Category: Websclusives

Patrick Andrews walks Liberty’s campus with a contagious smile and palpable excitement for life that he credits to almost losing that life nearly three decades ago.  Andrews climbed into the backseat of his friend’s car on March 24, 1994, and while riding along a road he had been down countless times before, he was involved in a near-fatal car accident […]

In 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. […]

Volunteers 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 […]

A 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.”  […]

Paul 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 […]

Football, By Luke Randle For all its history, Liberty football had been good — not incredible, not bad, but good.  For Liberty’s first nine years, the Flames were NAIA independents. This was followed by seven years at the DII level before the Flames soared to division I-AA (now FCS). The Flames’ stay in FCS lasted 29 years, longer than the […]

Throughout 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 […]

Early Music Ministry, By Jacqueline Hale Music 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 […]

Growing 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.  […]

Words 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 […]

The first time he met Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr., Dwayne Carson held an eight-pack 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 […]

The 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, […]

Inside 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 […]

The 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 […]