Granting one last wish
Liberty University Online student receives degree two days before dying
COMFORT— Ben Guiterrez prayed with Jason McIlwain at his bedside. | FAMILY — McIlwain’s parents attended the impromptu graduation ceremony that Liberty held for McIlwain. Photo credit: Caleb atkins
Jason McIlwain was one class away from completing his degree when his battle with cancer stopped him from taking his final class.
On the afternoon of Sept. 2, Liberty University received a call regarding a unique member of the Liberty Online family. The caller, Tim Fair, said that McIllwain’s fight with cancer was coming to an end.
McIlwain died Sept. 4, 2016, but not before his dreams of receiving his degree from Liberty University and becoming a pastor were fulfilled.
Fair, the associate pastor of New Life Baptist Church in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, contacted Liberty about the possibility of getting McIlwain’s degree.
McIlwain had been a student of Liberty University Online until 2012 when his battle with cancer caused him to put school on hold, although he was only one class away from graduating with a bachelor’s of science in religion.
According to Fair, one of McIlwain’s dreams had been to graduate from Liberty.
Fair said the whole church family came together to surprise McIlwain by making one of his dreams finally come true.
Fair first contacted Kelly Lesley in the Registrar’s Office because her brother-in-law attends the same church in Pennsylvania.
“They are a very close, connected church family with many Liberty alumni serving as pastors,”
Lesley said.
Lesley was able to provide Fair with the contact information of several other faculty members that led to the beginning of the process.
Fair was hoping Liberty could confer McIlwain’s degree and have someone call to congratulate him.
Instead, President Jerry Falwell Jr. arranged to personally send a team to deliver the conferred degree.
Dr. Ben Gutierrez, vice provost for academic administration, was contacted in regards to delivering the degree.
“It was a whirlwind of events — everyone hustling to make this happen,” Gutierrez said.
Within an hour, Gutierrez was on a plane flying to Hickory Grove, Pennsylvania to personally deliver the degree to McIlwain.
When he arrived, he was greeted by pastors from the church and McIlwain’s family.
According to Gutierrez, the house was filled with friends and family, offering support.
Gutierrez remembers hearing phrases such as “unbelievable,” “what a miracle,” and “not enough words to say thank you” from those gathered at the house.
“You would have thought it was a church gathering the way people were there fellowshipping,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez was able to officially present the degree and have a dedication prayer with McIlwain and all of the friends and family that were gathered in the house.
According to Gutierrez, after the degree was given, McIlwain was officially ordained by John Bailey, the senior pastor of New Life Baptist Church.
McIlwain’s two dreams were turned into a reality on the same day, according to Fair.
The reactions of those gathered were so thankful and amazed that this was able to happen on such short notice, Guiterrez said.
Gutierrez said he was grateful to be a part of this occasion and proud to take part in something that was so significant to a particular family.
“At Liberty University, we do a lot of very meaningful things,” Gutierrez said.
“What occurred on that day — wrapping our arms around a family and a local church community during their deepest time of need — was one of the most eternally impactful things we have done.”
This experience captured the essence of Liberty’s founder, Jerry Falwell Sr., according to Gutierrez.
Falwell believed in loving the whole person and extending that love to a hurting body of believers.
Gutierrez believed that this spirit is also embodied by Jerry Falwell Jr., who was able to make this experience happen.
WHITTAKER is a feature reporter.