Liberty Recognized For 50 Years Of Education at Convocation

Liberty 1984 graduate and Virginia Rep. Wendell Walker and Virginia Sen. Mark Peake presented President Jerry Prevo with a certificate to commemorate Liberty’s 50 years of training champions for Christ, during Convocation on April 6.

The certificate is a copy of the resolution passed in both houses of the General Assembly last October. It highlights the history and accomplishments of Liberty, beginning with Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr.’s vision.

“We wanted to recognize the role Liberty has played in training future leaders in the commonwealth and across the nation,” Walker said. 

Walker believed this resolution is part of the vision that Dr. Falwell had 50 years ago.

“I saw how hard he worked and the trust he had in the Lord, despite all the challenges that came along,” Walker said. “This resolution reflects 50 incredible years of Dr. Falwell’s vision coming to fruition, from the small group that gathered in that first year to the global presence that the university has today.”

Before giving Prevo the certificate, Walker spoke on his personal history with Liberty.

In 1975, he moved from Georgia to Virginia to attend college at Liberty after hearing Dr. Falwell talk about it during his “The Old-Time Gospel Hour” television program.

Walker remembered Dr. Falwell challenging him during his first year at Liberty to help change the world for Christ. Walker said that is when his journey began, and he is still on it today. 

As one of the first students at Liberty, he was called a “Timothy” because he was being mentored and trained to go out into the world. Similarly, in the Bible, Paul trained and mentored Timothy to lead and share the gospel throughout the world.

“We were the young ‘Timothys’ then. Now I guess at this point in life, we’re the ‘Pauls,’ investing in the future ‘Timothys,’” Walker said. “That is what I see here – a great opportunity for you (students) to be a part of changing America … you are the hope that America needs.”

Walker believes that Liberty will continue to have an incredible impact on the world over the next 50 years.

Fitch is the asst. news editor. Follow her on Twitter