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Liberty’s Year of Jubilee A Champion Special Edition: Celebrating 50 Years of God’s Faithfulness

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

he beginning of the 2021-2022 school year marked the beginning of Liberty University’s Year of Jubilee. In Leviticus 25:10, God declared to Moses, “And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan.” Although the word “jubilee” sings of celebration and joyful festivities, in the following verses, God designates this year for something else – a year to pause from sowing and reaping, to free the enslaved, to return home. A year to rest. This school year has rightfully been set apart by an abundance of celebration. This special tabloid edition of the Liberty Champion serves as another commemoration as we celebrate 50 years of history, growth, education, campus life, national championships, music and memories. However, in addition to celebrating all of Liberty’s accomplishments, our hope is that the stories within this tabloid serve as a reminder of something else in accord with our Year of Jubilee – rest. Inside you will find stories of faith and mira-

cles. Prayer meetings on the mountain, barely making ends meet, long hours each day on the bus to class – these moments of faithful endurance for Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr.’s dream defined the early days of Lynchburg Baptist College. From answered prayers for healing after car accidents to thousands of students giving their lives to the Lord to the countless individuals who made their mark on this school, God has remained a God of miracles at Liberty University. We only wish that we could recognize everyone who embodied this university’s mission. At Liberty, classes have continued while we’ve sowed and reaped our education. COVID-19, mental health concerns, social unrest and more have weighed heavily on students and faculty alike. Rest has often been a rare commodity. But even in the busyness – in the restlessness – of life, it is that same, tried and proven faith that we are resting in this year. Faith that God will provide amid stress and the unknown. Because He has done it before at Liberty, and He will do it again.

Liberty Champion Staff

Kacey Martin Tabloid Editor

Madison Barry Graphic Designer

Ryan Helfenbein Consultant

Jacqueline Hale Graduated Editor-in-Chief

Mackenzee Holloway Graphic Designer

Jessi Green Graduated Feature Editor

Brent Tyrrell Photography Editor

Luke Randle Sports Editor

Joshua Hanson Asst. Photography Editor

Contributing Writers Ava Bear Renee Farmer Joshua Quigg Cameron Satterthwaite II Christian Shields Jordan Smith Jeddi Tso

Sarah Tate Copy Editor

Deborah Huff Executive Director

Sarah Deleonardis Copy Editor

Logan Smith Office Coordinator

Table of Contents

The Next 50 Years: A Message from Dr. Prevo

Faithful is He: Reflections from Co-Founder

Liberty: Then vs. Now

50 Years of Memories

Spiritual Heroes at Liberty

Liberty University Timeline

A Joyful Noise: Worship at LU

Fan the Flames: Liberty Sports

A Heart for Service

Answered Prayers

THE NEXT 50 YEARS I

nside this special edition of the Liberty Champion, you will catch a glimpse of Liberty’s humble early stages, read inspiring testaments of faith and perseverance and see the tremendous growth of campus life and global outreach. But more than anything, I hope this special edition exhibits God’s faithfulness to the mission of Liberty University and to the pioneers who pressed that mission forward. Liberty’s successes would not be possible without the Lord’s provision, first and foremost. Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. didn’t want to build a secular liberal arts institution; the world needed a robust Christian university that merged stellar academics with a resilient biblical worldview. Falwell’s primary mission was to help Christian young people forge their God-given talents to impact the world for Christ. And in 50 years, Liberty has equipped more than 250,000 servant leaders to be champions in whatever environment the Lord called them to work and serve. When I accepted the role as president nearly two years ago, our athletics programs were continuing to rise in prominence, our Year of Jubilee was swiftly approaching, and we were treading through a critical phase of spiritual refocus. Upon taking the helm, many inquired about my vision for Liberty University, as if my intentions were to mold it into something different. But rest assured, my vision for Liberty University is not to reconstruct but to reinforce Fal-

well’s original mission to train Champions for Christ. To the best of my ability, I have tried to guide this institution back to that foundation. Speaking with students and learning their stories have been my most cherished memories while being your president. I’m continually impressed by our students’ maturity and enthusiasm to make differences in the workplace. This gives me so much confidence, knowing that the future, though never certain, is in good hands.

“But rest assured, my vision for Liberty University is not to reconstruct but to reinforce Falwell’s original mission to train Champions for Christ.” Another encouragement to me has been our dedicated faculty and staff, the backbone of this institution. No one has greater influence on our students than these valued members of the Liberty family. The next five decades will certainly present a multitude of unique challenges. But like all obstacles, we will work through them together while fixating our hearts and minds on the Lord. But regardless of future trials, one thing is certain: I promise that Liberty University will always be God’s university — a training ground for champions where Christ is first in everything. As we reflect with gratefulness on the past 50 years, let us also anticipate the many miracles the Lord has in store because God’s work has only just begun.

– Dr. Jerry Prevo President of Liberty University

FAITHFUL IS HE

Co-founder Dr. Elmer Towns reflects on LBC’s first chapel service, 50 years later

he year is 1971. The sanctuary of the original Thomas Road Baptist Church is filled with 154 fresh faces embarking on their post-secondary educational journey, along with 200-300 attendees of TRBC. They have come to celebrate the birth of Lynchburg Baptist College (LBC) at its first chapel gathering. “Whatsoever He sayeth unto you, do it.” Mary, the mother of Jesus, spoke these words to the servants of the wedding feast at Cana. Dr. Elmer Towns, co-founder of Liberty University — then known as Lynchburg Baptist College — selected this verse as his charge to LBC’s first class of students at this chapel gathering Friday, Sept. 10, 1971. “I didn’t have an outline for the sermon. It was written in my Bible,” Towns said.

“I preached John 2:5 to the young people, saying, ‘Whatever God is telling you, I want you to do it. If God is saying you have to take English, I want you to do it and do an outstanding job in English. If God is saying you have to take mathematics, you’ve got to do it. You’ve got to be in class, keep the rules and be on time.’” Towns played a significant role in emphasizing the academic standards at LBC, challenging faculty members to give daily assignments to ensure academic credibility in student performance. “I remember, that first day of class, I lectured and gave an assignment,” Towns said. “I told them, ‘Now, remember that if we don’t have the discipline of education and rules, this will just be another Bible conference.’” Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. and Towns focused on making the new college a respectable, credible school comparable to other Christian universities in America. They wanted it to thrive, grow and last for generations. The founders set the bar high for that first class of students, implementing a demerit system to establish a standard of excellence. “We told the students, ‘You gotta get up in the morning, make up your bed, make up your day and serve God,’” Towns said. Towns also talked about John 14:13 during that first chapel, sharing Jesus’ teaching that “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that I will do.” In response to this verse, Towns advised the students to pray about what God would have them do, then to do it with all their hearts, referenc-

ing Colossians 3:23. He encouraged students to follow the example of Ezra, who prepared his heart to know and obey the word of the Lord. Along with the school’s firm standard of discipline and educational excellence, it also cultivated the joy of fellowship and community. In addition to his role as a professor, Towns made

to scholarships made possible by donations and special offerings. “Jerry and I, we set a goal of 5,000 students. So, now that we have 100,000 students, you know that God answered our prayers,” Towns said. As years passed, Towns specifically praised God for the success of pastors who graduated from the school and

“So, after 50 years, what have I learned? ‘Faithful is He who calls you, who also will do it.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:24.” dr. elmer towns it his mission to plan some type of activity every weekend, ranging from opportunities to serve in the church to fun gatherings of believers. He recalled once buying an abundance of donuts and milk to feed all who showed up. “It was one big, happy family,” Towns said. The first year, LBC’s faculty included four former college presidents. Towns was one of them. These initial faculty members believed in the vision of Falwell — they were building a great college to train Champions for Christ who would build churches and change the world. The school did not have much in the early days, but the faculty stewarded well what God provided. They used Thomas Road’s Sunday school rooms as classrooms and purchased seven, two-bedroom, World War II era houses to serve as dormitories. Tuition was a mere $100 per semester, but not many students had to pay tuition due

had gone on to plant thriving churches. “When the school was about 25 years old, I had on a 3x5 index card a list of about 15 Liberty graduates who had planted churches with over 1,000 in attendance, and I would carry it with me,” Towns said. “I’d pull it out and I’d say, ‘This is what Liberty is all about: planting churches, reaching cities for Christ.’” Liberty’s humble beginnings were no obstacle to God’s power and faithfulness. The school has continued to grow and train Champions for Christ in the 50 years since Towns preached his first chapel sermon. “I was 38 years old when Liberty was founded, and now I’m 88 — 50 years later,” Towns said. “So, after 50 years, what have I learned? ‘Faithful is He who calls you, who also will do it.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:24 … I’ve learned that God is faithful. God called us to start a school, and He’s done it.” By Kacey Martin Liberty Champion

LIBERTY: THEN VS. NOW T Liberty Mountain, 1977

here was a time when all that could be seen on Liberty Mountain was undeveloped land. But unknown to many, Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. was covering the area in prayer for God’s blessing on the mountain. After 50 years of God’s faithfulness to grow the school he called Falwell to build, the once-barren campus has grown into an extraordinary masterpiece of creativity, hard work, persistence in prayer and, most importantly, the blessing of the Creator. From humble recreation rooms to Snowflex, Liberty University has prioritized growing a place where young adults will want to spend their college years maturing as individuals, cultivating lifelong friendships and honing their skills to live as Champions for Christ in a broken world.

I Treasure Island, 1977

50th Anniversary Special Edition

Liberty Mountain, 2019

Dorms

n the beginning, Liberty Baptist College (LBC) made use of whatever was available for dormitory space, including various houses purchased by collections taken up at Thomas Road Baptist Church; a former youth camp property, Treasure Island (19721979); and an old six-story hotel in downtown Lynchburg (now the Virginian), the Stewart Arms Hotel (1973-1980). With the student population growing so rapidly, dorms sometimes housed up to eight students per room. The 16 original Circle dorms were built (later replaced by the four current Circle dorms) as well as some of the dorms still in use today: apartment-style senior dorms (now the Quads) and the Hill. Now, student housing also includes the towering Commons dorms and the apartment-style East Campus dorms to meet a variety of student preferences.

C SAGA, 1983

Campus

Commons 1, 2021

Dining

ampus dining has undergone several significant changes over the years. In the early days, students enjoyed meals at the Hotel or on the Island. Later, students ate in the on campus dining hall jokingly called the “SAGA,” standing for Soviet’s Attempt to Gag America. This dining hall was replaced by the Reber-Thomas Dining Hall in 1992, now affectionately known as the “Rot,” where students enjoy an even greater variety of cuisines that serves an array of differing backgrounds and palates. This dining facility also hosts dining events such as the Reber-Thomas Thanksgiving meal and Taste of Nations. At the time of this publication, construction is underway for a new Reber-Thomas Dining facility with a completion date of spring 2023.

Reber-Thomas Dining Hall, 2017 5

50 YEARS OF MEMORIES

Students enjoyed carnival rides, performances by FLAME and Aaron Cole and other attractions at the Block Party held Aug. 28, 2021.

Photo By KJ Jugar

Ed Hindson, founding dean of the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, taught a class in the former Brookville High School in January 1976. Photo By Les Schofer

The Expressway Cafe was a coffee and socializing spot for students in 1995.

The Liberty University Bookstore, shot in 1987, was located on the first floor of DeMoss Hall and provided grocery shopping options for students.

Ernie Rogers, who played a key role launching the aviation program, stood with a student in 2003.

A student worships during Convocation Sept. 17, 2021.

Photo By KJ Jugar

Liberty Champion

Hall leadership welcomed new students to the Hill residential dorms Aug. 18, 2021. Photo By Andrew Snyder

John Borek, president of Liberty 19972004, and Danny Lovett rode motorcycles through the pedestrian tunnel May 6, 2004. Photo By Les Schofer Students participated in the 1995 Scaremare, a Halloween and evangelistic event held since 1972.

Harold Willmington (left), Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. (center) and Dr. A. Pierre Guillermin (right) prepared for the 1975 Commencement. Photo By Bob Duval

Mark Hine, senior vice president of student affairs, and wife Toy led a group of motorcycles in the Homecoming Parade Oct. 14, 2006. Photo By Colt Freeman

50th Anniversary Special Edition

Students enjoyed Libertyfest in the parking lot of DeMoss Hall Sept. 13, 1986.

A student studied in the library, 1980. 7

SPIRITUAL HEROES AT LIBERTY Dwayne Carson

he first time he met Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr., Dwayne Carson held an eightpack of beer in his hand. That meeting happened in a convenience store on Fort Avenue where Carson and some friends had stopped to buy alcohol. Growing up in Amherst County, Virginia, Carson didn’t care much for Falwell or Liberty Baptist College. Carson feared Falwell would scold him for his lifestyle, but instead, Falwell shook his hand. To his surprise, “he was nice,” Carson said. Carson, who served as one of Liberty’s campus pastors from August 1988 to February 2011, as well as the vice president of spiritual development from 2009 to 2011, had the opportunity to help build and shape Liberty’s campus ministry. Carson’s spiritual journey had been one of rebellion, attending Baptist church on and off again through his teens years, until a 12-year-old girl approached him at a K-Mart and said she missed seeing him at church. This conversation began the domi-

Dr. Ed Dobson

ords like “faith” and “great” had a different sound when they were spoken from Dr. Eddie Dobson’s pulpit. Audiences smiled as his Irish heritage surfaced in his enunciation of those words. For 14 years, Dobson, along with his deep faith and comical accent, were a staple on Liberty’s campus. Dobson came to Liberty to serve as dean of men in 1973 before going on to work in many roles, including campus pastor, vice president for student life, professor of New Testament Survey, editor of the Fundamentalist

no effect: he returned to church, felt called to preach and chose to attend Criswell Bible College in Dallas, Texas, where he would eventually come to his knees and fully surrender his life to Christ. While at Criswell Bible College, Carson

Joel Coleman | Liberty Photography

PROGRESS — Dwayne Carson was integral to developing Liberty’s rich spiritual ministry.

received a booklet in the mail that read, “You can change your world by attending Liberty Baptist College.” This moved Carson, and he transferred to Liberty in 1984. Within a week, he was asked to serve as a prayer leader on Dorm 18-1.

Journal and founder and coach of the soccer program. As an integral part of the administration team, Dobson supported Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. through his work at Liberty University, the ministry of Thomas Road Baptist Church and the Moral Majority. Students loved Dobson for his preaching style and compassionate spirit. To show their appreciation, one dorm put together a sports car from a kit as a gift. Dobson proudly drove the sports car all around campus. He left Liberty in 1987 to be the pastor of Calvary Church near Detroit where he served until he was forced to retire because of ALS in 2000. Ever the warrior, Dobson fought the disease

He wrote down four principles to guide him in this ministry: “I should love them. I should pray for them. I should pray with them. I should start discipling them.” Carson continued working in student leadership as a resident assistant (RA) for two years and as a resident director (RD). During a meeting with Falwell to discuss potential roles for him at Thomas Road Baptist Church, Falwell explained that he wanted to hire two pastors — asking Carson if he would be willing to work under them until he graduated from seminary. Carson accepted with the notion of eventually going on to pastor a church. To Carson’s surprise, however, a few weeks later, he received a call from Rob Jackson. Jackson, who Carson had worked under as an RD and was then serving as assistant dean of men, informed Carson that Falwell had, in fact, hired two campus pastors: Jackson and Carson. “It was the opportunity of a lifetime to be involved with Dr. Falwell and be involved with Liberty and Thomas Road,” Carson said. Still unsure exactly what his role would look like, Carson received a 14-item list

until his death in 2015, leaving behind a legacy of upholding Christian values and showing compassion to others. His wife, Lorna Dobson remembered that he always “stuck to the Bible” and enjoyed “respecting and listening to other people’s stories and needs.” He knew that being a pastor provided him the opportunity to have a profound impact on people’s lives, like other pastors had impacted him. “(Ed) loved seeing people’s lives changed,” Lorna Dobson said. “He had a way of connecting with people, of making a sermon relate to them personally.” By Ava Bear

of duties. Number 14 read, “Anything Dr. Falwell needs.” Together, Jackson and Carson oversaw chapel, the Spiritual Life Directors, prayer leaders, counseling and church services. The duo chose three words to encapsulate their duties as campus pastors: minister, mentor and mobilize the students. To guide the prayer ministry, Carson implemented his four objectives from his time as a prayer leader: every student would be loved, prayed for daily, prayed with at least once weekly and have the opportunity to be discipled. He reduced the maximum number of students in a prayer group from 10 to six and, later, to five. Carson treasures the stories he receives from students now ministering to others through summer camps, churches and pastoral leadership. “At 60 years of age, more than what I enjoyed as a campus pastor, it’s today – hearing about students who we discipled, discipling,” Carson said. “I have no greater joy,” he said, referencing 3 John 1:4.

By Renee Farmer

Bob DeVaul | Liberty Photography

IMPACT — Dr. Ed Dobson left a lasting legacy in every area of Liberty where he served.

Liberty Champion

Tim Lee

rowing up as the son of a pastor, Tim Lee was no stranger to the Gospel and accepted Christ at the age of 10. But as he got older, Lee slowly strayed from the faith in pursuit of worldly pleasures. God finally got a hold of his life in one of the most unlikely places: a battlefield in South Vietnam. While serving as a Marine in 1971, Lee lost both of his legs when he stepped on a 60-pound land mine. Lying on the ground in excruciating pain, Lee decided to mend his relationship with his creator. He promised God that if he miraculously survived the accident, he would offer his life as a living sacrifice for Him.

“What little suffering and pain I go through pales in comparison to what eternity has for me and what God has for me in heaven,” Lee said. “I want to spend my life for Him, and make it count, and to see people come to Him and see lives changed. That’s why my interest in Liberty University remains strong and passionate—I believe it’s a place where lives are changed for Christ.” Lee first became involved with Liberty when Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. asked him to preach at Thomas Road Baptist Church in the 1980s. Then, in 1991, Falwell asked Lee to serve on Liberty’s Board of Trustees. He now serves as chairman of the board. Lee’s time at Liberty allowed his relationship with Falwell to blossom into a strong friendship.

“I want to spend my life for Him and to make it count and to see people come to Him and see lives changed. That’s why I’ve stayed interested in Liberty University. I believe it’s a place where lives are changed for Christ.” tim lee Lee credits the transformation of his heart as the reason why he is still alive today. “If I had hardened my heart, if I hadn’t gotten right with God, I think I would have died,” Lee said. Since his time in the military, Lee has used the loss of his legs to share the love of Christ with others. He has spent the last 44 years as an evangelist, visiting all 50 states as well as many foreign countries to share his testimony of redemption. He and his wife, Connie, have three children and six grandchildren. Fifty years have passed since the explosion. Lee continues to deal with the daily trials that come with being in a wheelchair. Yet, despite all of the discomfort, Lee refuses to let his faith waver and continues to serve God as a living sacrifice.

50th Anniversary Special Edition

“[Falwell] was a fun guy to be around,” Lee said. “We had a lot of great times together. He was a giant to me. He was like a hero. Not like this world looks at heroes, but he really looked like a true biblical hero to me in the way he lived his life and the way that he believed God was going to build this university.” To Lee, Falwell served as a testimony of the power of God, and it impacted his faith, especially in relation to the founding of Liberty University. Where others saw an empty plot of land, Falwell saw a university. “God showed him by faith what could happen on that mountain,” Lee said. “There was nothing, and yet 50 years later we see the miracle. There was no money, but he had a dream — he could look on

Ellie Richardson| Liberty Photography

EVANGELIST — Tim Lee, a Vietnam War veteran who has served on Liberty’s Board of Trustees since 1991, spoke at Convocation Nov. 13, 2019.

that mountain and see these buildings and, more importantly, these students. There’s nothing like this place in the world.” Even after Falwell’s death, Lee continues to see Falwell’s legacy grow through the university as it continues its mission of Training Champions for Christ.

“When you come to Liberty University, you’re not going to be there very long before you hear somebody telling you the Gospel and telling you how your life can be changed for the Gospel,” Lee said. By Christian Shields

Liberty University Timeline: A Faithful Journey

October Presidential candidate Ronald Regan visited campus one month before he was elected president.

September The school’s second year brought 484 students who were housed in camping shacks on Treasure Island.

May 22 Dr. K. Harold Smith delivered the first commencement address. Fall Enrollment surpassed 1,000 students

1972 1974

December 17 LBC became the first independent, fundamental, separatist, local-church affiliated college in the U.S. with regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges.

Dr. Falwell, along with 70 students, traveled to 150 cities for the “I Love America” campaign.

August Liberty held its first chapel service on the new campus in a 3,000-seat tent.

1976

1978 1980

1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1983 January At a Wednesday evening service at Thomas Road Baptist Church Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. announced his plan to establish a Christian university. September 13 Lynchburg Baptist College (LBC) opened with154 students.

Fall Lynchburg Baptist Theological Seminary opened.

July 13 The school was renamed Liberty Baptist College and changed its colors from green and gold to red, white and blue to embody the college’s goal of positively influencing the nation’s morality on the eve of the bicentennial.

January 21 Over 2,500 students, faculty and administration attended a prayer meeting on Liberty Mountain. In 8 inches of snow, they sang “I Want This Mountain” in faith that God would relieve the school’s debt and allow it to begin building a campus on the land. March 1 After receiving over $2.5 million during February, LBC’s debt was eliminated and the building program began.

March 30 The 3000-seat Multi-Purpose Center, used for chapel services, Bible classes and sporting events, was dedicated.

Fall The student-run newspaper The Liberty Champion began publishing, giving students hands-on experience as part of the new Department of Journalism.

May 6 Just before commencement Dr. Falwell announced the school’s new name: Liberty University. The Liberty University School of Life-Long Learning (LUSLLL), the predecessor for Liberty Online, began offering accredited university degrees at home. The 125,000-square-foot Arthur S. DeMoss Learning Center was built and named in honor of a friend and advisor of Dr. Falwell.

May 12 President George Bush delivered the first commencement address in the new Liberty University Stadium, built with funds donated by Art and Angela Williams. The first doctorate degree, a doctor of ministry degree, was also awarded. October 22 The 10,000-seat Vines Center Coliseum opened with funds also donated by Art and Angela Williams.

Spring The “Information Highway” brought internet to Liberty’s campus for the first time.

May 15 Dr. Falwell died suddenly in his office. Falwell’s son Jerry Falwell Jr. became chancellor and president. Falwell’s life insurance allowed the university to pay off the rest of its debt.

February The tallest building on campus, the 275-foottall Rawlings School of Divinity, opened. May 19 Former President Jimmy Carter delivered the commencement address, and the first class from the College of Osteopathic Medicine graduated.

‘19-’20 Academic Year Liberty enrollment surpassed 100,000 students. August Dr. Jerry Prevo was appointed president of Liberty University.

1985 1990 1995 2007 2018 2020 1987

Scandals involving Christian television ministry brought a 25% reduction in Old Time Gospel Hour and Liberty University revenue. Years of financial hardships would follow, including a $110 million debt in 1990.

1992 2004 2017 Spring Students and faculty gathered to pray for God’s providence around the partially completed dining hall where construction had been halted because of finances. Local businessmen Jimmy Thomas Sr. and Dan Reber donated $1.4 million, allowing construction to be completed in time for the fall semester.

April 24 The title for the113-acre, 888,000-square-foot Ericsson complex, which would become Green Hall, was deeded to the university by Hobby Lobby.

May 13 President Donald Trump delivered the class of 2017 commencement address.

2019

August The Liberty University School of Business opened.

August 13 Liberty University School of Law opened.

Sports history timeline on page 14

A JOYFUL NOISE: WORSHIP AT LU

Liberty Photo Archives HISTORIC — Students performed during the 1976 “I Love America” campaign.

EARLY MUSIC MINISTRY

usic has held deep roots at Liberty University since 1971. “There are two ways to reach young people,’’ Dr. Jerry Falwell, Sr. said. ‘’Sports and music.’’ During the early days, music was an integral part of the school’s fundraising efforts. The first LBC Chorale was born the same year as the school and regularly performed on Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr.’s Old Time Gospel Hour. In 1975, the Chorale toured with Falwell on a support-raising journey. Again, in 1976, the LBC Choral Road Team traveled to over 300 churches in just 11 months. Another important musical moment was the “I Love America” tour, a campaign centered around rally-

ing America for the cause of Christ. In a dazzle of red, white and blue, 70 students traveled with Falwell to 150 cities around the country performing Don Wyrtzen’s musical, “I Love America,” in commemoration of the nation’s bicentennial in 1976. A few years later, Liberty’s Spirit of the Mountain Marching Band was chosen as one of 12 bands scheduled to perform at the 1983 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. These early notable events and others laid the groundwork for Liberty’s longstanding prioritization of music as a means for reaching young people and the world for the cause of Christ. By Jacqueline Hale

ince 2015, the heart of music ministry at Liberty has been the Worship Collective. That year, former Campus Pastor David Nasser combined the campus’ numerous worship groups into a main group of 12-13 individuals who would rotate in leading worship for core events such as Convocation and Campus Community. However, as Liberty grew, so did the Collective. It now has about 50-70 members per year, from bassists and guitarists to pianists and vocalists who hail from a variety of backgrounds and places. For Executive Director Kevin Huguley, a bigger group means that the Collective’s mission — to glorify God through music and worship — can take precedence. “So much of the heartbeat of our department was like, ‘we don’t want to make it about the persons, right?’” Huguley said. “We don’t want to highlight an individual. We kind of want to be more faceless, you know, and we want to make it about peers … leading peers.” Huguley stepped into his role as executive director in 2018. Huguley and Nasser had planted a church together in Birmingham, Alabama. Huguley said that he felt called to move to Lynchburg to get

involved with the Collective. “I felt like there was just a calling from God on my life to go. (I thought), ‘man, I need to be obedient to … really invest my life into the next generation of worship leaders,’” Huguley said. Rachel Anderson, a Liberty senior and vocalist on the Collective said that one of her favorite parts about being on the Collective is the opportunity to encourage her peers through worship. “The truth of God’s Word never returns void,” Anderson said. “And so, being able to sing that over people is just super special.” In addition to leading campus worship, the Collective travels around the country to perform at conferences and retreats. Even through the fast-paced, full weekly schedules and other endeavors, the Collective’s focus is always Christ. “We do believe our vision comes down from the vision that God gave this founder (Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr.), so we are to raise Champions for Christ,” Huguley said. “We utilize music and the gift of music to then celebrate Jesus around the globe.”

By Jordan Smith

Liberty Photo Archives JOY — The Collective leads students in worship at Convocation and Campus Community.

Liberty Champion

MUSICAL ROOTS AT LIBERTY T

hroughout its history, Liberty University has witnessed a tremendous number of individuals go on to impact the world in extraordinary ways after graduation. Some of these alumni have become known in the public eye as being world-changers for Christ, and this extends to the world of music as well. These and other incredibly gifted individuals have pursued their dreams of glorifying God through the talents and abilities He created them with. Several notable figures in the Christian music industry, such as Meredith Andrews, Michael Tait and Toby Mac, got their start while obtaining a college education from Liberty and have since become pioneers in their sphere. Such individuals serve as a prime example of using their gifts to give God glory, whether in a small local setting or on a stage for all the world to see the bright light that shines through them.

By Kacey Martin 50th Anniversary Special Edition

Meredith Andrews

Just before coming to Liberty in the early 2000s, Meredith Andrews felt a calling to spend her life using her musical gifts to serve God. Andrews grew up singing — beginning at the young age of 6 years old — but it wasn’t until she was an older teenager that Andrews knew she was meant to be a singer-songwriter for the glory of God. During her time at Liberty, where she studied family and child development, Andrews served in what was then known as Campus Praise Band, a root of the current Liberty Worship Collective, and enjoyed leading worship among her peer group of college students. After her graduation from Liberty in 2005, Andrews worked as a worship leader at Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago and established music connections in Nashville, where she met her husband. In the ensuing flurry of music awards, tours, albums and guest appearances, Andrews has prioritized balancing her music career with her family life, while also returning on occasion to Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty University, where her heart for ministry was cultivated.

Michael Tait

Hoping to appeal to the up-and-coming generation, Michael Tait has seen and implemented the value in expanding the musical scope of contemporary Christian music. Tait and Toby McKeehan (Toby Mac) met while living in Dorm 8, and the rest was history. It was in that dorm that the two friends began writing songs together and formed the band DC Talk along with Kevin Max. DC Talk became a special part of campus life at Liberty in a musical sense, eventually launching the friends into successful music careers that would include numerous collaborations with other Christian music artists and extraordinary opportunities to share the love of Jesus with the world. Tait became the lead vocalist of the Newsboys in 2009, an influential group whose hit song “God’s Not Dead” was the namesake for the 2014 film featuring a cameo appearance of the Newsboys. Even in the whirlwind of a successful career, however, Tait has a special affection for the university where his passion for sharing Christ through the gift of music first began. He has returned to perform for students on several occasions in events such as Liberty’s Convocation and College for a Weekend.

Toby Mac

While he originally had no inclination to pursue a career in music, Toby McKeehan (Toby Mac) has become a top name in contemporary Christian music. McKeehan graduated from Liberty in 1988, where he studied political science, grew spiritually and took ownership of his faith. There, McKeehan met Kevin Max and Michael Tait, who shared his passion for music, and they formed the groundbreaking contemporary Christian band DC Talk before venturing out in their own solo acts, as Toby Mac did, or joining other groups, such as the Newsboys (Tait) and Audio Adrenaline (Max). McKeehan’s music endeavors were especially momentous, pushing the limits of the Christian music world where rap and hip hop had no solid footing at the time. According to McKeehan, however, Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. was supportive of his efforts to extend the message of Christianity to the rap and hip hop music genres. Since his Liberty days, McKeehan has won Grammy awards and made appearances at Liberty’s Convocation and College for a Weekend.

FAN THE FLAMES: LIBERTY SPORTS HOCKEY

From playing at an ice rink an hour’s drive away from Liberty University to holding home games on campus in a packed-out arena, the Liberty hockey program has grown to great heights. Hockey has become one of the standout sports at Liberty. There are five Liberty hockey teams, and they all play in the same arena, the LaHaye Ice Center. Liberty’s first hockey team was created by a group of college students who wanted to put together an official men’s hockey team for the school. Most of the students who helped had skating experience and wanted to represent their school by playing the sport they loved. In 1984, the first Liberty team formed, but they only played pickup games with other colleges. A year later, Liberty found its first hockey head coach, current Rawlings School of Divinity professor Dr. Gary Habermas. Habermas was crucial for the hockey team’s early success. With Habermas, the hockey team began playing official games against other colleges, and the team got off to a roaring start with 18 wins and only two losses in its inaugural season (1985/86), something Habermas attributed to the players’ fierce desire to play hockey. Since there was no ice rink on Liberty’s campus, the team traveled to Roanoke, Virginia, to practice and played its home games at multiple ice rinks throughout the city. Much of this was done late at night when the rinks were available. Students were given special permission to be out past curfew to attend the games. Habermas coached the team for nine years and led the Flames to three national tournaments. The hockey team grew in popularity and in 2005, Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. announced that a new ice center would be built on campus. Donations, primarily from Drs. Tim and Beverly LaHaye, gave Liberty the funds to complete the LaHaye Ice Center on the north side of campus. Head Coach Kirk Handy, who has coached the

team since 2002, was enthusiastic when he found out Liberty would have an on-campus arena. “We received the call that we (were) going to build an ice rink on campus in 2005, and for us, I think that was the moment where I really felt like there is something really special that’s going on here with our program,” Handy said. When the arena opened, Handy transitioned the team from ACHA Division II to DI for the 06-07 season. Since then, the arena has undergone one major renovation in 2014 to increase seating capacity and office space. The LaHaye Ice Center currently serves as a headquarters for several club sports with educational and medical amenities.

TIMELINE 1973

August Liberty football program began

2005

March Women’s basketball reached Sweet 16

2006

January LaHaye Ice Center grand opening

2010

Dal Gustafson | File Photo

TEAM — Liberty’s first hockey team won 18 of 20 games in its inaugural season.

Liberty’s hockey programs have gained national recognition for many years. Today, Liberty has three divisions for men’s hockey and two for women’s hockey. The men’s DI team has captured 13 conference championship titles (though they became an independent program in the summer of 2021), and the women’s DI hockey team has won three national championships in a row (not including the 2020 playoffs which were canceled due to COVID-19). LaHaye Ice Center continues to host packed out games, indicating that hockey will be a staple at Liberty for a long, long time. By Cameron Satterthwaite II

May Sam Chelanga set NCAA 10000m record 27:08

2018

September Liberty football’s first FBS game

2021

November Field hockey reached national championship

FOOTBALL

er Dr. Jerry Falwell, Sr. envisioned a top football program. “It’s our plan to have our athletic proor all its history, Liberty football had gram comparable to USC, to Notre Dame, been good — not incredible, not bad, to Alabama, to anybody in town,” Falwell but good. Sr. said in 1975, back when the team had For Liberty’s first nine years, the Flames only existed for three seasons. were NAIA independents. This was folOn Feb. 16, 2017, the NCAA granted lowed by seven years at the DII level be- Liberty a waiver to reclassify to FBS, and fore the Flames soared to division I-AA In their first FBS season in 2018, the Flames (now FCS). The Flames’ stay in FCS lasted finished 6-6. There were positives and 29 years, longer than the administration negatives: Liberty obliterated the favored had hoped. Old Dominion 52-10 in its first game at From Liberty’s inception, school found- the FBS level. But Liberty’s last away game of the season was not so pretty – the Flames got hammered 53-0 against Auburn. And then head coach Turner Gill stepped down. Things looked a little directionless until Hugh Freeze was announced as Liberty’s new head coach. Liberty hoped that Freeze would result in Andrew Snyder | Liberty Photography a strong, sustainable program. TARGET — Demario Douglas led all LU receivers in receptions (52) Freeze’s first year and yardage (701 yards) in the 2021 season.

looked to be set to go, but Freeze suffered a potentially life-threatening staph infection. Ultimately, Freeze had to coach from a hospital bed up in the tower of the stadium for the first game, in which No. 25 Syracuse defeated the Flames 24-0. The Flames got back on track however, finishing 8-5 and defeating Georgia Southern in the Cure Bowl, Liberty’s first trophy as an FBS unit. The COVID-19 pandemic drastically altered the 2020 season. Little to no fans being able to attend games changed the dynamic. Nevertheless, Liberty came out ready to go, and after starting 4-0, Liberty was given its first AP Poll top-25 ranking in program history. Situated at 25, Liberty traveled to Blacksburg to face Virginia Tech. The game was tight, but kicker Alex Barbir drilled a 51-yard kick in the closing seconds of the contest to give Liberty a dramatic victory. Sitting at 9-1, Liberty was selected for its second bowl game in two seasons of eligibility. This time Liberty faced undefeated No. 9 Coastal Carolina. In overtime, senior Elijah Clarke swatted Coastal’s kick to give Liberty the win. The Flames finished the season 10-1 and came in 17th on the AP Poll to close the year.

FIELD HOCKEY

Maryland, Liberty led most of the game before the Terrapins tied it up minutes before the end of regulation. A green card in overtime left the Lady Flames down a player, but the defense held on, and in the 79th minute Jill Bolton’s pass to Vaanhold resulted in the game-winner. Ultimately, the Lady Flames lost 2-0 to Northwestern in the National Championship. This season proved to the team, and to all of Liberty, that the Flames had heart. Head coach Nikki Parsley-Blocker reflected on what peo-

o team in Liberty sports history had ever reached the final championship at the NCAA DI level – until November 21, 2021. A spirited 2-1 win over the Old Dominion in the last game of the regular season propelled Liberty to the No. 1 seed in the Big East Tournament, also giving Liberty its first Big East regular season title. In the Big East tournament championship, Liberty and UConn found

themselves locked in a grudge match, with senior forward Jill Bolton’s goal lifting Liberty to the win and Liberty’s first conference championship since the Lady Flames were members of the now-defunct NorPac conference. The Lady Flames’ contest came against No. 11 Saint Joseph’s. Charlotte Vaanhold and Martuzian’s goals gave Liberty the 2-0 win over the Hawks, propelling them to the quarterfinals.

50th Anniversary Special Edition

While Liberty led at halftime, two goals from No. 1 seed Rutgers in the third quarter left the Flames trailing. With minutes to go, Bolton broke through, equalizing off the penalty corner. Overtime went into penalty strokes, and after a heart stopping affair, Vaanhold’s score gave the Flames the historic win. It was the first time any Liberty team had taken down a No. 1 seed at the NCAA DI level and the first time any Liberty team found itself in the final four. In the semifinals, facing

With fans back in the stands for the 2021 season, Liberty kept up its 2020 form, starting 7-2. A three-game skid to close the regular season, however, put the Flames in a tricky spot. The Flames found themselves in another bowl game, but fans wondered if the team could rebound? Short answer, yes. The Flames demolished Eastern Michigan 56-20, and Liberty became the second team in NCAA history to win three bowl games in their first three years of FBS eligibility. The Flames also secured their future. Liberty locked down Hugh Freeze to a mega-extension worth around $4 million a year. The athletics administration was also able to secure a conference place, and Liberty will join a new-look Conference USA in 2023. Time will tell if it’s a short stop or a long stay in CUSA, but the Flames seem to be continuing their upward trajectory. Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr.’s vision may yet come true.

By Luke Randle

ple should take away from the season. “I know we didn’t win the national championship, but to even make it here is incredible,” Parsley-Blocker said. “I just am going to

always remember it as the first time we were here with a really special group of student athletes.”

By Luke Randle

Brent Tyrrell | The Liberty Champion

IMPACT — Freshman Martu Cian made 23 appearances and three starts, notching 13 points on the season.

A HEART FOR SERVICE

Reflecting on 50 years of global and local service at Liberty University

aul instructs believers in Galatians 5:13: “Serve one another in love.” For the past 50 years, Liberty University has devoted countless time and resources to putting this verse into practice. Despite changes in leadership, organization and size, Liberty has worked together with students throughout its history to impact the local community and the world for Christ. The university upholds its mission of Training Champions for Christ not only in the workforce, but also in ministry through an abundance of departments, programs and events dedicated to outreach. Several departments in particular have the responsibility of coordinating the university’s outreach efforts. LU Send organizes overseas travel, study abroad programs and international internships. Trips through LU Send include educational, spiritual and service components to provide students a chance to learn

and give back to their new communities. LU Send was born out of the Center for Global Engagement and the Office of International Education and Internships in 2015. Since its inception, the department now boasts 370 programs and 6,272 travelers to 113 countries, according to LU Send Executive Director David Welch. Welch said that Israel is the most popular destination among students. The department sends several trips there each year and maintains a subsidized study abroad and internship program with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. As students travel to other countries, they experience the impact of sharing their faith with people from different cultures. “I had to pursue faith independently in a place where most people were not Christian and where instruction was not from a Christian worldview,” Jacob White, who traveled to Israel, told LU Send. “I had opportunities to share and develop in my

KJ Jugar | Liberty Photography

SERVE — Students participate in volunteer-based programs like Serve Lynchburg in cleanup efforts and even storm restoration.

faith and support from a Bible study group and local church.” Another initiative, G5, focuses outreach efforts on a selected country. Launched in 2017, G5 references the characteristics of

– Christian service was limited to serving at a local church. It was then that Weider sought permission to expand CSER to include nonprofits in the Lynchburg area. “How can we be salt and light if we’re

“What we do isn’t to make Liberty University look Christian to the world. What we do is intended to help provide a student with a liberal arts, evangelical Christian education.” lew weider Christ described in Galatians 5. Liberty students have served in Rwanda, Spain and Columbia as part of the G5 initiative. LU Serve also coordinates a majority of the university’s outreach efforts. Overseeing programs like Global Focus Week, Serve Lynchburg and CSER, the department exists to develop Champions for Christ through local, domestic and international engagement opportunities, according to its website. While Liberty has been serving the community for 50 years, LU Serve as an organization has only existed for five years. Three campus organizations – Center for Global Engagement, Center for Christian Community Service and Center for Ministry Training – combined under former campus pastor David Nasser to create LU Serve. A major outreach avenue for LU Serve is CSER, Liberty’s community service graduation requirement. The Christian service requirement at Liberty has been around since the 1970s. Even before it was a formalized program, students served at Thomas Road Baptist Church. Up until 1985 – the year Weider graduated from Liberty and began working at LU Serve

not rubbing shoulders with our community?” Weider said. Students over the years have developed skills through CSER to help them find and keep a career, including interpersonal communication skills, respect for authority and understanding how a nonprofit organization works. Some even change their major because of their CSER experiences, while others see their life callings affirmed by their CSER experiences. “What we do isn’t to make Liberty University look Christian to the world,” Weider said. “What we do is intended to help provide a student with a liberal arts, evangelical Christian education.” Student outreach through CSER has grown up with Liberty. According to Weider, students now serve around 3,000 different organizations around the community and the world each year. Weider recognizes that the impact of service is life-changing for everyone involved – students, faculty, staff and community partners. “Only in eternity will we know the true impact,” Weider said. By Renee Farmer

Liberty Champion

STORIES OF SERVICE A DEGREE WITH A MISSION

woman walked into the clinic carrying one child in her arms and guiding the other beside her. Then-15-year-old Jamie Lynne Lois Balugo explained to her how often she should take her new prescription. Grasping the medication she had traveled miles to get, the woman locked eyes with Balugo and, with unmatched gratitude, replied with a simple, “Thank you, doctor.” Balugo, now a senior biomedical science major at Liberty and Resident Shepherd, cited this experience as the moment she chose to pursue medicine. Bagulo’s mother provides free clinical

SERVING AT FT. PICKETT

olunteers are typically tasked with unloading trucks or distributing supplies, but Liberty volunteers aiding Afghan refugees at Fort Pickett had a more important job: extending a welcoming hand and a warm smile. Throughout the fall 2021 semester, LU Serve sent teams to the Virginia Army base in Blackstone, Virginia, that had opened its housing arrangements to the refugees at the end of August. On Sept. 23, 2021, the first team loaded a bus at 7 a.m. filled with 26 students eager to serve. When the students arrived, they were greeted by the orienta-

50th Anniversary Special Edition

services to people all over the Philippines, making medical missions a core aspect of her youth. Balugo began helping in the clinic as a child by washing the dental instruments. By age 13, she was helping in the pharmacy, which allowed her to be fully immersed in a medical environment and sparked the passion she now has for medicine. “Being in the ministry made me feel like I could see the fruit of what [God] has sown, and I just feel like myself when I am serving people,” Balugo said. Although Liberty was not originally on Balugo’s radar when she graduated high school, she agreed to tour campus reluctantly following a family friend’s suggestion. Surprisingly, the moment Balugo stepped out of her car onto Liberty’s

tion team, who briefed the group on cultural differences. “(The students) learn some do’s and don’ts, gestures we think would be perfectly fine are not appropriate,” LU Serve Executive Director Lew Weider said. Even before departure, LU Serve Now leaders stressed the

Photo Provided

CALLING — Jamie Lynne Lois Bagulo has wanted to serve as a doctor since age 15.

campus, she noticed the atmosphere was different from what she had expected. Even the same Bible verse her pastor preached on the weekend be-

importance of recognizing the societal and cultural differences and making sure Liberty’s team was as welcoming as possible. “(The refugees) have already been displaced; they’ve left everything they know with just the clothes on their back,” Weider said. “We have to give good

Cpl. Eric Ramirez| U.S. Marine Corps

FUN — The Liberty Men’s Volleyball team spent a day with the refugees.

fore she visited was on the wall of the Hancock Welcome Center, and everything clicked into place for her. While becoming a doctor is her life passion, Balugo recognizes the tremendous difficulty of her major and recalls many occasions when she felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of the goal she is working towards. In moments when it feels impossible, Balugo holds onto the peace she receives from God when remembering the woman in the Philippines who first called her “doctor.” “Whenever the fire runs out, I always think about that woman,” Balugo said. “There was something special about that interaction, and Jesus always brings me back to that ‘Thank you, doctor.’” By Nadia Vires

cultural intelligence training to everyone who goes because this is a window of opportunity that could get shut down.” According to LU Serve volunteer Devin Carter, after the briefing, the team was directed towards two large tents which served as multipurpose centers for the refugees. The team was split into males and females and asked to interact with the people there. One of the biggest opportunities for service came through playing with the children at the base. For hours, the students played basketball, volleyball and drew in coloring books with the Afghan children. The crew stayed in the tents for about five hours, working through a language barrier to show hospitality and build relationships. “They’re telling us to leave, so

we’re getting up, and I have a little boy who grabs my hand,” Carter said. “I’m walking out the door and he looks up at me and said, ‘So you are my friend?’ You can’t really prepare for how that makes you feel.” Under Campus Pastor Jonathan Falwell’s leadership, Liberty partnered with Thomas Road Baptist Church to send both supplies and people to the refugees at Fort Pickett. “If I had a theme verse for what we’re going to do it would be 1 Peter 3.15 — ‘But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,’” Weider said.

By Joshua Quigg

ANSWERED PRAYERS I

JEN BARRICK

n an instant, a night of sweet celebration turned to sustained sorrow for the Barrick family after a drunk driver crashed into them as they headed home after a Wednesday night church service. Jen Barrick, who was 15 at the time, had just performed at the Thomas Road Baptist Church evening service with her high school choir Nov. 5, 2006. Her mother had invited guests from out of town and friends in their community to come over to their home afterwards to celebrate the milestone. Honor turned to horror quickly, though, as the Barricks never made it home that night. Andy, Linda, Jen and Josh Barrick were traveling on Waterlick Road on their way back to their house when a drunk driver, traveling 80 mph without headlights on, struck the family van. The impact of the accident left the drunk driver’s engine in the middle of the road and the Barrick family in critical condition. “Jen was a Glasgow three (coma, the deepest level) at the car wreck, and dead people are a three, and no

one thought she would live through the night,” Linda said. By the end of the night, all four members of the family had been taken by helicopter to three different hospitals. The worries for their family members only added to the fear of the night. Jen’s grandfather Ed Hindson, dean emeritus in the School of Divinity at Liberty, remembered Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. calling the Hindsons personally to ask if they were already at the scene of the accident and informed them that Linda and Jen were being taken to a hospital in Lynchburg. “My wife took the call, and she couldn’t talk to him. As soon as she heard his voice, she knew it wasn’t good, so she handed me the phone,” Hindson said. Falwell prayed with 11-year-old Josh and Linda that night and even prayed over Jen for healing and a miracle. Hindson remembered an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness as he saw Jen lying in her hospital bed that first night. “I felt helpless. I think that was the first initial response. There’s nothing you can do. You can’t touch her. You can’t help her. You have to leave

Photo Provided

FAMILY — The automobile accident and Jen’s journey of recovery left a lifelong impression on the Barricks, bringing them closer to their community and igniting their ministry.

her in the hands of the doctors,” Hindson said. As impossible as it felt to live through at times, Hindson recalls Linda rallying people even from her hospital bed to pray for Jen and their family. Through holidays spent in the hospital and weeks without hearing her daughter’s voice, Linda had hope. The Liberty community and their church family at Thomas Road Baptist wrapped around the Barricks and did anything they could to help care for the family and make their recovery easier. Some even drove friends and family to the University of Virginia every day to see Jen when both Andy and Linda were in wheelchairs. Jen, due to a fractured skull and a severe brain injury, remained in a coma for five weeks. Linda remembered watching Jen struggle one night to fight against her feeding tube as pained moans left her mouth. The Barricks tried to calm her to no avail until, suddenly, Jen spoke. “One day, she starts talking to Jesus, and it is this uninjured voice, we can understand her. It sounds like the old Jen, and the only time we could understand her is when she was talking to God,” Linda said. The Barricks described Jen as being “in God’s throne room” at that time because it was as if she was never truly awake, nor asleep. Jen rolled in her hospital bed talking to God, asking for words to describe Him to other people. She often quoted Bible verses and sang worship songs, remembering every word, even when she couldn’t remember how to do simple math. Now 15 years after the accident, Jen and the entire family are leaps and bounds from where they were after the crash. While Jen’s brain injury will always be a physical part of her life, Jen speaks to crowds about the hope

she has in God and her family finds immense comfort in seeing the vibrant, joyous person she is now. “What we have seen, is in her brokenness, the Holy Spirit is not disabled, and the Holy Spirit helps her do things every day that she is not capable of,” Linda said. As the entire family healed both physically and emotionally over the years that followed, they found a way to share Jen’s desire to describe God to other people. It is the heart of their ministry. Jen prays over congregations and lives every day as a testimony to the power of prayer and hope that if God can do that for her, He can do anything for anyone. The family reaches countless people through their non-profit organization Hope Out Loud. Hope Out Loud focuses on sharing the miracles God has done for the Barricks and so many others. The family travels all over the country and plans to speak in Romania and Bolivia. Another way the Barricks showcase just how integral God has been in Jen’s healing is through a book Linda wrote in 2013 called “Miracle for Jen: A Tragic Accident, a Mother’s Desperate Prayer, and Heaven’s Extraordinary Answer.” The book details the true horror of the night of the accident and the weeks following but also explains how much healing and hope exists in their story. According to Linda Barrick, 21,000 people have made a salvation decision since Hope Out Loud began in August 2012. Linda encourages anyone interested in hearing about the miracles God is doing through their ministry to check out their website hopeoutloud.com or their YouTube channel of the same name. By Nadia Vires Liberty Champion

black Suburban. Andrews describes it as having a big train horn which he frequently heard as Falwell drove by. atrick Andrews walks Liberty’s Andrews remembered once when he campus with a contagious smile was 30 and living in an apartment and palpable excitement for life near campus, Falwell noticed him that he credits to almost losing that life walking, pulled his truck over and, in nearly three decades ago. a deep voice Andrews mimics with a Andrews climbed into the backseat smile, said, “Hop in!” of his friend’s car on March 24, 1994, “The most important thing Liberty and while riding along a road he had has done for me is show me that my been down countless times before, faith is not isolated to just me. There he was involved in a near-fatal car are thousands of other people who accident that left him in a coma for a share my faith. There is nothing like the month and a half. community of Liberty, and there will Although he miraculously never be anything like it,” Ancame out of the coma, Andrews’ drews said. family waited patiently for six Andrews now works in the weeks to hear him speak again Studio and Digital Arts De— a moment Andrews remempartment, acting as a drawing bers being confused by. model for classes and doing “I love to talk, but for six essentially anything professors weeks I said nothing. I didn’t reor faculty need, such as setting alize I wasn’t talking,” Andrews up displays or monitoring the said. “I suddenly had no undergallery. standing of why in the world Andrews remains beyond me saying anything was any grateful for the way God spared big deal.” his life all those years ago and That milestone stands out as chooses to remain positive evthe first of many as Andrews ery moment he gets the chance. began his almost four-year reHis gratitude transcends into the covery, undergoing physical, daily practices of using his voice occupational and speech therto say hello to everyone he sees apy first in Richmond, Virginia, and intentionally parking far and then back in his home city away from buildings so that he of Austin, Texas. can use the gift of walking. Andrews’ family told him that “I couldn’t walk for weeks founder and president of Libat all, and now I force myself erty Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. said to walk as much as I can. I just Liberty Photo Archives that Andrews would be able to laugh in the face of the devil,” LOVE — Patrick Andrews had a special bond with Liberty founder Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr., who made return to Liberty for free if and Andrews said. a tremendous impact on Andrews’s recovery from a tragic accident. when he was able. This promise Andrews says the campus gave Andrews a new lease on life as matic brain injury doesn’t float so well for the school he loved. Although he looks almost nothing like it used to he desperately missed his classmates in this world. Praise the Lord that God does not wear the shirt anymore, it re- when he was a student here in the and the school he considered home. chose to reacclimate me back into real mains one of the key ties he still feels ‘90s, but he recognizes that what Andrews admitted that there were life through Liberty,” Andrews said. to Falwell. Andrews is in the process makes Liberty Liberty is not the buildmoments during his recovery proAndrews was enrolled in classes at of writing a book about his recovery, ings, but the people. cess where he feared the people at the Liberty Bible Institute and remem- the title of which he pulled from one of “I will be a Liberty Flame until I die,” Liberty had forgotten about him in bers being excited to see Jerry Falwell Falwell’s famous quotes, “Never never Andrews said. his absence. Sr. speak every Wednesday at Con- never quit!” “It was a really unpleasant time. vocation. Andrews still thanks Falwell While he was alive, Falwell made it I wanted so badly to be with my for his ability to attend Liberty. a habit to drive around campus in his By Nadia Vires

PATRICK ANDREWS

50th Anniversary Special Edition

friends,” Andrews said. “Community is what Liberty is about, and to not be a part of this abundant community really was extremely hard.” In January 1998, Andrews finally returned to Lynchburg, and at 21 years old, he moved into the senior dorms where he would begin his 14year journey of getting a degree in communications. Though overjoyed to be back in Virginia, Andrews still encountered many difficulties as he settled back into “normal life.” “The naivety that accompanied me while I was recovering from this trau-

Andrews recalls opening a box of clothing given to the students at the Liberty Bible Institute and finding a blinding neon orange shirt among the clothes. He picked it out of the box and knew he had to wear it at Convocation so Falwell would be able to spot him from the stage. “Nobody could miss a person wearing that shirt,” Andrews said. “I’m a very outgoing person, so the orange and the outgoingness sort of gelled.” Andrews faithfully made his way to the front every Wednesday after Convocation and thanked Falwell

50 YEARS OF GROWTH

4 4 1

THEN vs. NOW

full-time faculty members in 1971.

degrees offered in 1971.

sport offered in 1971: basketball.

hours spent each day on buses to class when students lived on Treasure Island.

154 10

students in 1971.

countries and 49 states represented at Liberty in 1976.

2.7K 700 20 7K 98K 70

full and part-time faculty members employed.

total programs of study, from certificates to doctorals.

NCAA D1 athletic programs offered.

total acres and 177 buildings and structures on campus.

students in Fall 2021 in LUOA, LUO, residential, Law School and LU College of Osteopathic Medicine.

countries and 50 states represented at Liberty.