Over 1,300 students, faculty, and staff participated in Liberty University’s eighth annual Serve Lynchburg day in April, spreading out to 96 different locations in the city and beyond, from local churches to food banks, schools, libraries, community centers, and more.
Freshman Hope Vranes spent the day at Lynchburg Grows, a local urban farm that provides fresh produce to the community and meaningful jobs for those with disabilities.
“I admire and appreciate that Liberty has such an emphasis on service, because then it can really show God’s love and shine His light toward the Lynchburg community and other communities,” she said. “It shows that we as Liberty students really care about the community and want to share God’s love with them.”
(Photo by Grace Greer)
Members of Liberty’s executive leadership, including President Dondi E. Costin and Chancellor Jonathan Falwell, served at various locations, where they encouraged students and thanked them for their selfless work.
“Service is a key feature of our curriculum,” Costin said. “At Liberty University, you get to understand service is not a box you check; it’s who you are and what you do. The fact we do it all year long is amazing. … This is a one-day snapshot that shows the community and students what we get to do for the rest of our lives, and that is to serve other people.”
(Photo by Grace Greer)
Falwell added, “It’s a privilege for Liberty University as an institution to have a positive impact on our community, not only for the good work we do today and Christian service throughout the year, but also to make a Gospel imprint and impact.”
Liberty has been built on a longstanding tradition of Gospel-centered community service, in part through the LU Serve Office, which organizes Serve Lynchburg and multiple experiences throughout the year, including students’ required Christian/Community Service (CSER) and domestic and international humanitarian aid and disaster relief trips.
(Photo by Ethan Smith)
DiD YOU KNOW?
The city of Lynchburg secured a spot on Livability.com’s 2025 Top 100 Best Places to Live for the second year in a row. The city was praised for its vibrant historic downtown, proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains, strong mix of arts, outdoor recreation, entrepreneurial energy, affordability, and community-driven atmosphere.
Liberty University and its affiliated institutions struck gold in “Lynchburg Living” magazine’s Best Of Awards for 2025. Liberty was voted No. 1 Best College in Central Virginia, and Liberty Christian Academy earned top marks for Best Childcare Facility and Best Private School.
