Faithful staff member Terry Falwell recounts years of dedication

Tour guide, historian and friend — Terry Falwell, a cousin of the late Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr., is currently the community liaison at the Hancock Welcome Center. His primary task is to give tours of the campus and make visitors feel welcome at Liberty University. From the beginning, Falwell has been committed to the mission that has remained Liberty’s purpose throughout the years: training professionals to work for the glory of God.

In fact, Falwell identifies this vision as a deciding factor that has helped make Liberty into what it is today. 

“I don’t have to sell Liberty University. Liberty can sell itself,” Falwell said. 

Falwell has given tours to an array of people — some of them alumni — and many of them are shocked by the variety and quality of the services and facilities that Liberty offers. One of Falwell’s favorite parts of giving the tours is seeing how amazed everyone is at the facilities, as well as “how polite and kind the students are.”

While in his current position, Falwell has interacted with a multitude of people and has made all of them feel welcome here at Liberty. He has given tours to NFL players such as Tommie Harris Jr. and Jim Kelly, Tony Evans and his daughter Priscilla Shirer, presidents of other universities, foreign missionaries and students from around the globe. 

Because Falwell is able to spend each day doing what he loves, he never feels as though he is working.

“I feel like I’m on vacation,” Falwell said.

Once the assistant athletic director, Falwell has served Liberty in a variety of ways, but when it comes to giving tours, Falwell is always “ready to go, night or day.”  Falwell gave a tour to Flame at 1:30 a.m. because that was the only time the rapper was available before he had to catch a late flight after a concert. 

Most everyone commends Liberty and thanks him for the tour, but Falwell takes no credit for Liberty’s success. He points to instrumental families such as the Bream and the Graham family as key factors in recruiting students to fulfill the vision of growth for the school. Falwell always makes sure people know that Liberty is God’s work, not the work of human hands — even the hands of Dr. Falwell Sr.

That being said, Falwell said it was Dr. Falwell Sr. who taught him he “could have fun and be a Christian.” Falwell said he greatly admires and respects the late Dr. Falwell Sr. for not only founding Liberty, but for helping others as well. Falwell recalled one story of how Dr. Falwell Sr. helped an individual battling alcoholism. 

“Dr. Falwell didn’t do this to go around and tell people about all this. He didn’t do it for his glory,” Falwell said.

Back when Liberty was just getting started, many townspeople had doubts that Dr. Falwell Sr.’s vision would ever manifest. Even Falwell expressed some doubts himself, but he said that Dr. Falwell Sr. stayed faithful and would say, “Just keep praying; everything’s going to be all right.” 

Falwell said he can almost hear Dr. Falwell Sr. now, saying, “I told you so.”

Knowing that Liberty could not have grown without the help of so many people, it is no surprise that one of Falwell’s goals is to honor everyone who has contributed over the years. 

 “People came here in the [past] years and helped us get to where we are now. Dr. Falwell used to say that it’s not all about him; it’s about the vision. They helped us get our boots on the ground. We were blessed…to get so many families and people [who came to work in the ministry and at the school but] who didn’t come here for the salary. They liked the vision,” Falwell said. 

This includes alumni, past and present faculty and donors. In regards to anyone at all who has helped Liberty prosper, Falwell said to “never forget those names.”

To all of the current Liberty students, Falwell has a message.

“Still believe in the dream. Never give up. Never quit. You’re going to have bad days. Like Dr. Falwell said, you might have more bad days than good days, but don’t feel sorry for yourself,” Falwell said. 

A way to combat the temptation to wallow in self-pity when faced with various trials is to be obedient to God’s calling to build community, according to Falwell.

“Dr. Falwell taught me…to go into a room, and you’ll see a lot of people in the room… but look around the room, and somebody might be standing alone, not in the conversation. Go over to them and ask them what’s going on. Reach out to others,” Falwell said. “I would like to say to the students: reach out to others.” 

With everyone making themselves available for others to lean on them, students will grow in their spiritual journeys of becoming Christ-centered individuals who live selfless lives marked by love.

Bear is a feature writer.