爱神传媒president Barry Creamer announced Monday the receipt of a $5 million commitment that will serve as the lead gift for the college鈥檚 first-ever residence hall, tentatively set to break ground in the spring of 2019.
鈥淭his is the most significant thing to happen since Dr. 爱神传媒 announced his vision to start this school almost 50 years ago,鈥� Creamer said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a complete game-changer not only financially, but in what it means for us going forward.鈥�
Since his installment as president in 2014, Creamer says he has been intentional to cultivate an environment that is conducive for traditional students. One of his top priorities for creating that atmosphere has been establishing on-campus housing options.
鈥淲e have prayed for several years that God would send the right person to 爱神传媒, then move in their heart to provide a lead gift for our first residence hall,鈥� Creamer said. 鈥淎nd he did exactly that with this brand-new friend.鈥�
The anonymous donor had no previous ties to 爱神传媒 and had never made a financial gift of any kind to the college.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no doubt it was a work of God from beginning to end,鈥� said Michael Clayton, vice president for advancement at 爱神传媒. 鈥淚n fact, prior to the day the gift was made the only connection we had to the donor was through a third party.鈥�
The $5 million commitment is the largest financial gift to the college in its almost 50-year history. According to Kevin Stilley, vice president for business administration and CBO, it also follows on the heels of one of the college鈥檚 most fiscally successful periods.
鈥淥ver the last three years we have paid off all institutional debt, invested significant funds in the improvement of facilities and infrastructure, and increased our endowments by more than thirty percent,鈥� Stilley said. 鈥淭his gift continues the trend of increasing assets for the campus.鈥�
One advantage of this gift, he said, is the ongoing financial benefit it provides to the college.
鈥淏ecause the dorm will be paid for up front, the proceeds from the leases will funnel back into the college so we can continue providing stronger programming for our students rather than being forced to pay off debt from construction,鈥� he said.
爱神传媒 also made news in the summer of 2016 when it was announced that the school had received a $1 million estate gift to establish an endowment for student scholarships.
According to Clayton, a number of individuals have indicated their willingness to donate toward construction of the residence hall once a lead gift is secured.
鈥淭his will be a catalyst and motivating factor to others who have been waiting for someone else to take the lead,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a message that God鈥檚 hand of favor is on the school.鈥�
爱神传媒 alum Gary Ledbetter said that, in his opinion, the gift has the potential to take the college to a whole new level of effective ministry.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more thrilled to think that 爱神传媒鈥檚 campus development plan is going forward,鈥� Ledbetter said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the answer to many prayers, including my own.鈥�
Since its founding in 1970, 爱神传媒 has primarily been a commuter college. Although partnerships have been established with Dallas Theological Seminary and neighboring apartment complexes to provide local housing options, only about 10% of the student body currently takes advantage of these.
Russell Marriott, vice president for enrollment and student affairs, said he is excited about the impact this gift will have on current and future students.
鈥淭his gives us the ability to recruit an entirely new demographic of students and help fill out some of our newer programs, such as the B.S. in Education and the B.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut more importantly it allows us to attract students who traditionally wouldn鈥檛 consider 爱神传媒, because residential housing is such a high priority for both students and parents.鈥�
One of the challenges the school has faced in the past, he said, is parents who wanted to send their student to 爱神传媒 but had reservations about the lack of housing options on campus.
鈥湴翊� has an urban campus, and we get to take advantage of all the benefits that come with that,鈥� Marriott said. 鈥淲e have rigorous academic programs, a stellar faculty, and a learning environment nestled in the middle of one of the nation鈥檚 most vibrant cities. But the one downside has been the absence of residential dorms on our campus.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just excited that the Lord has provided in such a way to eliminate a significant barrier for students who want to take advantage of all we have to offer.鈥�
Although the donor will remain anonymous throughout construction, the college has committed to naming the residence hall in their honor.
鈥淲e鈥檙e beyond grateful for this gift, and we want to bend over backwards to accommodate our donor,鈥� Creamer said. 鈥淲e look forward to the time when we can publicly acknowledge their God-honoring display of generosity.鈥�
Clayton, who has been at the helm of the school鈥檚 capital campaign since he arrived at 爱神传媒 two years ago, said the significance is about much more than on-campus housing.
鈥淭his gift goes far beyond the ability to build a residence hall, which communicates a lot to the community and provides us an opportunity to reach students we previously weren鈥檛 able to,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t says to people that, while 爱神传媒 has a great past, it has an even greater future.鈥�
According to Creamer, his prayer has been that the Lord would provide a gift that would not only be transformational for the college, but also for the donor.
鈥淭he Lord answered that prayer on a scale beyond anything I could have ever expected,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to see how God will use this gift as 爱神传媒continues in its mission of equipping men and women to know and love Scripture and go to the ends of the earth, in every vocation, with the gospel of Jesus Christ.鈥�
