of bullying must inevitably bow to truth. The pursuit of truth is what education should be about. And truth should be followed wherever it leads, even if such shakes the foundation of Atheism, Secularism and western higher education. TMU is unique. We have purposely challenged our faculty to chart new waters in higher education, which may have been deserted long ago by secularists. We hold to Scripture as inerrant and recognize our senses (empiricism), our thoughts (rationalism), and our feelings (emotionalism) can and do err. While we gladly proclaim our uniqueness (no other institution I know of is required by SACSCOC to foster a Christian worldview on her campus – we are, per our Quality Enhancement Plan). And while we are vocal about our Christian values (requiring all students to graduate with a Great Commission Minor and requiring all faculty to publicly sign the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 – only the Southern Baptist seminaries do that). We also recognize that we do things other institutions, like seminaries, are not equipped to do. For instance, once our Master of Arts
J U ST A T WE AK As we move toward a more confident and developed version of ourselves, we’re experimenting with some slight alterations to our classic wordmark. The hyphen is now removed for more usability with a stronger emphasis on using the entirety of our name (which is frequently shortened to “Truett.”) We’ve also updated the typeface to a much more timeless and modern look to emphasize our heritage and that we will be around for a long time!
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D R . H O L LY H AY N E S S P O T L I G H T
H O L LY
H AY N E S
A L E S S O N I N G R A C E Dr. Holly Haynes, Truett McConnell University’s Dean of The Leonhard Schiemer School of Psychology and Biblical Counseling and Associate Professor of Behavioral Sciences, has relied on God’s enduring grace to direct her throughout life. The result of Haynes’ reliance is a strong local and global ministry which continues to further the Kingdom of God.
“I can remember being in the third grade, and Dr. Stanley was preaching a sermon series on our faith,” recalled Haynes. “My Sunday school teacher was talking about how we would come to an understanding of our faith in Christ, and I can remember really recognizing who God was and understanding that I was forgiven of my sins.”
ENDURING GRACE
While in her third grade Sunday school class, Haynes surrendered her life to the Lord. Since then, she has been learning what it means to seek the Lord’s guidance in all aspects of her life.
Haynes was born in New York but currently calls Sugar Hill, Ga. her home. She has fond memories of growing up with parents who considered Christ the center of everything and regularly attended First Baptist Church of Atlanta.
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“I always say my testimony is one of enduring grace,” stated Haynes. “God
has really directed my life in a lot of ways from my career, to marriage, to schooling. I’ve learned a lot in that maturing process in Christ.”
LEARNING TO TRUST IN THE LORD Haynes studied and received all three of her academic degrees at the prestigious Harvard University. “I have an undergraduate degree in history and science, my master’s degree has a concentration in risk and prevention, and my doctoral degree is in human development and psychology,” Haynes listed. Haynes’ original intention was to go into medicine, but in the third year of
“I wound up getting a position at Children’s Hospital Boston doing research,” shared Haynes. “I got into the [doctoral] program and stayed in Boston.”
MASTER’S PROGRAMS AND A MARRIAGE In addition to performing research for the Children’s Hospital Boston, Haynes was on a committee which reviewed the applications of and advocated for students vying for admission into the same program. This is how she first heard of Phillip Haynes, who would become her husband. “I was sitting on the committee for the Master’s program,” explained Haynes, “and it just so happened that I got to read my future husband’s application ahead of time and advocate for my husband before he was there.” She continued, “He came to the school, and I remember going up to him at one of the very first meetings we had. I had a leadership position, and I served as an advisor, so his first question to ask me was how to get out of the very program we had just admitted him to.”
by Bailey Jaragin
Haynes and her future husband remained platonic friends until he moved back to California a year later. At this point they began dating; they were married the following year. Together they have three children: Judah, 13; Jacob, 11; and James, 5.
FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION AS A FAMILY her undergraduate degree, the Lord changed her plans. “When I was in my junior year of college, I did not know where I wanted to go,” said Haynes. “I had this career planned, and the Lord changed the direction. It was really a ‘trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding’ moment.” Upon completion of her master’s degree, Haynes heeded the advice of her advisor and applied for entrance into Harvard’s doctoral program. Surprisingly, her advisor was a member of the committee that approved Haynes’ acceptance.
“When my husband and I got married, he said he wanted to do four things: travel, be a missionary, build a school and work with the government,” shared Haynes. “We had this vision to use our collective gifts and skills for the Lord.” Haynes and her husband took the first steps of faith in accomplishing these four things when they began to financially support a mission trip to Rwanda. Haynes’ husband then traveled to Rwanda, as well as to the Congo. Since that first trip, Phillip Haynes has founded and directs the Crimson Foundation, an organization which strives to educate children all over
the world through Crimson Academy schools. “He goes every year, but now there’s not just a school in Rwanda,” said Haynes. “There’s a school in Tanzania, and they’re building one in Nicaragua. They’ve partnered with pastors in the region, and the schools serve as their church, as well as a training facility.” Haynes and her husband have instilled a desire in their children to share the Gospel to the very ends of the earth. “For our children it’s important they understand missions,” explained Haynes. “Our older two go with him sometimes. They are working on a soccer tournament that they have helped Phillip create which will bring people from the schools around.”
THE CALL TO TEACH Haynes was given the opportunity to teach early on in her career, and has yet to stop imparting knowledge into the minds of her beloved students. “I started teaching while I was a doctoral student, and I’ve been teaching ever since,” stated Haynes. Despite the many places Haynes has lived, she has never failed to find a place to put her skillset to use. “My husband and I got married and moved to California,” Haynes began. “In California I taught, but I also worked for a community development research organization as a project manager.” She said, “We would assist community organizations that received grants, and we also worked with the California Endowment, which is a large endowing organization. We did the evaluations for them, and taught people how to do their evaluations and write and receive grants.” Haynes continued: “We moved to Australia and helped a small business from the research and evaluation side. We taught how to know what was happening in the company. When we moved back to Georgia I started teaching again. Then we moved to Gwinnett County where we built
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"...I REALLY FEEL THAT MY ROLE IS TO HELP GUIDE STUDENTS, HELP THEM MOVE TOWARDS AN IDENTITY IN CHRIST AND HELP THEM DEEPEN THEIR FAITH.”
that school [Georgia Gwinnett College] from scratch.”
FINDING A HOME AT TRUETT MCCONNELL While teaching at Georgia Gwinnett College, Haynes’ high-school principal brought tours of students through her classroom. After the tour, Haynes’ principal informed her of an open position in Truett McConnell University’s Department of Psychology. Per his request, Haynes visited the North Georgia Mountains and met with President Emir Caner and Vice President of Academic Services Brad Reynolds. “It took me a minute to submit an application,” confessed Haynes. “I’m a bit of a Gideon when it comes to the Lord’s direction. I asked Him to show
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me a few things to see if Truett McConnell was right, and I was fortunate to listen to Him in this process.” Haynes has adjusted well to her role at Truett McConnell University, building a strong reputation both academically with her fellow faculty and relationally with her students. “I’m a mother at TMU,” stated Haynes. “My official title is Associate Professor of Behavioral Sciences, but I really feel that my role is to help guide students, help them move towards an identity in Christ and help them deepen their faith.” Haynes is excited to see how the Lord grows TMU’s School of Psychology and Biblical Counseling in the coming years, especially with the change to university status. “We have been very fortunate in our department to be able to fulfill the mission of Truett McConnell.” Haynes concluded. “I think becoming a university will help us expand the local missions that we do here. We’ll have a bigger reach to fulfill the commission. The university aspect of it will assist with this bigger call we BJ have as an institution.”
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F A L L
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S P R I N G
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October 22
February 10
November 4
February 20
November 18
March 3
December 2
March 24 April 22
A C C E P T E D S T U D E N T D A Y S March 30, 2017 March 31, 2017
P R I V A T E T O U R S Available upon request
Preview Day provides an excellent opportunity for you to meet with administrators, learn about life as a TMU student, take a guided tour of campus and eat lunch in our dining hall.
706-865-2134 truett.edu/visit
SIgn up at truett.edu. We look forward to meeting you!
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A MILE IN HER SHOES: THE STORY OF
INDIA STEWART by Jenny Gregory
“I had better parents than anyone in this world,” shared India Stewart, as she reminisced of her childhood. Growing up in the 1950’s in rural Georgia, times were much simpler. Back on those hot summer days, youngsters like Stewart found themselves jumping into the local river to cool down, playing hopscotch with friends while sipping on a cold glass of Coca-Cola and trying to be the first to taste Mom’s fresh peach cobbler as it cooled off in the windowsill. For Stewart, the trek from adolescence to adulthood was filled with challenges, heartache, family, triumph and a story of true love.
BORN AND RAISED “I was born in Toccoa in 1941,” Stewart said. “I was the oldest of 3 girls. Daddy was a carpenter and worked in the steel plant, and Mama was a housewife.” “Being the oldest was so much fun,” Stewart continued. “I had a sister who was 17 years younger and I often would feel like I was her mother.” “One of my most cherished memories was at 12 years old. It was at a revival at Carnes Creek Baptist Church." Stewart told the story as she remembered walking that church aisle in April of 1953 with 16 other individuals who gave their lives to Christ and then baptized in an outside pool. She exclaimed: "When I was saved, I was saved forever!"
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As she continued to recollect on the stories of her past, her eyes lit up. It was easy to see these moments had made an impact on her life and held a special place in her heart. One of those most treasured memories was that of her parents. “God gave me two of the finest parents in the world. Had He not, I would not be walking today.” With that, Stewart began to share how her life abruptly changed. “I was just 13 years old and just beginning my teenage years when I was diagnosed with polio.” “It was a very tragic thing for my family,” Stewart recounted, as the laughter of the lighthearted conversation faded into a more serious tone. "The polio vaccine had just come to Toccoa in a sugar cube for those twelve years old and under. I watched my sister while she recieved the vaccine. I missed it by one year."
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COPING WITH THE DIAGNOSIS “Only two people in Toccoa had been diagnosed with polio in 1955: myself being one. It was a new thing. It made the papers and everyone was worried, including my parents.” “In the beginning, it wasn’t something that concerned me. At 13, you don’t really understand the significance of something that would possibly make such changes in your life.” Stewart went on to share how the early stages of her polio diagnosis were upsetting at times. While the illness only affected her muscle use and some of her lung function, people were skeptical and believed it to be transmissible. As she shared, it was as if she began to relive the humility she went through in her early stages of polio. “You know, it was a time when they closed swimming pools and things like that. I even had a friend who cried for two months because she was afraid she would catch [the disease] from me.”
There was a disappointment and hurt in her voice as she explained the letdowns she experienced in those early years. “I remember when they first diagnosed me, they put me in this little glass cubicle and cut my long red hair. They took my Sunday school book and Bible and put it all in a plastic bag and burned it.” She stated, “They treated me like I had some sort of plague.”
A FRESH START IN WARM SPRINGS Stewart shared that her father made the decision to pick up the family and move to Warm Springs, Ga. Now wheelchair bound, he knew she needed the best care, and the Warm Springs Rehabilitation Center for poliomyelitis patients was the perfect place to receive it. This would be the place the Stewart's would call home for the next two years. The center had been made famous by its founder and 32nd United States
President, Franklin D. Roosevelt. The former President himself was diagnosed with polio and in 1927, became paralyzed from the waist down.
me homemade cards and made sure that I had tutors to help me finish high school. I will never forget the love they showed my family and me."
Warm Springs was initially a resort for people belonging to higher society in the early 1900s. The resort had two huge pools that stayed filled by the local spring. After finding out that the water potentially helped heal ailments from polio, Roosevelt visited the resort. He believed it made a difference in his healing process, which helped give him strength to resume his political career.
Warm Springs had been an expensive rehabilitation center for the humble family. Stewart remembered, “I became a poster child for the March of Dimes Foundation in order for us to acquire funds and for me to continue to be a patient at the facility. The local newspaper had my picture with the caption '1,000 a step.' That's when I took my first four steps with my braces.”
In 1926, Roosevelt bought the property, and through his efforts, created the Warm Springs Foundation. For many years, this was the only hospital devoted to poliomyelitis patients around the world. For Stewart and many others, it was a place that brought healing at a time when some didn’t have hope.
“I also had to participate in trial tests and procedures to receive the necessary funds to stay at the Foundation,” Stewart explained. “They had young people who were planning to become nurses and doctors working there, and I remember laying on a stretcher while the lead doctor would direct the students to poke and prod at parts of my body. I was even part of an experimental surgery that helped with the movement of my legs, and it actually helped! These surgeries, therapies, and treatments were so expensive that had it not been for the March of Dimes, I would definitely still be in my wheelchair.”
Despite the difficulties, Stewart strived to overcome the obstacles placed before her. “When the doctor said I couldn’t go back to school, I was devastated.” She said: “I remember the people of Carnes Creek Baptist Church who sent
During that time, Stewart spent most of her free time doing what she loved doing: reading. It was a passion that helped her escape the hospital visits, therapy sessions and the feeling of being different. “I loved to read. I would read and read and read, especially my Bible. I would read my Bible and spend time in prayer.” “You know, it was hard not being able to do some of the things that other children could do,” Stewart remembered. “But boy, the neat people I met at Warm Springs from around the world were just exciting. I even got to stay in the room that President Roosevelt stayed in while he was there.” One particular friend that she met was a polio patient from Cuba. “We stayed in the same room,” Stewart said. “She spoke Spanish, and I spoke English. We could not communicate with each other and we did all kinds of motions. We had the most fun trying to guess what the other was saying.” Stewart laughed and even made a small hand gesture as if she was still a teenager
“THEY PUT ME IN THIS LITTLE GLASS CUBICLE AND CUT MY LONG RED HAIR. THEY TOOK MY SUNDAY SCHOOL BOOK AND BIBLE AND PUT IT ALL IN A PLASTIC BAG AND BURNED IT.”
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trying to decipher what the young Cuban girl was saying. “I learned a lot from her, and she learned a lot from me.” Stewart explained. “I was not from a wealthy family and she was from a very wealthy family, and she carried me back to Cuba with her where I spent the summer. I'd never been on an airplane and I was so excited. My Cuban friend's house was so large, I never saw it all. It was confiscated and used as a government headquarters after the family escaped Cuba just a year later than my stay. While there, I stood on the same grounds and watched as Fidel Castro talked to his brother, Rual. There were many soldiers around and, of course, I could not understand them.”
THOSE WHO TEACH, TEACH “EVEN AS AN ONLINE TEACHER,” SHE SAID, “I AM ABLE TO MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH MY STUDENTS. WE GET TO TALK THROUGH EMAIL AND I EVEN HAD A STUDENT ASK ME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT BEING A CHRISTIAN WAS, AND I GOT TO SHARE MY FAITH WITH HIM.”
Years went by, and Stewart began her undergraduate degree at Piedmont College. She later attended the University of Georgia, and finally finished her college years at Clemson University in South Carolina. Stewart later met her husband on a blind date. “Don has taken care of me since the day I met him,” she said. It was evident that this love story was her favorite memory to share. “Boy, I tell you, he is so attentive to my every need, and just so easy to love.” They knew going into the marriage Stewart could most likely not have children. After adopting their first child, Stewart said, “When she was just three days old, I found out I was pregnant!” She would eventually have three more children and eight grandchildren. In the mix of a marriage and starting her family, Stewart taught English at Stephens County High School and spent several years as school librarian along with night classes at the (then) Truett-McConnell Junior College campus in Toccoa, Ga. “I love everything about Truett McConnell,” she exclaimed. “Being able to talk about my faith when teaching is my favorite thing. I have enjoyed teaching the upper level classes and even got the privilege of writing the curriculum for two of the classes. Boy, that was fun.”
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When the Toccoa campus closed, it was 5 years before Stewart found herself at the Cleveland campus. “I tell you, I hated every single minute when I wasn’t
teaching at Truett McConnell. I missed it so much.” When an English position opened, Stewart quickly applied and began teaching at the place God had called her so many years ago. Today, Stewart teaches online English classes, but even through the computer, she has made a lasting impact on the lives of her students. Former ACCEL student and current TMU sophomore, Corley Humphrey, can attest to the kindness of such an incredible teacher. “Ms. India helped me improve my writing ability and my understanding of different aspects of literature, Humphrey stated. “She was most helpful when I was trying to decide where to go to college.” “I had decided that I wanted to major in English and eventually become a professor,” Humphrey said, “but I was stuck in between two colleges. Ms. India and I already had a good system of communication, so I emailed her and asked for advice. Because of her encouragement, she played a pivotal part in my decision to go to Truett McConnell. I can only hope that I will be as caring and passionate as she is when I become a professor someday.”
OVERCOMING ALL ODDS It’s evident in the Stewart home that family is close to their hearts. As Stewart held the hand of her husband of 52
years, she briefly spoke of how each rock used to create the foundation of their fireplace held a memory of family time by the lake.
“You know, I hope the young students enjoy their college experience, communicate, don’t just text, don’t lose their integrity and do their best.”
The bookshelves held family photos and the walls were adorned with mounted fish caught by the family. An old classic car waited in the garage, and if it could talk, the automobile would probably be brimming with its own memories of the family.
Stewart moved to the edge of her seat and as she laced her fingers together, she insisted, “Write everything down. Oh, the stories I could remember from my students if I had just kept a journal. And I think everyone should listen to the older people. Let them tell you their stories. They have so much to share.”
Stewart shared that even the people of TMU were a part of her family. “Even as an online teacher,” she said, “I am able to make connections with my students. We get to talk through email and I even had a student ask me questions about what being a Christian was, and I got to share my faith with him.” Maria Kayondo, a TMU sophomore and nursing major shared of not only how gracious Stewart had been, but that at the end of each email Kayondo received, Stewart would end with: “I am praying for you.” “To me,” Kayondo shared, “those words spoke a lot to me because [she] had never met me but she genuinely cared about me. I hope to meet her one day and thank her in person. What a blessing she has been to me!” When asked how long she would continue to work at TMU, Stewart said with a grin, “As long as they let me.”
As humbly as she could, Stewart praised God for where He had brought her. She was wheelchair bound at a young age, and now, with the help of her leg braces, she is able to walk a half mile every single day and continues to teach college courses at almost 75 years old. “My daddy always pushed me to do my best. I remember my doctor had several sheets with exercises on them and I was told to do 10 sets of each. My Daddy said, ‘Sis,’ because that’s what he would call me. He’d say ‘Sis, if it’s good for you 10, it’s good for you 20.’” Ms. India Stewart spent her life overcoming obstacles, and her days have unfolded into an inspiring story. “I know I am where I am today because of my faith in the Lord, and because my parents taught me to do my best.”
JG
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FINISH STRONG November 11, 2013 began the largest fund raising campaign in the history of Truett McConnell. We set out to connect God’s stewards with God’s resources, to enlarge God’s kingdom through investing in the largest footprint on our 240 acre campus: The George Blaurock Student Wellness Center. As of July 30, 2016, 32 months after stepping out on faith, there have been 244 individuals, corporations, churches and foundations give or pledge over 1,160 gifts, totaling over $2 million dollars. God’s faithfulness is evident indeed. While the last 32 months have been robust, we need to FINISH STRONG in the last five months of our campaign. To the right is a list of remaining naming opportunities within the Student Wellness Center. We ask that you consider one of these naming opportunities as your way of supporting Truett McConnell University. Remember, when you give $5, $50, $100, or provide a donation for any of the remaining naming opportunities, you support TMU's mission by equipping students to fulfill the Great Commission. Help TMU FINISH STRONG and impact eternity by contacting Dr. Gary Jarnagin at advancement@truett.edu for more information on GJ how you can make a donation today.
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REMAINING NAMING OPPORTUNITIES
REQUESTED DONATION
Audio / Visual Package
$ 300,000.00
Aerobics Room $ 50,000.00 2 Men’s Locker Rooms
$ 50,000.00 per locker room
1 Women’s Locker Room
$ 50,000.00
1 Student Lobby Lounge
$ 30,000.00
3 Small Offices
$ 5,000.00 per office
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“My goal in coaching is to spread the Gospel to these kids as much as I can in the little time I have with them.” Head men’s soccer coach Rob Miller joined the Bears athletic staff prior to the 2015 season, and the team had immediate success both on and off the field. On the field, the men’s soccer team finished with a 10-6-3 record and played in the program’s first-ever conference semifinal in Miller’s first season at the helm.
Prior to coming to Truett McConnell, Miller had been serving as the Area Director for the Carolina Elite Soccer Academy since 2011. He was also a very successful collegiate coach in the NCAA and professionally as well, coaching two years in the United Soccer League.
COAC
Miller was named a conference Coach of the Year six times and led NCAA Division II Anderson University to three top-25 final rankings in NCAA Division II play. He also coached 52 All-Conference players, 15 All-Region players, five All-Americans, two conference freshmen of the year, two conference players of the year and two region players of the year. He took teams to three consecutive NCAA Division II tournaments, including two Sweet 16 appearances. Not only does Miller bring a successful resume to the pitch in Cleveland, he also brings a unique coaching style. “I work with these kids both on and off the field in building relationships with one another,” said Miller. “I think it’s important that these athletes are able to build relationships with each other to help on the field, but also to be able to build relationships with others to be successful in life.” Above all else, Miller is in a very close relationship with Jesus Christ. “My goal in coaching is to spread the Gospel to these kids as much as I can in the little time I have with them,” said Miller. “In everything I do, I want to show through actions that God is real and that He continues to work in all of our lives.” Truett McConnell Director of Athletics Dr. Stacy Hall said, “Coach Miller loves the Lord and is a proven winner. He brings a wealth of coaching experience and a passion for the game. His past teams have won numerous championships, and he has garnered a number of coach of the year honors himself. I have no doubt that our men’s soccer program will be winning championships in the near future.”
WM
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4x AS MANY NAIA SCHOLAR ATHLETES SINCE 12-13
VARSITY SPORTS SET ALL-TIME WIN RECORDS AS AN NAIA PROGRAM
CH MILLER 7,300+ Hours of Community Service
ATHLETICS AT A GLANCE
300 20 STUDENTATHLETES
NAIA SCHOLAR ATHLETES
15
INTERCOLLEGIATE SPORTS TEAMS
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COACH Florida native Lakisya Killingsworth grew up in a basketball-playing family. She, too, became a basketball player, never expecting that God would direct her path to playing volleyball and eventually coaching at a school in the mountains of North Georgia.
CONQUERING CHILDHOOD CHALLENGES
Killingsworth explained, “I grew up in Deltona, Fla., but spent a lot of time in Geneva, Fla. at my grandparents’ house. I am a big family person. I am the oldest of eleven grandkids and the oldest of two in our immediate family.” "Both my grandparents and my parents have been and still are the most vital piece in my walk with Jesus Christ," she said. "I strongly believe being raised in the church was the best thing for me.” “Throughout my life," she continued, "I have had to endure challenges, whether it be the color of my skin, my love for Jesus Christ, my height, or just because of who my family was.” “But through these challenges, I never once let what others said define who God Himself was making.” Though Killingsworth’s family was always involved in church, it took a tragedy to draw Killingsworth to know Christ fully. She shared, “I was baptized when I was in the 8th grade, but I couldn’t say I fully got to know Jesus Christ until my great-grandmother passed away the day after my 16th birthday.” “I never knew prayer was so powerful! When she passed away, I felt lost. I was angry she died. I wanted to ask God, ‘Why would You take her away?’” Killingsworth went to God for comfort and realized it was her first real conversation with God. "That was the first time in weeks that I felt a peace about her passing away, and I knew God was taking great care of her.” Following this experience - her faith was never the same. She exclaimed, “I can truly say that day is when I came to know Christ.”
ALWAYS AN ATHLETE
Killingsworth remembered, “Growing up, I played AAU basketball and volleyball. I was blessed with parents and family that were extremely supportive and loving. It was awesome growing up in a family full of athletes.”
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Their support pushed her to improve her skills. She said, “I was always getting tips on how to be better. I played basketball up until my senior year of high school. I started playing volleyball my 8th grade year, and because of my coach, I was able to walk through doors that had various opportunities attached to them.” Killingsworth looks back on her life and can point out how God’s work was evident even then. "God knew what he was doing when he placed certain people in my life. From playing high school and club volleyball, I was offered a volleyball scholarship from the University of Florida Head Coach, Mary Wise.” “I grew up in a basketball family. My grandfather was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Florida Southern College and my uncles both played for and won high school championships with my grandfather as the assistant coach. So, needless to say, when I committed to UF to play volleyball, it was a shocker, but welcomed and supported.”
THE TESTING OF HER FAITH
“This is where the true tests began for my faith," Killingsworth explained. "I went through a rough patch while attending church and not allowing myself to grow in my relationship with Jesus Christ.”
raising our little girl, Addasyn, who is six years old, in the way I was brought up.”
“I am now married to a wonderful, godly man, and we are raising our little girl, Addasyn, who is six years old, in the way I was brought up.”
GAINING A NEW FAMILY AT TMU
“My journey to TMU was led here by a detour I had to take," Killingsworth recalled. "When I decided to go back into coaching, I wanted [to work at] a university that would foster my Christian walk and allow me to be a Christ-like coach. I wanted to pour into young people and help guide them, and show them that God is awesome. No matter what, His love and grace never changes.” TMU welcomed Killingsworth to staff as the Head Women’s Volleyball Coach in the spring of 2016, and it has been an incredible experience for Killingsworth thus far. She said, “I have loved every moment, and I have grown in the few months I have been here.” “Yes, there have been some challenges," she continued, "but the manner in which I deal with those challenges is completely different than any other time in my life. I have more of a peace when making tough decisions, and I have essentially gained another family.” Coach Killingsworth has big plans for the upcoming season. “My hope is to accomplish a family-like environment with a winning culture. Of course, none of that can be accomplished if God is not the core of why we do what we do.”
God placed people in Killingsworth’s life who would encourage her back to Him. She said, “I was fortunate enough, with some help, to find my way back to the path that was set for me.” “Through all things, I always thank God, no matter the result. I know His providence shows its light every day.” The Lord continued to show His faithfulness in her life. She said, “I am now married to a wonderful, godly man, and we are
She added, “My hope is to also empower young Christian women to spread the Gospel throughout the world in many forms, and for them to stand firm in knowing that God has got their back.” “I am thankful and blessed for all the Lord has given me, and all He will continue to take me through.”
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C E L E B R AT I N G T H E K I N G S & Q U E E N S : For the average high school student, prom is a much-anticipated event. With dinner and dancing, flowers and finishing touches, what’s not to be excited about? Once the dress and date are secured, the end of the school year becomes a frenzy of planning and preparation for the big night. Unfortunately, prom is not an event everyone gets to experience. Due to their disabilities, the majority of the special needs community have missed out on these occasions. This year, however, the Tim Tebow Foundation decided to change that. On February 12, 2016, volunteers across the globe came together to give this special community a night to remember. In 200 host churches across seven different countries, countless people volunteered to give their guests an idea of how treasured they truly are. This year’s prom theme? God’s shining love, for all of his Kings and Queens.
Celebrating the Kings and Queens
Hopewell Baptist Church reached out to Truett McConnell University to help with this endeavor. After training, 180 students volunteered to be a date or “Buddy” for the evening, acting as a guide and friend to each of the guests. Over 200 special needs guests arrived, dressed and ready for an evening they would never forget. Each King and Queen had the option to receive full royal treatment, from getting their hair and makeup done to having their shoes shined.
R E A L
stated. “That’s where I spent most of my night.” Early Childhood Education major Alex Brake echoed London saying, “Every time we would offer something different, he would say no.” “Honestly, the entire experience was just amazing,” continued Brake. “It was great to see the students at Truett McConnell bond over something outside of the campus.”
Full hearts and arms
Thanks to the hard work of Hopewell Baptist Church staff and volunteers, each King and Queen and their caretakers left the event with their arms and hearts full. Goody bags filled with a t-shirt and gifts were presented to each family, as well as a framed picture of the royal guest with their buddy. TMU sophomore Caitlyn Hogan shared how appreciative her date's mother was at the efforts of each volunteer. “She was really grateful, and we all hugged…it was just really great.” As goodbyes were said, biology major Melissa Weiler reflected on the evening as a whole. “Their parents were just so happy that this happened. It was just so amazing and sweet getting to sing and dance all night long.”
KL
After a professional photographer snapped a few shots, guests were free to move on to the festivities prepared for them. From the karaoke room to a formal dinner, guests could choose from a variety of prom activities, including a limousine ride that ended just outside the dance floor. Guests could follow a red carpet—lit by sparkling lights and a cheering crowd—inside to find corsages and boutonnieres awaiting them.One final touch before the dancing could begin: A crown for each guest, announcing them as King or Queen of the prom.
Dancing the night away
For both the guests and their buddies, dancing the night away seemed to be the most popular activity. Bradley London, a freshman Christian Studies major at Truett McConnell, shared, “My buddy’s favorite thing to do was to be on the dance floor,” he
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STATE-OFTHE-HEART S T E P H A N Y L O Z A N O
S
ince the program’s beginning in 2013, the Truett McConnell Nursing Division has strived to educate future nurses with excellence as students prepare to enter their career field. Thanks to two grants totaling $145,000, the Nursing Division recently purchased two new simulation manikins for their students. The state-of-the-art technology allows students to work with patients experiencing simulated births and better prepares students for their upcoming careers. The university encourages the students to go into the hospitals and mission fields as they introduce healing both physically and spiritually.
SEEKING TO PROVIDE THE BEST EDUCATION Dr. Gary Jarnagin, Director of Financial Development, explained the beginning of the journey to purchasing the manikins. He said, “Celeste Dunnington [Dean and Associate Professor of Nursing] approached me in late 2014 sharing her desire to purchase additional simulators so our nursing students could be provided with the best possible educational environment.” Jarnagin continued, “While researching possible foundations that would match-up with our need, The Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation and Carolyn King Ragan Charitable Foundation seemed to be a good partnership. After applying for the $145,000, we were happy that God granted Truett McConnell a blessing through these two foundations. ”This specific grant request was for the one SimMom, one Nursing Anne, six Keri
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manikins, and six simulated hospital beds to be used for instructional purposes.
heart or lungs. We can give her blown pupils to simulate a patient who has been in an automobile accident.”
TRUE-TO-LIFE EXPERIENCES Lisa LaPree, Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator, described the two new manikins. She said, “The SimMom simulates different kinds of births. If there’s a problem, we can simulate a different position for the baby. We can simulate the water breaking, so it is something the students can see before they go into the hospital.” She added, “We have a Nursing Anne, which also is a high-fidelity simulator. Any position a delivering mom can go in, she can go in as well.” TM’s Nursing Division purchased a SimMan in 2013 when the program began. The program has benefitted greatly from their original simulation manikin, and LaPree is confident that the newer purchases will only increase the quality of education for the students. She explained, regarding SimMom, “The students can simulate cutting the cord and everything. There are different uteruses you can put in, such as if the patient has lots of bleeding, or if they have clots. We can simulate her water breaking and are able to use dye to help simulate blood.” The manikins can simulate a normal birth, but instructors are able to change the settings to allow students to care for a patient who is in an emergency situation. LaPree said, “She has a blood pressure cuff, and the students can listen to her
Each manikin is equipped with a computer screen, which allows instructors and students to monitor these manikin patients. LaPree added, “The computer screen looks just like a hospital computer screen. On SimMom’s screen, it will show the contraction pattern, and the baby’s heartbeat, so the students can see everything they would actually see in a hospital.”
BUILDING BETTER NURSES Stephany Lozano, a senior in TMU’s Nursing Division, feels the experiences she has had with the simulation manikins have been invaluable. Lozano said, “I’ve gotten to do about three births. By the third time, I had learned to take precautions to keep the patient safer.” She is thankful for the advances she has seen in the program. Lozano emphasized, “The manikins are really unique to the program, and I know the other classes before us didn’t have this. We are able to come into the SimLab in small groups, so the individual coaching is really personalized.” Lozano believes that God will use the advancements He has blessed TMU with as she takes her career outside of U.S. borders. She explained, “I feel like God has called me into the mission field of El Salvador full-time, specifically with people who are in their end-of-life care.”
“MORE THAN ANYTHING, I AM JUST GRATEFUL TO GOD THAT HE PROVIDED PEOPLE WHO COULD MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS IN THE NURSING PROGRAM POSSIBLE.”
“I have seen how faulty the system in El Salvador is through watching the care of my aunt and my grandmother. One had respiratory problems, and the other had Alzheimer’s. Here, there are nursing homes and people who have knowledge to deal with those medical problems, but that is not true in El Salvador.” TMU has prepared her for this feat. She continued, “I feel like it would be a really great opportunity to apply what I’ve learned at TMU – how to care for a person in a holistic way. We know God has given us our bodies, spirit, and soul. Truett McConnell has taught me to care for a person not only physically or emotionally, but spiritually.”
REACHING ALL AGE GROUPS FOR GOD’S GLORY She said, “Last year, TMU went to El Salvador. God really blessed our efforts, and over 600 people came to know Christ. Most of them were young people. That’s not a problem at all, but it was much harder for us to reach the elderly.” Lozano learned that God had called her to minister to these people. She recalled, “God reminded me that if I was able to take care of them at this place in their life, it would open up a spot for me to share the gospel with them. They are a people group forgotten by the government, and they need Jesus just as much as the young people.”
She has already seen evidence of God’s work as she follows in the next steps of obedience. She said, “I would like to start a clinic, and God has really been working. My parents are from El Salvador. I’m Salvadorian by heritage, but I was born in the United States. I’m about to take a trip there with my dad, and there I will get nationalized.” She continued, “When my parents were married, they built a large house with lots of rooms. That house will be the clinic, and it will be open to all of the community a couple of times a week. God has started to put everything into place. I know this isn’t something that is going to happen tomorrow, but I just take it a day at a time, trusting the Lord for today. I trust Him for tomorrow, too, but I ask Him to move today.” Lozano emphasized, “More than anything, I am just grateful to God that He provided people who could make these investments in the nursing program possible. The way that God is faithful to this program and faithful to us is such an encouragement.” Dr. Gary Jarnagin concluded, “Our students deserve the best. With these two simulators and the new hospital rooms, all of the nursing students will have the best possible equipment to train, so that they may go out and minister to all people groups around the world.”
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TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
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“The missions program at Truett McConnell University reaches the lost - local and abroad. This year, many students, faculty and staff participated in mission adventures providing community outreach, working with children, providing medical care, prayer walking and reaching the lost in different parts of the world including Haiti, Hungary, Thailand, Africa and here in the White County area.
University. For Pruitt, who leads many of these excursions, watching students grow in their walk with Christ has made a significant impact on him.
Dr. Edward Pruitt, Director of the World Missions Center and Associate Professor of Christian Studies shared, “The 2015-2016 year has been an amazing year for TMU students on mission.”
Truett McConnell University has developed substantial relationships with missionaries worldwide. This has provided many open doors for students who continue into the mission field even after graduating.
“One of the most memorable moments,” Pruitt explained, “was watching as one of our translators in Nagykanizsa, Hungary realized she had never truly accepted Christ but prayed with some of our students to receive Christ."
“The missionaries I work with globally have proven themselves to be highly effective in sharing Christ in their missional environment and provide a multiplicity of opportunities for TMU students to join them in their effort to share Christ with the nations,” said Pruitt.
Reflecting on the efforts of World Missions major Daniel Walker who led a Hindi college student to Christ in Jaipur, India, Pruitt shared: “Daniel had been to Jaipur on a previous TMU mission trip, but felt compelled to go back with TMU on this trip as well. Daniel is scheduled to go with TMU this summer to Chiang Mai, Thailand for 35 days.”
“I am truly thankful that the Lord has made it possible for us to partner with so many excellent missionaries who invest their lives in our students.”
There have been many opportunities for mission involvement throughout the years at Truett McConnell
“One of the real blessings has been watching students mature in their faith and then observing as they demonstrate that faith in so many different cultures and contexts,” Pruitt shared.
Pruitt shared the department has planned 2017 mission trips to Turkey, Thailand and possibly Soviet Georgia. The department also hopes to return to Iraq within the next year to continue to pursue JG connections from previous trips to the country in 2010 and 2012.
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O
ur lighthearted laughs faded and were replaced with silence as the group quietly realized the gravity of the message we would share the next day. Though the crown of thorns we had crafted was made of pipe cleaners, its symbolism was powerful. We planned to retell the greatest story ever told, the redemption of Christ, on our last day of VBS in Leogane, Haiti. That night, our team prayed together, begging God for receptive hearts.
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by Jordan West
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time at the Hope for Life Children’s Home, an orphanage in Gressier, Haiti, or evangelize in a nearby fishing village. While each of the four churches provided a different setting, we were incredibly impacted by the way the children listened to the Bible stories. Leah Garrison explained, “The kids love stories. We do a VBS time where we have skits. Kids back home have so many distractions from technology, but these kids in Haiti don’t have that luxury. So when you tell them a story from the Bible, they are totally focused on it. They soak it all in, and it’s easy to reach out to them with the Gospel.” Jacob Keesee shared, “They didn’t need to be in an air conditioned church with cushioned seats and a flat screen television telling them a Bible story, because they were so content with us just being there spending time with them and sharing the Gospel.”
THE VALUE OF STORYTELLING Leah Garrison said, “In Haiti, you go from house to house, and the people there have a hunger. They want to know the Lord so badly. It makes you think, ‘Man, if they value the gospel that much, then we should be valuing the gospel that much.’”
FINDING LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS Our team of 29 Resident Assistants and TM Staff spent the first week of January 2016 in Leogane, Haiti, serving the people and sharing the Gospel. The January 2010 earthquake left behind incredible destruction, and the nation has been trying to rebuild its way out of the darkness for the past six years. Throughout the week, we worked with Baptists 4 Haiti, an` organization supported by the Georgia Baptist Convention. Our four teams spent the mornings at different local churches, using Bible stories, skits, crafts and games to present the message of the Gospel. Evan Herndon expressed, “Our God was using us to help those in need and also to share His word in the local churches.”
WALKING WITH THE PEOPLE Dr. Van Sanders, Associate Professor of Missions and Evangelism, led our morning devotions and team debriefing each day. On the first night, he encouraged us with the idea of incarnational structure – living among the people like Jesus did. He challenged, “How can you know the people if you’re not walking with them?” His words fueled us to do just that – live among the Haitians and walk with them, sharing the message of Christ as we went. After leading Vacation Bible School at our local churches each day, we would reconvene at lunchtime and then set out to either spend
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The power God’s word has on its listeners became very evident to us in Haiti. Bryce Dillard said it like this, “During VBS, some of the adults and teenagers would show up and hang around outside the church and talk and joke around.” He continued, “However, when the story started, everyone would stop what they were doing to watch. They were all focused on hearing the story and learning about the Lord through the story. It is such an encouragement to see people who yearn for the Word of the Lord.” The Haitians shared an open willingness to listen and a deep hunger for hope in Christ. These desires reminded us just how valuable the message of God is, and how that should manifest as we travel overseas or live out each day in the United States.
FINDING ADEQUACY IN CHRIST Kristen Loy explained, “God showed me that complacency in our Christian lives is not an option. We were made for so much more than that. People all around the world are in need, both physically and spiritually… and we can show them Christ’s love in all types of capacities if we choose to live a life of obedience and non-complacency.” With a desire to step outside of complacency, Champ Johnson described to our group
one night how he was afraid his words would not be adequate for sharing the gospel. He then shared 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 with us, where Paul reminds believers that his words were not of his own human strength, but persuasive because of the Holy Spirit. Johnson admitted, “I worry that my words won’t be good enough. But my words don’t have to be persuasive, they just have to be the Gospel.” God often calls believers outside of their comfort zones, and we each experienced this differently in Haiti. Ethan Stafford shared a story of how God called him out of complacency: “All week we had the opportunity to go to either an orphanage and play with kids or go to a fishing village and tell people about Christ. The last day we had that choice, I really wanted to go to the orphanage.”
time believing that I could learn anything new.” Quite the opposite was true. She described, “While our team served the people, orphanages and churches of Leogane without the distractions of materialism, I experienced more genuine joy in that short week than I had experienced in a very long time.” Bell elaborated, “I was reminded that when we follow the Lord He takes care of the desires in our heart. Those desires may not be what we thought we needed or wanted, but when following what the Lord has planned for you, He provides with more contentment than we can ever have on our own.”
"We were sure we wouldn't have enough paper flames, but then we passed them out, there were more than 101 flames. There were enough for each child to have one, and there were leftovers!" "We serve an amazing God who blesses us in the small aspects of our everyday lives, but we need to be willing to pay attention to His working.” Destiny Allen was weary of the language barrier but was inspired to see how one of her passions translated universally. “One of my favorite parts of the Haiti mission trip was getting to play soccer at the orphanage with the kids.”
He added, “It was so much fun being there with the kids and getting beaten by them in soccer. I was planning to do that, but the Lord kept telling me to go back to the fishing village. Finally, at the very last minute, I listened to Him.” The Lord had something special in store for his team. Stafford said, “We met two men that lived there. Our team started talking about life with them and it eventually went into sharing the Gospel. I have shared the Gospel with people in a preaching or teaching setting, but I can’t remember a time where I have presented the whole Gospel to a person that didn’t know it before.” He continued, “The Lord blessed my obedience, because after sharing the Gospel with those men, one of them decided to come to know Christ as Savior. God taught me to be bold in proclaiming His gospel and the power of having Christ-centered conversations with other believers.”
UNDERSTANDING TRUE JOY Chanda Bell arrived in Haiti for her second trip there, afraid she would be hardened to the culture, and said, “While I was incredibly excited to be back and serving the Haitian people, I feared complacency and numbness toward the culture and had a hard
THE POWER OF PRAYER Working with the Haitian children brought immense purpose to us, and God continued to reveal His glory through our time with the children. Bailey Jarnagin shared a story of God’s provision in her group, citing, “The VBS group I was in told the story of the prophets of Baal one day. The accompanying craft was a paper flame for the kids to color.” She continued, “The night before, we thought we had cut out 80 paper flames, since there were only 69 kids at the church. That day, we walked into the church and there were 101 kids!
Allen remarked, “I could not communicate with the children without a translator, but as soon as we brought out a soccer ball, they knew exactly what to do. The game of soccer does not change.” She recalled, “I am so thankful that God has given me a passion for soccer because the game opens the door for the Gospel to be shared. When the game was over, we had the opportunity to share with the children about God. We told them that it is God who has given us the ability to play the game of soccer and we play to bring Him honor and glory.”
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SALVATION BY GRACE The most common misunderstanding of Christianity in Haiti is that they earn salvation through their good works. We came in contact with many people who explained they were saved because they attended church, but could not describe the moment they surrendered their life to Christ. While this gave our team ample opportunity to share the Gospel, it also taught us a lesson about God’s grace. In relation to this often-seen confusion, Atarah Campbell explained, “God used Haiti to humble me and teach me that works do not save you. It is only by His grace and through faith we are saved.” "The needs were imminent," described Jacob Keesee. “We were able to meet so many people who simply needed discipleship, and so it opened our eyes to the physical and spiritual needs of those living there.” God worked throughout our time in Haiti, reminding us the need of the Gospel overseas and on our own soil. Bryce Dillard said, “Through this trip, the Lord has just been convicting me of my laid-back attitude toward spreading the Gospel while I’m here at home. Haiti is a country that needs to hear the message of Jesus Christ, but we are also living in a country that needs the same message.” We left the beautiful city of Leogane humbled by God’s grace. The receptive people we met in Haiti were a reminder of the urgency of the Gospel, and the value of having a hunger for God’s word. Rachel Johnson concluded, “Though leaving Haiti can be hard, I am reminded that the Holy Spirit who lives inside and is changing me, lives inside the hearts of the believers there. JW He loves them more than I can imagine, and is evidently pursuing the hearts of Haitians.”
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TENTMAKERS
2 0 1 6 T M U G R A D U AT E S J E S S E A N D M A C K E N Z I E M I T C H U M H AV E P U R C H A S E D T H E I R O N E - W AY P L A N E T I C K E T S T O L E AV E F O R C H A N G M A I , T H A I L A N D I N J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 7 . There, they plan to train, teach and disciple the people God places in their paths. The two met at TMU and are walking in obedience as they continue to answer the call God has placed on their lives to be international missionaries.
A PASSION TO REACH THE NATIONS Jesse explained, “When I was younger, I heard missionaries share their testimonies at my church, which always intrigued me. However, it was not until I started attending Truett McConnell that the Lord placed within me a passion to reach the nations for Christ.” MacKenzie added, “I always thought I’d be an architect when I grew up, but in my junior year of high school, God changed my mind, direction and life—He called me to a life of missions overseas.” It was through their missions classes at TMU the two actually met. Jesse said, “I ended up meeting MacKenzie through the Intro to the Great Commission course where I began to learn more about biblical missions. She had already declared herself as a World Missions major. I was a Christian Studies major at the time, but I knew God was steering me in a different direction than pastoral ministry.”
He continued, “By the time I entered into my sophomore year, I had been on my first mission trip to Malaysia, and changed my major to World Missions. From then on, I knew God had called me to foreign missions.”
THE CALL TO THAILAND MacKenzie knew she wanted to work in Asia, and said, “I was encouraged to sign up to go on a short-term mission trip right away. I signed up to go to Thailand because I felt called to work in Asia.” She added, “Sadly, the trip was cancelled, and I ended up going to Malaysia instead. I was sad at first because I didn’t know anything about Malaysia, but it was the perfect first trip for both my husband and me.” But God’s plans are always for His glory, and MacKenzie stated, “Little did we know that we would end up in Thailand just a few short years later—in God’s perfect timing.”
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She added, “God gave me a strong desire to take an ESL course—I never could quite explain why. We both took an ESL course as step one, and realized we should continue to pursue ESL in our missions career.” Teachers and mentors assisted the Mitchums in planning their soon-to-be jobs in Thailand. MacKenzie expressed, “Dr. Pruitt (TMU Associate Professor of Missions and Evangelism) and a few other key people helped us develop a plan to start a training institute in Chiang Mai, Thailand to teach English to businessmen.”
He said, “When we first arrive, we will try to find a house or apartment as soon as we can. We start language classes in February and will continue those for about 1 year. Without learning the language, we limit the effectiveness of our ministry, so learning Thai will be our top priority for a while.” MacKenzie explained, “Either in Fall 2017 or Spring 2018, we will begin our Master’s work at Payap Univesity—an international school in Chiang Mai. Jesse will work on getting his MBA, while I will be working on a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) degree.” She said, “After we’ve finished our Master’s work, we will use our degrees to open the institute to teach English to businessmen.” Jesse pointed out, “People often ask, ‘Why businessmen?’ Up until now, Thais have typically placed very little emphasis on learning English because they never really felt like they needed to learn anything other than Thai.”
Jesse and MacKenzie were able to visit the city that served as their capstone trip the summer before their senior year. MacKenzie said, “Shortly thereafter, we went to Chiang Mai for our capstone trip, a 5-week mission trip, which further solidified our calling to that place and those people.”
PREPARING FOR THE MOVE The Mitchums have been busy planning. MacKenzie described, “Apart from researching and studying Thailand on our own, we have been praying diligently, asking God to lead us through this entire process of moving overseas.” She added, “Between visas, insurance, housing, buying plane tickets, and more, there is a lot to get done between now and January, but we are trying to focus more on spiritual preparation than anything else.” They have been tirelessly fundraising and have faith God will provide as they are obedient in following Him. Jesse said, “We are also trying to raise $30,000 before we leave, so that we will be sustained for a couple of years without worrying about finances on top of all the changes we will be facing.” MacKenzie explained, “This money will be allocated for things like visas, housing, utilities, language courses, and food. Although fundraising can be difficult, it is an important exercise in faith and trust in the Lord.”
LOGISTICS OF LEAVING THE COUNTRY Jesse said, “We leave the U.S. on January 3, 2017. Our one-way plane tickets have been purchased.”
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He went on, “However, for various political reasons, many Thai businessmen are discovering their need to learn English. We want to fill that need for them and use English as a way to introduce the Gospel into their lives.”
SEEKING CHRIST FOR COUNSEL Jesse and MacKenzie are incredibly excited to start their journey to Thailand. MacKenzie explained, “Our heart in ministry is discipleship. We love to see people grow in their faith and knowledge of Christ.” She said, “It is a special thing to watch people fall in love with God every day of their lives. So when we read this verse in Colossians most recently, we both agreed that it was the best verse to describe our ministry.” The couple has chosen Colossians 1:28 to represent their goals in sharing Christ. The verse reads, “We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” Colossians 1:28 (HCSB) Jesse and MacKenzie expressed thankfulness for the prayers and incredible support they have received throughout this time, and they are confident that the Lord will provide all the funds they need before they leave in January 2017. MacKenzie concluded, “We’re excited to see what God JW has in store for us, because so far, it’s been the best journey ever.”
ENGAGING OUR JERUSALEM: THE YOUNG SCHOLARS TUTORING PROGRAM Through the Young Scholars Tutoring Program (YSP), many TMU students continue to step out in obedience to the community outside the campus walls. YSP is an afterschool program that involves TMU students in tutoring, teaching the Bible and mentoring children in the Cleveland community.
A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE
Often when we hear the word “missions” we think of taking the gospel overseas, but YSP has cultivated a more holistic view of missions for TMU students. “Because of YSP I’ve learned that there is just as much mission opportunity in our community as there is overseas,” said Chanda Bell, a TMU alum. She continues, “I have invested time and formed relationships with people of this community so much so that I hurt for my neighbors when they are going through tough times.” In the same way, Raegan Davidson, a TMU freshman, describes how she has a more biblical view of missions; “I know now that missions takes place wherever one finds [himself]/herself.” Involvement in this ministry has challenged students to live out the Great Commission in the very place they are preparing to take it to the world. “I see that the Great Commission does not start when I leave
BEFORE JESUS ASCENDS TO HEAVEN TO RETURN TO HIS FATHER, HE TELLS HIS DISCIPLES; “YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDEA AND SAMARIA, AND EVEN TO THE REMOTEST PART OF THE EARTH.” (ACTS 1:8)
the country, but it starts whenever I leave my comfort zone and bring the gospel to my own community,” Davidson concluded from her experience in YSP. Through YSP, TMU students are not only being equipped to share the gospel in the classroom, but they are getting real world experience in their own community. Furthermore, this is an opportunity for every area of study at TMU to put their knowledge to practical use. Whether it’s education, business, nursing or psychology, YSP allows all students to bring coursework into a ministerial reality.
A POWERFUL IMPACT
YSP is completely run by TMU students, which means they often get to see direct rewards from their work. “I have only been involved with the program for a year, but in that year I have seen incredible changes in the kids because of the commitment and consistency of the Truett volunteers,” Davidson explains. She connects this to their performance and attitudes toward school; “The positive and encouraging comments the kids hear from the volunteers pushes them to succeed in school. Not only have their grades improved because of the help and encouragement from the volunteers, but their attitudes and behavior have changed also.” true tt.e d u / 35
Volunteers in the program are encouraged to identify the individual needs of the student. Through taking time to understand each student's personality and learning style, they can better help the student work through homework as well as behavior issues. “I have seen more children, youth and adults, discipled for Christ through YSP than probably anything else I have ever been a part of.” reports Keith Ivey, YSP board member and volunteer supervisor. Through YSP, Truett McConnell students are willing to put the hard work in to see real change take place. In the words of Ivey, “We are tired of talking about doing. It’s time to do.”
A FAMILY AFFAIR
Marlon Caldwell, YSP board member, discusses how YSP works specifically with families as a whole; “We work with the family unit to help add stability to the family unit.” He continues, “We’ve helped them to improve their kids’ work in school, direct the family and strengthen them in terms of going to a local church, and educated the kids on who God is.” YSP volunteers not only share the gospel and disciple the children in the program, but they are passionate about parents and families getting discipled through local church involvement. In the future, YSP leadership hopes to foster more local church partnerships as they enter more White County communities.
A TURNING POINT
Entering it’s fourth full year, YSP has grown in size and depth. This year a second site of tutoring was added in White Hall Commons, an apartment complex close to TMU. This was an addition to the original site, Foothills, a local mobile home park. Ivey explains the nature of this new partnership with White Hall Commons. “We have a full partnership with the management at White Hall Commons. They believe in what we’re doing, and they enjoy having Truett McConnell teams there. So there’s no walls, there’s no limitations to what we can do in that community.” In the upcoming school year YSP leadership plans to expand to a third tutoring site. To make this vision a reality, they will need greater involvement from the community along with TMU students. Prayerfully moving forward, they have a goal of transforming the entire Cleveland community by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
VISION FOR THE FUTURE
“I think the thing we need now, to go to the next level, is continue to formalize the program like we have all talked about to continue to get policies and procedures and legal agreements and to make sure insurance is covered and all of those technical aspects of being effective in ministry,” Ivey explains. In addition to solidifying policies, procedures and goals, YSP is growing to the point where it needs consistent financial donors as well as partners in prayer. “We need to take time to sit down and talk and organize in terms of financial support. We really need to explore who our supporters are,” adds Caldwell. He explains that in the future YSP needs to help kids reach out to the greater community around them; “We need to help the kids explore, ‘what is in my community that can help me?’ We know what can hurt them; cigarettes, drugs and alcohol. But what is in the community that can help them?” It is easy to surmise that Ivey and Caldwell both have big dreams for YSP in the future. “It’s partners that we need. As we have more partners, we will be able to go more places. People are already coming to me about other apartment complexes. I see it even possibly impacting other counties,” Ivey concluded. As this ministry transforms and grows, it invites Truett McConnell faculty and students, the Cleveland community, and ministry partners to be a part of God’s own work in North Georgia. Stay tuned, as we continue to witness the God-given creativity and ingenuity of TMU students change the world.
BB
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A SECURITY GUARD WHO NEVER MET A STRANGER From 1972 until his retirement in 2011, George Warwick served the students, faculty, and staff of Truett McConnell University faithfully, and was known best by the students who lovingly called him “Barney.” In Warwick’s reflections of his life, he remembers his time at TMU as years of cherished memories.
FAMILY FARM BEGINNINGS
Warwick, now 77, was a hard worker since childhood. He and his family have always resided in Cleveland, Ga., just a few minutes away from TMU’s campus. He recalled, “I grew up on an old farm half a mile from my house now. My daddy had 100 acres of land, and we raised cotton and corn.” His days were spent working on the family farm, and he loved being part of such a large family. Warwick explained, “I had three brothers and two sisters.”
MORE THAN A WORKPLACE
In 1972, then-TMU president Dr. White, approached Warwick. He cited, “Dr. White said, ‘George, I’ve got a job for you!’”
SEEING SCHOOL GROWTH
Warwick’s many years at Truett McConnell allowed him to watch the school grow each semester. He recalled, “I remember when they put the steeple on the chapel.” The security guard building, which stands at the campus entrance, has long been regarded as the place where TMU security resides. Warwick recalls a time before the building was even a thought. He said, “The guard shack was built when the Nix Student Center was built. Before that, we had a little trailer behind the chapel.”
Warwick said, “I worked for ten years part-time and then I became full-time. We ran security out there and worked with students cutting grass and things like that.”
Before TMU decided to use golf carts as a quick way to zip around campus, Warwick had different means of transportation. He said, “We had a car just like the county police.”
It was Warwick’s duty to always keep campus safe, but he made sure to have fun while getting to know the students. He laughed, adding, “Students used to pull all kinds of fun jokes on me. One time the students set the school car on concrete blocks, and then managed to put the golf cart on top of the little house by the pool.”
Always working for security, he moved up the ranks, and during his 39-year tenure became Director of Security. Warwick considers the campus to be a special place, one he called home for almost 40 years. He stated, “I could talk forever about how I never met a stranger.”
He explained that the students were always careful not to cause any damage, and they knew Warwick would be amused by the element of surprise. He said, “They didn’t ever hurt anything, just having a little fun.”
Warwick and his wife, Polly, are members at Zion Interdenominational Church. Despite battling cancer over the past few years, Warwick does his best to get to church each Sunday morning.
TMU’s former Director of Public Safety, Justin Coalley, began his work at the institution as a student under Warwick. He said, “George was very influential to me. Integrity, honesty, and a man of great character are the three things that come to my mind the most when I think of George." Director of Admissions, Andrew Gailey, remembered Warwick with equally kind words, as he stated, “I believe George loved the students very much and he desired to see them succeed at TM and beyond. I am thankful for his service to our institution.”
A LONGSTANDING FAITH
He and Polly also make a point to visit the Truett McConnell University dining hall often, to enjoy Sunday brunch. He concluded, “My faith has brought me a long way. The Lord has kept me out of trouble.”
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C E L E B R AT I N G
W
e celebrate the founding of Truett McConnell University and God’s blessings over the past 70 years. We celebrate our journey from a junior college, to full college status and now a University offering graduate degrees.
Truett McConnell University’s roots extend far back into the educational history of Georgia. The University was named to honor George W. Truett and Fernando C. McConnell, cousins who were men of faith and vision, renowned Baptist pastors and educators. In 1887, George W. Truett established a private Christian academy in Hiawassee, Georgia, where Fernando C. McConnell joined him in his educational endeavors. Changing conditions eventually led to the closing of the academy, but Georgia Baptists were determined to carry on the same high standards of Christ-centered education in the mountains of Northeast Georgia by establishing a college to bear the names of Truett and McConnell. On July 23, 1946, the Georgia Baptist Convention held ceremonies in Cleveland, Georgia, to mark the establishment of a new two-year liberal arts college named for Truett and McConnell. In recommending Cleveland as the site for this new college, the Georgia Baptist Convention recognized the following commitments on the part of the White County/Cleveland community:
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ON JULY 23, 1946, THE GEORGIA BAPTIST CONVENTION RECOGNIZED THE FOLLOWING COMMITMENTS ON THE PART OF THE WHITE COUNTY/CLEVELAND COMMUNITY:
A SITE CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY
450 ACRES
CONCRETE BLOCKS AND LUMBER AT COST
$95,000
$100,000
TOTAL PLEDGES OF GIFTS FROM FOUR COUNTIES ADJOINING WHITE COUNTY
LIVING ENDOWMENT
$90,000 CASH GIFT
WER SE
WATER FOR 5 YEARS, A WATER MAIN, LIGHTS AND SEWERAGE INSTALLED AT THE SITE, NECESSARY GRADING AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION HELP
Truett-McConnell Junior College first opened its doors to students in September 1947, when it enrolled a class of 55 students. The first classes were held in temporary locations around the city of Cleveland and many of the students were housed in local homes. Finally, in 1956, Miller Hall, the first building on the present campus, was completed and Truett McConnell had a home. Today, Truett McConnell University stands on approximately 243 acres of prime mountain property. Facilities have been added over the years and the University is presently experiencing a building boom with construction of the George Blaurock Student Wellness Center. Truett McConnell University has much to celebrate in our rich, 70 year history. There have been numerous times challenges and changes have occurred during our history. However, we have never been more committed to stand on the Word of God and offer a Christian Worldview education equipping the emerging generation to impact the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. We celebrated this year with Founder’s Day on July 23rd. The celebration will continue with homecoming November 12th as we commemorate the first class in 1947, and our first graduates in 1949. truett.e d u
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A LOST GENERATION’S VOICE: WHY TRUETT McCONNELL UNIVERSITY CHOSE TO STAND FOR LIFE AND LIBERTY by Dr. Emir Caner
T
he problem with abortion is that the tragic act snuffs out the voice of the unborn, leaving few to speak for “the least of these.” Such is the reason why Truett McConnell University, along with other plaintiffs, chose the legal path to challenge the Affordable Care Act mandate that required non-profit institutions like ours to hand out abortifacient drugs to our employees. We made it clear: we will not, under any circumstances, hand out drugs that destroy life and go against the biblical mandates of Scripture. Our conscience and our dedication to our Lord will not allow us to do so.
...we will not, under any circumstances, hand out drugs that destroy life and go against the biblical mandates of Scripture. That decision to fight for liberty and life ultimately landed us before the Supreme Court of the United States where, in June, the eight justices wisely vacated the case and demanded that the government compromise with the plaintiffs without impeding upon our liberties and values.
That decision to fight for liberty and life ultimately landed us before the Supreme Court of the United States... Many people have inquired along the way of this five-year journey: was it worth the risk of destabilizing an institution to take such a stand? My answer, without any hesitation, is yes – a thousand times yes! An institution that speaks for Christ must stand for Christ, regardless of the consequences. Indeed, a new generation of Millennials should enjoy the same rights of life and liberty as our generation, something that could only occur if we choose to perpetually hold firm to biblical principles. We did and God smiled upon our endeavors. During the battle, perhaps the most encouraging words came from some of my college students who reached out to me to share their story, how God rescued them from a potential abortion due to the loving kindness of others. Here is one such story of heroism written by a current TMU student:
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"
My birth mother was 17 and pregnant with me as her second child. Her boyfriend wanted nothing to do with the responsibility of taking care of a baby so he abandoned her. She next turned to her mother, my biological grandmother, for help. Since her mother was already helping her with one child, my biological brother, she said that it would be too much and she can’t help her any more than she was already. Having no one else to turn to for help, my birth mom started going down the path of abortion. She went to the appointments and finally the day came for the abortion. She showed up and the doctor was about to do it but then he paused and asked if she could afford it. Her answer was no so the doctor told her they couldn’t do it if she couldn’t afford it and [she] walked away. Scared and uncertain of what to do, [my birth mother] called a friend. That friend’s mother answered and talked with my birth mom. Friend’s mom: “Hey how are you?”. Birth mom: “I’m doing good. How are you?” Friend’s mom: “I’m fine. I’m assuming you want to talk to my daughter?” Birth mom: “Actually I wanted to talk to you if that’s ok?” Friend’s mom: “Is there something wrong?” Birth mom: “I need to borrow some money and I was wondering if you could help me?” Friend’s mom: “Of course, but what is the money for?” Birth mom: “.....I need the money for....an abortion” (she starts crying). Friend’s mom: “I’m sorry. We would help except we don’t believe in abortion. However, if you need help when you choose a pro-life option, we will do what we can.” From that conversation, my adoption began. I was pretty much adopted before being born and I was taken in by a loving Christian family who raised me in a Christian worldview environment. Hearing about someone else that has a similar story to mine gives me hope. It gives me hope that other people who hear these kinds of stories and believe in pro-life will join us in the battle defending our belief that abortion is wrong and murder. This is an opportunity for Christians to rise up and proclaim what is right. This is an opportunity for Christians to stand strong in the Lord’s name and be an example to others that we will not cave to the world and its wrongdoing.
"
Now, this young lady, whose story should have ended before it began, walks the campus of Truett McConnell University. If you ever wonder whether you are making a difference, look no further than a story like this one – one of hope and triumph, one that can be repeated many times if we simply choose to stand for Christ, unconditionally love others and trust in the Lord. Truth is Immortal.
3,150 ABORTIONS A DAY
BEAR FROM BIRTH TMU alums, Eric and Anna Heatherly honored TMU by naming their son Truett.
EC true tt.e d u / 41
STANDING FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM And they say unto Him, Caesar’s. Then saith He unto them,” Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21 KJV) Religious Freedom is one of America’s most cherished principles. The freedom for people of faith to exercise their faith in the public arena without fear of governmental interference or retaliation was a banner carried by our Baptist forefathers in America. In a message to the Baptist World Alliance meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, July of 1939, our University’s namesake, Dr. George W. Truett spoke of the Baptist struggle for religious liberty: “On and on our Baptist forbearers waged their unyielding battle for religious liberty. They dared to be odd, to stand alone, to refuse to conform, though it cost them suffering and even life itself. They pleaded and suffered and kept on with their protests and remonstrances and memorials until, thank God, forever." They won in these United States, and written into our country’s Constitution, church and state must be in this land forever separate and free. The impartial historian will ever agree with Mr. Bancroft, our American historian, when he says, "Freedom of conscience, unlimited freedom of mind was from the first trophy of the Baptists." Such historians will also agree with the noble champion of human rights, John Locke, who said, "The Baptists from the first were the proponents of absolute liberty, just and true liberty, equal and impartial liberty." And again, will he agree
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with the eminent Judge Storey, long a member of our nation’s Supreme Court, when he says, "In the code of laws established by the Baptists of Rhode Island, we read for the first time since Christianity ascended the throne of the Caesars, the declaration that conscience should be free; and that men should not be punished for worshiping God in the way they were persuaded that He requires." The Baptist contention is not for mere toleration, but for absolute liberty. There is a wide difference between toleration and liberty.” Because of the conviction and stand of our forefathers, the very first amendment to the Constitution of the United States begins, “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; …” The need to stand for the protection of our religious liberty continues to our generation. A ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1990 threatened religious liberty by lowering the high wall of scrutiny that had historically been in place before the government could interfere with the free exercise of one's religious beliefs. The United States Congress responded by passing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 1993. In 1997, the Supreme Court ruled that the Federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act was not binding on individual states. Since the 1997 ruling, more than 30 states have protected the religious freedom rights of their citizens by passing laws or by
IMAGE FROM FRANKLIN GRAHAM: DECISION AMERICA TOUR 2016
judicial ruling. Georgia is not one of those states. Every state contiguous to Georgia has protected their citizen’s religious freedom rights. The 2016 session of the Georgia General Assembly passed a bill that would have afforded some protection for people of faith in Georgia. The governor vetoed the bill. Thus, the struggle continues in Georgia. We stand in the tradition of our Baptist forefathers, one of our University’s namesakes, and the cherished principle that our rights do not emanate from government, but from God. Our government has been given the responsibility to protect our God-given rights. The struggle will remain in Georgia until we see our rights protected. At Truett McConnell University, our Ray Newman Ethics and Religious Liberty Lecture Series will continue to focus our campus on the issues of the day. We will strive to inform and mobilize others as the cultural war against people of faith intensifies.
JY
CRIMINAL JUSTICE A NEW PROGRAM Truet McConnell (TM) has continually strived to make high-demand degrees available since the school offered its first Baccalaureate degree in 2003. TM is proud to announce that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) approved the addition of a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, offered as of fall, 2016. “The new Criminal Justice degree will be the first degree that will be offered as part of the new government division at Truett McConnell,” shared Truett McConnell Associate Professor of Law and Government, Dr. Joseph Wiegand. “We want to prepare individuals who feel called to public service… who will serve the public in a government role.” The idea of offering a B.S. in Criminal Justice came to fruition when Wiegand joined the Truett McConnell family in 2013. Because of his strong background in law and government, Wiegand was tasked with heading up the new program.
“I would like our program to be noted not only for the highest academic quality but also for the character and integrity of our graduates. Whether they are serving as a police officer, first responder, or government official, I hope the world sees a solid Christian worldview displayed in all our graduates,” stated Wiegand. After completing the 129 credit hours required to earn the degree, students will be equipped to pursue a variety of careers in the criminal justice field. “We plan to prepare graduates to serve at the local level as well as the federal level including the FBI, CIA, ICE, among other divisions,” listed Wiegand. “Additionally, the degree is structured in a way that, if the individual wants to go on for graduate work, they should have the background needed to enter a graduate program.” The Bachelor of Science degree will ensure students complete the courses necessary for admission into graduate programs as the degree not only equips students with a knowledge of the field of Criminal Justice but also provides a solid foundation with courses in math, science and psychology. A survey of current and prospective TM undergraduate students indicated 18% of participants desire to earn a criminal justice degree, and 48% of participants are interested in taking criminal justice courses to increase their knowledge of the subject. “I hope this degree becomes the biggest program on campus.” Wiegand continued, “It is such an important field because so many rely on law enforcement and the service they provide to the community.” Wiegand is confident the program will assist Truett McConnell in accomplishing its goal of equipping students to share the Gospel through a Biblically-centered education. “In addition to producing those who work in ministry and those who work in business, now we have those who work in government,” said Wiegand. “This is one more area that we can be actively involved in and mightily impact the kingdom.”
BJ
To learn more about this degree, contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at admissions@truett.edu.
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PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL GIVING REPORT 2015-2016 FISCAL YEAR The 2015 – 2016 fiscal year was eventful for many reasons: First, Truett McConnell College became Truett McConnell University (TMU), May 14, 2016. Secondly, TMU graduated the first Master of Arts in Theology student. Third, the largest, single cash gift: The John N. White Endowed Scholarship, totaling $600,000.00 was donated to the University. Fourth, we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the institution. Finally, through the generosity of over 2,000 gifts, TMU raised $1,566,368.10 or 10.8% more funds than in the previous fiscal year.
Acknowledged in this report are gifts received from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016. Each gift is important to Truett McConnell’s success as we strive to fulfill the Great Commission by fostering a Christian worldview through a biblically-centered education. Your continued generosity is making a distinct and profound difference in our students' lives and in the future of the University.
Beyond the facts and figures reported within this year’s edition, the stories involving our students, alumni, faculty and staff are the real heart of Truett McConnell. While we are continuing to build new facilities and renovate those established landmarks on campus, our greatest assets will always be the people of Truett McConnell. Thank you for honoring God through your gifts, and we continue to ask for your prayers as we strive daily to glorify His name.
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ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS Endowed scholarships and funds require a minimum contribution of $10,000. Monies added to the corpus for scholarships, funds, and endowments listed below. Dr. Sami & Hripsime Ammari Scholarship Fund Eberli Bolt Missions Scholarship Psalm 20:5 The Gladys Holcomb and Family Scholarship The Deborah Rose Alvater Endowed Scholarship Fund The Gertie Holmes Layson Endowed Scholarship Rev. Tommy Jones Scholarship Fund John L. & Sara Nix Scholarship Fund White County Baptist Association Scholarship Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship Fund
NEW ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS
Carolyn W. Kelly Nursing Scholarship Center Baptist Church Scholarship Trust Kenneth Barnes Memorial Scholarship Ragan & Estelle Callaway Scholarship J&J Foods Scholarship Gene T. Bowman Scholarship Rastus Salter Christian Studies Endowment J. Robert Lester Memorial Scholarship
ENDOWED LECTURESHIPS Endowed lectureships require a minimum contribution of $10,000 Monies added to the corpus listed below.
John N. White Endowed Scholarship
Ray Newman Ethics and Religious Liberty Lecture Series
E X P E N DA B L E S C H O L A R S H I P S & G R A N TS Expendable scholarships and grants are typically awarded in the same fiscal year in which they are received. They are not invested with the University’s pooled endowment. The scholarships and grants listed below are $1000 or more. Alumni Scholarship Benjamin F. Brady Foundation Grant Carolyn Williams Kelly Nursing Scholarship Fund Carolyn King Ragan Charitable Foundation
Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship Fund Student Athlete Missions Scholarship
E S TAT E G I F T S Agnes T. Burson Estate (‘49)
John N. White Estate
F U N D S AWA I T I N G E N D O W M E N T Established scholarships which are not funded at the $10,000 minimum endowment level. (Date established) *Mrs. A. F. Bell Scholarship (1994) Walter E. Boone Scholarship (1985) Dr. Christopher Childs Science and Achievement Scholarship (2002) Melissa Clanton Music Ministry Scholarship (2006) *Linton M. and Josephine H. Collins Memorial Scholarship (2000) *W. Clyde, W. Matt & J. Adam Dixon Memorial Scholarship (2001) Karen Fricks Scholarship (1986) Ernest W. Glore Ministerial Fund (c. 1947) *Agnes K. Hall Scholarship (1987) Gene Hansard Scholarship (1984) Clara Head Work Scholarship (1986) Patricia McBrayer Heaton Endowment Fund (2001) *Catherine Logan Memorial Music Scholarship (1987) Thomas Mauney, Jr., Scholarship (1989)
Gloria Paschal Scholarship Fund (1985) Ida Staton Pruitt Scholarship Fund Brittany Reabold Memorial Scholarship (1992) John F. Roach Memorial Scholarship (2002) Colby Tilley Women’s Basketball Scholarship (2005) Trustee Endowment Scholarship (1999) *Walter Waldon Music Scholarship (2002) Watkinsville Scholarship Endowment Duward Whelchel Scholarship (1997) Julian and Pauline Whelchel Scholarship (1997) Jessie White Scholarship Fund (2013) C. James and Elnora Woods Scholarship (2000)
*Within $3000 of reaching minimum endowment level.
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THE BLUE & GOLD CLUB — UP TO $99 Martha Abrams Shirley Akins ‘60 Joseph F. Allen ‘58 John A. Allison Barbara Anderson Rachel I. Arias David C. Armstrong Marie G. Ash Richard Atkins Robert E. Ausband Karen W. Babb Adam T. Baker ‘01 J. M. Ballew Sally A. Barnum Wayne Bartlett Daniel D. Bennett Elizabeth Bigham Jo G. Blackwelder Brenda Boonstra Peter Boonstra Cindy G. Bowlin Ryan A. Bowman ‘94 Geraldine F. Bramblett ‘54 Roger Bramblett Daniel W. Bright ‘73 Angela M. Bringmann Cheryl Broekhuizen Melinda G. Brooks ‘02 Grant Butler Rufus Camp Donald C. Campbell Linda J. Cantrell Runette Cantrell ‘60 Lynn Carlisle Joseph A. Carroll Donna R. Cash Scott G. Cates John M. Chapman Linda T. Chapman ‘60 Marty Chapman Mary W. Chester Gena P. Christian Ramona K. Church Danny Clark Tamya Clark Robert Cochran Maria M. Conde Virginia R. Conner Gloria M. Copeland Frank Cox ‘76 Kristi Craven Edna Crisp Joshua Dailey Paul Dennis Helen F. Dickerson
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Jane R. Dodson Joyce O. Dooley ‘64 Michael Dorough Steven C. Doss Davina Douthard James Dunnington Rebecca D. Dyer ‘93 W. T. Eison Terry Eubanks Brian S. Farrington Milan J. Fischer Natalie Ford W. A. Forrester James Foster Tommy Fountain Glenda C. Gaines Rodney E. Gallman R. L. Garrard ‘62 Deborah C. Garrett Joshua L. Garrett Rita B. Gausden Veda Glore ‘78 James N. Griffith Harlee A. Grogan ‘16 Tony R. Grose David M. Haisten Tony R. Hamilton ‘76 Lavon Hammond Hinton H. Harris William O. Hartley Brenda G. Hatch Courtney S. Hawkins ‘14 Daniel T. Hendrix ‘94 Deborah Hicks Roberda E. Higginbotham ‘84 Thomas Higgins Amy G. Hightower Frances Q. Hobgood ‘54 David S. Hodges Geraldine P. Holcomb Harvard Hopkins Marguerite H. Huff ‘76 Ronald Hulsey Russell W. Hunter Rob T. Irvin ‘09 Sylvia M. Jackson ‘94 Tammy Jackson Linda G. Jaynes Christian E. Jensen S D Johnson Catherine C. Jones Stacy Jones Robert W. Keesee Jill Kent Donna K. Kirby ‘59
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Barbara L. Sheetz M. Sheriff J. L. Skinkle Mildred Aikens Smith Nina L. Smith Tim S. Smith ‘82 Thomas Southern Margaret A. Spurlin Chelsea A. Steele ‘16 Wendell C. Stegall Calvin E. Stewart Robert C. Stewart Linda A. Surfus ‘67 Michael Tedder Sue Y. Thomas Courtney M. Thompson Kathleen Thompson John G. Turner Michael L. Turner Christopher Tuttle Bonnie N. Umberger John T. Waddell Brett B. Wagenhorst Margie A. Webb ‘61 Hugh West Janice Y. West ‘62 Jeanette Whitlock Dillard Wilbanks ‘65 Elaine B. Wilkerson ‘57 John Wilkerson Kurt P. Wise Dwain E. Word ORGANIZATIONS Amazon Smile Green Family Sikes & Stowe, Inc. The Carolyn M. Kolssak Living Trust
T H E F O U N TA I N C L U B — $ 1 0 0 — $ 2 4 9 Jim Anderson Joseph Anderson Chris G. Armstrong ‘03 Marilyn B. Ashley Kim Ayers V. C. Barrett Michael E. Belcher Douglas Bennett Ralph W. Benton ‘69 Lisa Blaurock
Eleanor F. Gordy ‘59 J. D. Gordy ‘59 Jerry A. Grant ‘58 Michelle B. Green Glen O. Greene Franklin Grubbs J. Fred Gunter, Jr. ‘57 Tim Guthrie Clara W. Hackney Travis Halbrook
Elizabeth H. Norton ‘14 John D. Pearson ‘14 Melissa Pearson Sam Pelletier Susan A. Pirtle Forrest M. Pitts James G. Raterink Jackie P. Reed John D. Reed Lindsay P. Reep
Roger E. Blythe Blake Boggs Byron A. Bond ‘67 Valerie J. Boothe Van Boothe Paul E. Braza Cathy Brooks Louise Burke Wanda W. Cain ‘93 Nancy A. Carroll ‘56 Shelley M. Cauley Lawrence M. Cerezola Kenneth L. Chancey Gilbert C. Chung ‘68 James J. Clark Gene Cobb John Cobb Marcus L. Cobbs Randall N. Cofer James W. Cole Winston C. Collins ‘63 Amy Cook Nancy C. Copeland Jones Cottrell Samuel Crosby Melissa D. Crownover ‘00 J. R. Dailey Jerry Dalton ‘62 Lenny Daniel Patricia Darley Edmund J. Deberry James B. Dollar Robert E. Eagar, Jr. Paul S. Edmiston David England John E. Farrow ‘63 Andrew S. Fielding Katherine J. Fields Susan N. Fields ‘78 Lorri T. Fischer Thomas J. Fitzgibbons John R. Ford Donna Forrester Robert E. Foster Clay Fowler Kirk J. Gable T. Ward Gann Lake & Ann L. Gibson ‘67 Judy A. Gillentine ‘98 R. L. Gordon
Joy S. Hardin ‘94 Sandy M. Harris ‘94 Wesley Harris Teresa Haymore James O. Heflin Don Henderson Terrell E. Horne Stephen M. Hughes Steve D. Hughes Diego S. Humphrey ‘79 James T. Irvin Mary S. Jackson ‘53 Bobby D. James Clarence S. Jett Louise L. Johnson ‘51 Ethelene D. Jones ‘49 Glenn T. Jones ‘73 Michael T. Justus Scott L. Keesee Allie C. Kilpatrick Huey H. Kirby Helen H. Lester Robert E. Loffredo Alice L. Loggins ‘55 Rowena Lovell ‘50 Julie H. Lutz Shirley A. Maifarth Harris R. Malcom ‘73 Natalie Mantel Beverly Jane C. Martin ‘77 Patricia Martin ‘59 Evelynne C. Mashburn Anthony L. Mason Bruce Mathews Ken Maxwell Andrea McCall Evelyn S. McDonald ‘56 David McDowell Joseph Meadows Henry D. Mercer Douglas W. Merck ‘74 Beverly A. Moore ‘58 Richard A. Moore Susan Munday Ralph Muzzillo Ronald S. Muzzillo Theresa W. Myers Mark Nash Gwen Newman Bruce Nicholson
Valarie Reeves Veronica M. Respress Daniel L. Rice ‘15 Dennis Rice Gene W. Robinson ‘58 Rodney E. Rogers James A. Rowland Wynell C. Ruark Marilyn J. Schar Shannon Scott Tara V. Seay ‘01 Pat Segers ‘77 Pat Shannon F. L. Shoppe Emma Shurling Lena P. Simmons James D. Simpson Marion A. Skelton ‘50 Bailey S. Smith ‘11 Betty S. Smith Harold W. Smith Johnny R. Southern James D. Spayd Marcus M. Stahl Jill T. Stallings Donald E. Stanley Lauren M. Stanley Vicki M. Steele Joan Summerfield ‘52 Hayle F. Swinson ‘12 Alfred Swope Joyce A. Tate Evelyn L. Taylor Jo Ann S. Taylor Richard A. Taylor Gary L. Thomas Barry Thompson ‘73 Jimmie A. Tinius ‘53 Tim A. Travis Kathy W. Tucker Judy Underwood Beth Vanderbeck Marion B. Velis Joan Walden Joyce S. Walton Carol A. Warrick Fiorella P. Weaver James E. Webb ‘60 William L. West Darrell Westmoreland
Tahne M. Whatley F. O & Sue White Opal L. White Wendell Whitlock Carolyn B. Whitmire ‘60 Marilyn Williamson Michael A. Wolf Kenneth Wood ‘57 J. M. Yancey Kristin R. Young ‘10 ORGANIZATIONS APS Energy Systems, LLC Cabinets Plus Center Baptist, Helen Fountain Baptist, Inc. Genesis Testing Services, Inc. Griffin Ford-Lincoln Hebron Baptist Hephzibah Baptist Land of Lakes, Inc. Foundation North Metro FBC of Gwinnett Parks Lumber & Building Supply Patterson Prime Properties Profit Plus, Inc. Salem Baptist, McDonough Second Baptist Warner Robins Soda Fountain Cafe The Carpet Store United Community Bank White Co. Chamber of Commerce White Co. Commissioners
truett.e d u / 47
T H E M O U N TA I N E E R C L U B — $ 2 5 0 - $ 4 9 9 Gus Arrendale Robert S. Bowen Joe Braselton ‘58 George G. Cahoon Kristie L. Clobes Randy Crenshaw Clark Dailey Cindy S. Erbele Rachel Evans Willie S. Foles Wade Godfrey Tamara Griffis Thomas Hammond
Russell Harbin Joe F. Harris Holly A. Haynes David Henson Michael J. Hillmeyer Patrice F. Humphrey Janice A. Justus Charles R. Kilby Barbara L. Kilgore Becky P. Lombard James M. McCullough Rachael Meggitt Douglas W. Merck
Jean Middlebrook James J. Miles ‘91 Ronald L. Moore Jonathan D. Morris ‘99 Linda R. Mosely ‘80 Larry Moss Mike Ogle Sylvia B. Palmer ‘55 Julie Peevy Ronald J. Petrie Carole D. Privette Annie I Robinson Farron E. Shelton
Gloria A. Sutton ‘02 Steven S. Tyndall Merrill Vernon David Waters Carole S. Wood ‘56 Jon Yeh ORGANIZATIONS FineGiftSoaps.com Habersham Baptist Association Heritage & Hope Ministry, Inc. Northside Baptist S&S Trucking, Inc. Trinity Anglican Mission
T H E DA N E S C LU B — $ 5 0 0 - $ 9 9 9 Clinton G. Adams Michael L. Anchors ‘60 Gary T. Bailey Gertrude G. Barnes’ 56 Ann B. Baynes Bill Bonner Natalie Boonstra-Bosscher James O. Bryant ‘64 Talmadge S. Chandler Travis A. Cheek ‘63 Tyler Christopher Rebecca R. Daniel David R. Edens Lee Evans
Francis M. Ferrer Victoria Fulgham Thomas Giddens Ken E. Hall B. Miles Hannan Robert E. Herndon Louise C. Holcomb ‘49 Mark Keesee Irma N. Loggins ‘52 Steven T. Moss Barbara D. Nalley H. Edward Pruitt Mary F. Shields ‘53 Susan S. Sloan
Richard Statham Colby Taylor Johnny A. West Myer C. Westmoreland Maynard R. Young ORGANIZATIONS Blackshear Place Baptist Brooklet First Baptist Duval Semi Trailers Ebenezer Baptist ExxonMobil Foundation First Baptist, Perry FUMC, Oakwood
Focus Design Builders LLC Georgia Natural Gas Georgia Power Company, Atlanta Gilbert Agency, Inc. Howard Brothers, Inc. Northeast Church Omega Technology Group Stealth Concrete Cutting, Inc.
F E R N A N D O C . M C C O N N E L L S O C I E T Y — $ 1 , 0 0 0 - $ 7, 9 9 9 Bryan Alexander Hirsch Banks ‘54 Kevin S. Batye Johnny M. Burkett Glenn R. Canup ‘96 Donna Caudell Jeanetta Daniel Jerry C. Davis ‘63 David Drake Carole Driskell Brett Duncan Celeste S. Dunnington Chris Eppling Bob W. Fenner Shelby Foles Merrill Folsom ‘80 Myra C. Folsom Edward H. Gregory James H. Harris ‘62 David C. Herrin Joseph P. Hicks
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Graham Hood John J. Howard Gary L. Jarnagin Robert P. Jolly Stephanie H. Kelley M. Lewis Martin ‘62 A. Glen McCall Robert L. McCollum ‘55 Chad Merrill Lamar Merritt V. Ray Piper P. W. Quigley Brad Reynolds William Rogers Van E. Sanders Granville Shubert ‘56 Joseph Smith Richard L. Terry Alae Risse W. Thomas ‘56 Bruce A. Thompson Calvin Thompson
Robert L. Thompson ‘50 Jerry Vines Dane Wallis Rone C. Watson Arrie Mae Wiley Terrell J. Williams Judy E. Winn ‘69 Christopher Wood John O. Yarbrough ‘69 ORGANIZATIONS Arrow Exterminators, Inc. Beech Haven Baptist Bethlehem Baptist Beulah Baptist Concord Baptist Emmanuel Baptist, Blackshear Enterprise Holdings Foundation Etowah Ministries Inc. First Baptist Whitsett First Baptist, Alpharetta
First Baptist, Newnan GA Independent College Assoc. Helen First Baptist John L. & Sarah H. Nix Foundation Lakeside Baptist Liberty Baptist M. Austin Davis Foundation Inc Mulberry Baptist Association The Piedmont Bank The Thomas T. & Bernice F. Irvin Foundation White Co. Baptist Association Word of Life Bible Institute Argentina
T H E G E O R G E W. T R U E T T S O C I E T Y — $ 8 , 0 0 0 - $ 1 4 , 9 9 9 Donald M. Cathy Stacy Hall
O. S. Hawkins Stephen L. Murray
William D. Reynolds Cheryl Walker
PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE — $15,000 - $49,999 E. Wayne Farr Phillip M. Jones Keith Kelly Agnes T. Burson Estate ‘49
ORGANIZATIONS Carolyn King Ragan Charitable Foundation Vulcan Materials
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE — $50,000 AND MORE Benjamin F. Brady Charitable Foundation Trust Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation
Georgia Baptist Mission Board John N. White Estate Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Victory Processing, LLC
THE BEAR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP LEVEL ($2500+) Chick-Fil-A DQ of Cleveland Northeast Georgia Physician’s Group United Community Bank Wal-Mart
IGA Jacky Jones J. Miller Designs Papa John’s Pizza
ALL-AMERICAN ($1000+) Allied Communications Cafe Cancun Lawrence M. Cerezola Concord Baptist Deb’s Dollar & Discount Jason Hogan Designs Kelly’s 19th Tee Driving Range McDonald’s McRee Electric & Trenching Mossy Creek Golf Course Papa’s Pizza to Go SouthState Bank Scott McRee Subway The Soda Fountain Tim Hunt - State Farm Insurance Zaxby’s
GOLD LEVEL ($250+) Ash Welborn Insurance Best Western - Helen Bi-Lo Campaign Sports, LLC Daniel B. Caudell ‘77 Chris Eppling ERA ALCO Realty Heidi Hotel Gary Hinton Howard Brothers, Inc. JW Reeds Tavern Daniel Kerrigan Nacoochee Contracting, Inc. Neocom Solutions, Inc. Outpost Gold & Gem Owens Welding Quiksite, Inc. United Rentals White County Sheriff’s Office
TEAM CAPTAIN ($500+) Bishop & Bishop Mgmt., Inc. Captain D’s Cleveland Family Dental Cleveland Winnelson Co. Cool River Tubing Company Coca-Cola Cheryl Duke G&H Electrical Contractors Wayne & Judy Granger Grizzle Trucking Stacy W. Hall
BLUE LEVEL ($50+) Action Trailer Leasing, Inc. Allstate Robert T. Bridges City Electric Supply Curtis Brown Marcus L. Cobbs Donnie W. Culpepper Patricia Darley El Campesino Express Marts of North Georgia Fred’s Peanuts
Hallco Community Credit Union Dewey Hughes Ingles The Jaeger Company Bess K. Jameson Wayne K. Keen Donna G. Kinsey Nathalie M. Krenz Charles D. Maret Northside Baptist Melvyn Ottinger Mountain Fresh Creamery Gene Price Wanda Reagan Gerrill Rudolph Settles Engineering Sport Fields Unlimited, Inc. Patrick B. Sugrue Taylormade Robert V. Thomas Douglas Tucker Tammie Walden Judy H. Waldrop White County Farmers Exchange Wilson Brothers Construction Yoshi Express OTHER DONATIONS Sherri Cadenhead Linda Deyton Richard Evans Carol A. Hughes Chrissy Hulsey J. Y. Maxwell Charles K. Ryals Linda Sisson
truett.e d u / 49
B U S I N E S S E S A N D O R G A N I Z AT I O N S Action Trailer Leasing AmazonSmile APS Energy Systems, LLC Bishop & Bishop Management, Inc. Cabinets Plus Campaign Sports, LLC Duval Semi Trailers FineGiftSoaps.com Focus Design Builders LLC G&H Electrical Contractors Georgia Independent College Association Georgia Natural Gas
Georgia Power Company, Atlanta Genesis Testing Services Gilbert Agency, Inc. Green Family Griffin Ford-Lincoln Howard Brothers Inc. Omega Technology Group Parks Lumber & Building Supply Patterson Prime Properties Profit Plus, Inc. Sikes & Stowe, Inc. Soda Fountain Cafe The Carpet Store
Sports Fields Unlimited, INc. Stealth Concrete Cutting, Inc. S&S Trucking The Jeager Company The Piedmont Bank United Community Bank, Cleveland Victory Processing, LLC Vulcan Materials White County Chamber of Commerce White County Commissioners
C H U R C H E S A N D R E L I G I O U S O R G A N I Z AT I O N S Beech Haven Baptist Bethlehem Baptist, Clarkesville Beulah Baptist Blackshear Place Baptist Brooklet First Baptist Center Baptist, Helen Concord Baptist, Clermont Ebenezer Baptist Emmanuel Baptist, Blackshear Etowah Ministries First Baptist, Perry First Baptist Whitsett, Inc. First Baptist, Alpharetta
First Baptist, Newnan First United Methodist of Oakwood Fountain Baptist, Inc. Georgia Baptist Mission Board Habersham Baptist Association Hebron Baptist Helen First Baptist Heritage & Hope Ministry, Inc. Hephzibah Baptist Lakeside Baptist Liberty Baptist Mulberry Baptist Association Northeast Church
North Metro FBC of Gwinnett, Inc. Northside Baptist Salem Baptist, McDonough Second Baptist Warner Robins Trinity Anglican Mission White County Baptist Association Word of Life Bible Institute Argentina
F O U N D AT I O N S A N D T R U S T S Enterprise Holdings Foundation ExxonMobil Foundation Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation John N. & Sarah H. Nix Foundation Inc. John N. White Charitable Remainder Unitrust Land of Lakes, Inc Foundation
Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation M. Austin Davis Foundation Inc. Carolyn King Ragan Charitable Foundation The Carolyn M. Kolssak Living Trust The Thomas T. & Bernice F. Irvin Foundation, Inc.
Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the data presented. Thank you for your understanding.
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TRUETT MCCONNELL UNIVERSITY OFFICERS Dr. Emir F. Caner, President Mr. Chris Eppling, VP for Student Services Dr. Brad Reynolds, VP for Academic Services Dr. Joseph Wiegand, VP for Finance and Operations and General Counsel
SCHOOL DEANS Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr.
Jason Graffagnino, School of Theology and Missions Holly Haynes, School of Psychology & Biblical Counseling Becky Lombard, School of Music Michael T. Justus, School of Humanities Joseph Wiegand, School of Public Service
Dr. Janet Forney, School of Business Dr. Robert S. Bowen, School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathmatics Dr. Julie Lutz, School of Education Mrs. Celeste Dunnington, School of Nursing
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mr. Phillip Jones, Chairman / Flowery Branch, Georgia Adam Baker Cartersville, Georgia
Randy Crenshaw Tifton, Georgia
Robby Foster Valdosta, Georgia
Jim Holmes Helen, Georgia
Dan Rosser Ellijay, Georgia
Bill Bonner Fayetteville, Georgia
Paul Dennis Newnan, Georgia
Tony Hamilton Snellville, Georgia
Harvard “Hop” Hopkins Alpharetta, Georgia
Tony Samples Dallas, Georgia
Philip Bray Dearing, Georgia
Mike Dorough Warner Robins, Georgia
Thomas Hammond Buford, Georgia
Bob Jolly Cumming, Georgia
Richard C. Statham, Sr. McDonough, Georgia
Johnny Burkett Cleveland, Georgia
Brett Duncan Dawsonville, Georgia
Miles Hannan Valdosta, Georgia
Keith Kelly Covington, Georgia
Bruce Thompson White, Georgia
Joseph Allen Carroll, Jr. Atlanta, Georgia
Lee Evans Warner Robins, Georgia
Russell Harbin Jefferson, Georgia
Jamie Powell Perry, Georgia
Darrell Westmoreland Cleveland, Georgia
Frank Cox Lawrenceville, Georgia
Wayne Farr Norcross, Georgia
David Henson Ellijay, Georgia
Allen Rea Baxley, Georgia
BOARD OF VISITORS Ken Hall, Chairman / Lyman, SC
Sid King, Vice Chairman / Cleveland, GA
Thomas Abernathy Suwanee, Ga.
David Collins Gainesville, Ga.
John Howard Cleveland, Ga.
Chad Merrill Atlanta, Ga.
Mitch Ralston Gainesville, Ga.
Charles Thomas McDonough, Ga.
Chris Anderson Cleveland, Ga.
Frank Daws Covington, Ga.
Kevin Hurt Mountain City, Ga.
Linda Mosely Shay Runion St. Simons Island, Ga. Canton, Ga.
Barry Thompson Lithia Springs, Ga.
Ralph Benton Monroe, Ga.
Dean Dyer Cleveland, Ga.
Charles Johnson Lilburn, Ga.
Dennis Paschedag Cumming, Ga.
F. Stuart Sanders Clarkesville, Ga.
Calvin Thompson Dallas, Ga.
Glenn Canup Macon, Ga.
Paul Eitel Wake Forest, NC
Glenn Jones Clarkesville, Ga.
John Pearson Cumming, Ga.
Greg Smith Atlanta, Ga.
Kay Thompson Lithia Springs, Ga.
Yarot Castillo Gainesville, Ga.
Merrill Folsom Villa Rica, Ga.
Randy Kennedy Buford, Ga.
Chris Pittman Clermont, Ga.
Kim Smith Oakwood, Ga.
Travis Turner Cleveland, Ga.
Andrea Clayton LaFayette, Ga.
Jeffery Fuller Dallas, Ga.
Chad Knott Cleveland, Ga.
Martin Posthauer Marietta, Ga.
Mike Smith Oakwood, Ga.
Dane Wallis McDonough, Ga.
Al Collier Jonesboro, Ga.
W. Al Gainey Gainesville, Ga.
Jeff Langley Blairsville, Ga.
H. Edward Pruitt Cleveland, Ga.
Timothy Stevens Gibsonville, NC
Mark Watson Clarkesville, Ga.
true tt.e d u / 5 1
The distinct professors at Truett McConnell University pour their lives into the students using the broadest span of academic and biblical education. Each school is steered by a Dean who ensures the school’s activities and programs align with our mission and values. Our academic schools have been named after Anabaptists to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the Christian faith. Each school is dedicated to the legacy these Anabaptist heroes and martyrs leave for us today. TMU is pleased to announce: The Hans Hut School of Business The Peter and Gredel Walpot School of Education The Conrad Grebel School of Humanities The Felix Manz School of Music The Martha Rielin and Elizabeth Salmen School of Nursing The Leonhard Schiemer School of Psychology and Biblical Counseling The Michael Sattler School of Public Service The Pilgram Marpeck School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
T H E P E T E R A N D G R E D E L WA L P O T S C H O O L O F E D U C AT I O N
DIVISION CHAIR TO DEAN
JULIE LUTZ
The professors in the Peter and Gredel Walpot School of Education are extremely excited about the change from Truett-McConnell College to university status. The division will continue with the current undergraduate programs; however, there will be several changes for our division during this time. Master’s programs are currently being created in different education programs along with possible additions of various endorsements such as gifted and ESOL (English Speaker of Other Languages). The option of researching other undergraduate programs in education is another possibility. One possibility, pending SACSCOCS approval, would be a Masters of Education in Early Childhood Development. Another change will be the separation of the Education and Behavioral Science Division into two separate schools: Elisabeth Dirks School of Education and the School of Behavioral Science. While the Education and Psychology programs have grown, and continue to grow, beyond our current resources, the division is set to allow both programs to thrive. Much like the School of Education, the School of Behavioral Science will add a research program, master’s degrees, and eventually a training lab for counselors.
The Balthasar Hubmaier School of Theology and Missions
15:1 27 52 / t r u e t t .e d u
student to faculty ratio
graduate students
JUSTUS
The Conrad Grebel School of Humanities approved a new Creative Writing Concentration for the Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Truett McConnell is unique among many colleges for its offering of a class in novel writing. A new course in Creative Non-Fiction will be added during the upcoming year. As a part of the implementation of the new general education core curriculum, I am working on a student reader for the American History I class. It will spotlight the role of the Christian faith in the course of human events during the early years of our nation. Virtually all secular textbooks ignore or downplay the role of faith in America. The reader will address this need for a more correct understanding of our heritage.
2,027 200+ 511 total students
THE HANS HUT SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
THE CONRAD GREBEL SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES
MICHAEL
JANET FORNEY
The goal of the Hans Hut School of Business is to prepare students for successful careers as Christian managers or administrators. The faculty of the business division is very excited about becoming a University. Our current program provides Christian-based instruction in all of the functional areas of business, enabling students to develop and exhibit professional leadership skills and insights. With the move to the school of business, we are thrilled to announce our new Master of Business Administration degree scheduled for roll out in the 2016-2017 academic year (pending SACS approval). What does God’s Word say about business practice? This MBA will distinguish us from others as we are specifically addressing business from a Christian and Scriptural perspective. Further, as the program grows, plans are to branch into specialty concentrations, possibly related to the expanding health care industry. In an ever-changing world, we desire our students to recognize God’s calling in their lives. We assume if they are in the business school then God has called them to such. Our focus is to help them see their vocation as the platform God has given them to make disciples and grow His kingdom.
100%
of full-time freshmen receive some type of financial aid
acres of campus
resident students
50
full-time faculty members
true tt.e d u / 53
GRAFFAGNINO
The Balthasar Hubmaier School of Theology and Missions is enthused about the future of the university. TMU’s Anabaptist vision is exemplified by four Anabaptist scholars in its employ, which is more than all six Southern Baptist seminaries combined. Dr. Emir Caner (life and writings, Ph.D., Univ. of Texas-Arlington), Dr. Michael Whitlock (justification by faith, Ph.D., SWBTS) and Dr. Jason Graffagnino (early catechetical literature, Ph.D., SWBTS) all wrote doctoral dissertations centered on Hubmaier, the Anabaptist theologian. Dr. Maël Disseau (Ph.D., Georgia Tech, Ph.D., SWBTS) penned his dissertation on Italian Anabaptism. All four of these scholars have published works on Anabaptism in books and journal articles and remain engaged in the academy regarding the influence of Anabaptism upon modern Baptist life. Dr. Jeremy Lyon (Ph.D., SEBTS) has bolstered TMU’s Hebrew Scripture and language areas with his recent publication of Qumran Interpretation of the Genesis Flood. In addition, Dr. Lyon has spearheaded the establishment of a relationship between TMU and The University of the Holy Land enabling Truett McConnell students to study in Israel and grasp a new appreciation for Scripture as they walked where Jesus walked. Dr. Edward Pruitt (D.Theo., Univ. of South Africa) directs the World Mission Center and has led short-term mission trips to nearly 80 countries. He has published books and journal articles on missiology as part of his commitment to the academy. Dr. Van Sanders (Ph.D., SWBTS), served with the IMB for 10 years in Kenya, living and working with local people in doing the Great Commission. Dr. Sanders worked with NAMB for 10 years prior to his arrival at TMU and also published several articles on missiology. A new MA in Missiology has been approved by TMU faculty, under the direction of Drs. Sanders and Pruitt and is awaiting SACS-COC's approval. Truett McConnell University’s Master of Arts in Theology program began in the fall of 2014. At the graduation ceremony on May 14, 2016, the first TMU Master’s graduate walked across the stage, signifying the dawn of a new era at this institution. The MA in Theology program continues to grow with traditional courses offered in Cleveland and Alpharetta and now, offered online. It is indeed a new day at Truett McConnell University!
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T H E P I L G R A M M A R P E C K S C H O O L O F S C I E N C E , T E C H N O L O G Y, E N G I N E E R I N G A N D M A T H E M A T I C S
T H E B A LT H A S A R H U B M A I E R S C H O O L O F T H E O L O G Y A N D M I S S I O N S
JASON
ROBERT BOWEN
The transition from Truett-McConnell College to Truett McConnell University is very exciting. The School of Science and Mathematics at Truett McConnell Universtiy will experience many great changes beginning with a significant change to our name. The Division of Science and Mathematics will become the Pilgram Marpeck School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. As such, the Marpeck School will continue to serve undergraduate students in the areas of biology, pre-health sciences, and exercise science and will begin to move forward with proposals and plans to offer additional degree programs in many STEM-related fields. New undergraduate degrees will continue to aid students in achieving excellence in education; new graduate degrees will open doors to advanced scientific discovery allowing students to pursue professional and academic careers in biology, medicine, and science. The creativity required to achieve the necessary level of distinction in education will continue to occur in classrooms led by excellent faculty, but will also be exemplified through practical experiences in research and scholarship. Faculty-led graduate and undergraduate research in biology, creation science, as well as other disciplines will be limited only by the individuals drawn to Truett McConnell University to serve within the Marpeck School. Despite additional opportunities to pursue research scholarship, the Marpeck School’s faculty will remain dedicated to their craft as skillful teachers and educators training the next generation of scientists, medical doctors, physical therapists, engineers, and the like. Great times are ahead for the Pilgram Marpeck School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics as Christ, the Biblical worldview, and the Great Commission continue to define and amplify our pursuit of wonder, innovation, and academic superiority.
17
different states represented
LOMBARD
The Felix Manz School of Music of Truett McConnell University is committed to providing each student with a solid, disciplined, study of music built upon a Christian Worldview. The BA in Music is available with two concentrations: Worship and Church Music and General Music. Both concentrations were designed out of a thorough consideration of the ministerial role of music within the local church and within a plethora of musical careers. We also offer the BS in Music Education, preparing students to impact the Kingdom of God through their work within the public and private school systems. Our faculty leads from a unified front, yet the leadership of each is influenced by differing backgrounds. Dr. Becky Lombard, Dean of the school, has served in Christian higher education for thirty years, having taught at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for most of that time. The expertise of Mr. Dennis Allen, Assistant Professor of Church Music, is rooted in music composition, publishing, and studio recording in the Nashville area. Dr. Steven Tyndall served for many years as a middle school band director and guides our Music Education students in their preparation for teaching. He is also the director of Instrumental Studies. Our newest professor, Dr. Ken Gabrielse, has a long history in Baptist collegiate and seminarian leadership, and has served as the State Music Executive for Oklahoma Baptists. It is the faculty’s united prayer that our students would grow in wisdom and in their pursuit of excellence, and that a refined calling would evolve—a calling that is focused on impacting the world for Christ on whatever musical path they journey.
13
different Bible study groups were held across all residence halls
THE MARTHA RIELIN AND ELIZABETH SALMEN SCHOOL OF NURSING
THE FELIX MANZ SCHOOL OF MUSIC
BECKY
CELESTE
DUNNINGTON
Nursing at Truett McConnell University is a ministry of compassionate care in which faith and learning are integrated. We challenge nursing students to become compassionate, patient-centered nurse leaders, who will impact their communities and transform nursing care. University status, followed by the transition to schools, will afford nursing the opportunity for recognition among other nursing schools; increasing opportunities for recruitment of additional faculty and students. As growth occurs, plans are in place to seek and develop chapters on campus for Student Nurses Association, Baptist Nursing Fellowship, Nursing Christian Fellowship, and Sigma Theta Tau (nursing honor society). University status brings new opportunities and responsibilities to ensure we, in nursing, stay true to our purpose and maintain our focus on training students to become compassionate, patientcentered leaders, impacting our communities and our world through the integration of Christian faith and values with compassionate care, fulfilling the ministry of the Great Commission.
21 19
average class size
total countries represented
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JOSEPH WIEGAND
At a time when many Americans express a wariness of leaders on the state and national level, Truett McConnell University seeks to prepare the next generation of servant leaders. With the founding of the Michael Sattler School of Public Service, TMU recognizes the need to prepare women and men to serve their community and make an impact for the Kingdom. The inaugural degree, a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, will serve as the foundational degree of the Sattler School. Students in this program will not only receive a quality education preparing them for service in the field of law enforcement, but also instill a distinctly Christian worldview equipping them to be salt and light in our world. In addition to learning the fundamentals of the field, students will engage in internships and other activities to gain first-hand experience in this important profession. Over time, TMU plans to expand degree offerings to allow students to study such things as legal studies, international relations, public policy, and public administration. When so much of what we see in education and government appears as “business as usual,” TMU’s new Sattler School seeks to transcend the ideas of this world and apply a Biblical approach to governmental decision making. While the school is young, we have plans to expand and make a mighty impact for the Kingdom!
GWINNETT COUNTY
county that sends TMU the largest number of students
T H E L E O N H A R D S C H I E M E R S C H O O L O F P SYC H O LO GY A N D B I B L I C A L CO U N S E L I N G
T H E M I C H A E L S AT T L E R S C H O O L O F P U B L I C S E R V I C E
NEW
NEW
HOLLY HAYNES
Truett McConnell University has established the Leonhard Schiemer School of Psychology and Biblical Counseling. The School of Psychology and Biblical Counseling seeks to train students to be compassionate counselors, creative thinkers, and competent practitioners. In order to fulfill our vision for our students and support the mission of the University, we plan to continue to teach our students a biblically-centered curriculum that provides our students an understanding of the secular theories that drive modern Psychology in addition to their foundation in biblical approaches to Psychology and counseling. The school currently offers a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with concentrations available in Clinical Counseling and Development, Marriage, and Family. While we encourage our students’ education in the physical classroom, we feel that our students also need to engage in co-curricular experiences to aid their learning. As such, we offer practical experiences through internships, maintaining our ministry to children and families in the Foothills community, in addition to local and global mission trips. It is the vision of the School of Psychology that we be a light in the darkness that is modernity. When we look at our world today, we see many people—Christians and the lost—suffering. We have seen an increase in violence, corruption, and immorality. The Bible speaks to this as Paul admonishes us a time will come when men will “become lovers of themselves.” We need and we will continue to need Christian psychologists with a passion for witness to hear the suffering of others and help assuage fears. We will need psychologists who understand how Christ helps restore the brokenhearted.
THANKS BILLY! Our dear friend Billy Chism, from the White County News, retired August 31, 2016 after 9 years of service to the community and the University. Enjoy retirement and thanks for the spectacular legacy you have left!
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A HAVEN TO REST The psalmist wrote: “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord ...” (Psalm 121:1-2 NASB). The psalmist shared a rather unusual statement as to where one’s strength comes from when facing the challenges of life. When you stop and take time to stroll these North Georgia mountains in and around the campus of Truett McConnell University, there is something unique, even therapeutic, in what we so affectionately call, 'God’s Country.' This is indeed a beautiful place to find rest for one’s soul. The challenges of Christian ministry today can often be insurmountable. Pastors, church staff and their families experience some of life’s most difficult and demanding situations. The expectations of those in vocational Christian ministry are all too often unreachable. Recent statistics reveal those in ministry-related vocations are simply under pressure and under attack. For instance, 97% of pastors have been betrayed, falsely accused or hurt by their trusted friends; 94% of pastors’ families feel the pressure of ministry demands; 80% of pastors feel discouraged and 70% of pastors have battled some form of depression. Out of the national workforce, those who serve in a Christian ministerial occupation are at a high risk of emotional and physical health problems and potential burnout. All too often, the cry of those in ministry is like that of King David in Psalm 142:4: “ … no one cares for my soul.” These beautiful mountains desire to bring rest and peace to the weary soul through the serene comfort and retreat facility we are calling The Danny Watters Retreat and Renewal Center. This lodge is named in memory of Rev. Danny Watters, faithful pastor and servant within the Georgia and Southern Baptist Conventions for decades.
THE DANNY E. WATTERS RETREAT AND RENEWAL CENTER As pastor for 22 years of Beulah Baptist Church in Douglasville, Ga., God was molding and shaping His servant to touch the lives of thousands of men and women in vocational Christian ministry. For ten years, Watters served Georgia Baptists as a leader in the area of Church Ministry Relations. His death in April of 2015 sent a solemn signal that one of God’s best had experienced his final rest, and yet, his memory was to live on through the Danny Watters Retreat and Renewal Center. Nestled on the border of the campus of Truett McConnell University, this retreat center will bring relaxation and rest to those who are traveling challenging roads of ministry involvement with comfortable and inviting suites and amenities in a peaceful setting. President Dr. Emir Caner stated: “The churches of the Georgia Baptist Convention do not exist to serve Truett McConnell University, but Truett McConnell University exists to serve the churches of the Georgia Baptist Convention.” One way TMU can serve is to provide a haven for rest to those faithful pastors and ministers who need a quiet retreat to rest their hearts and souls. 2 Kings 4:9-11 reveals the account of the sensitive heart of a woman and her husband who intentionally, and perhaps sacrificially, gave and devoted themselves to see the man of God comforted by providing a place of peace. “Behold now,” it reads, “I perceive that this is a holy man of God passing by us continually. Please, let us make a little walled upper chamber and let us set a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there. One day he came there and turned in to the upper chamber and rested.” The goal of the Danny Watters Retreat and Renewal Center is to bring rest to servants of God in a place of peace. The heart of TMU and the help of the Lord has invited us in this strategic moment to build on this scenic campus property a place where a weary soul can find rest.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT truett.edu/thedannywatterscenter true tt.e d u / 57
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