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Northern Virginia family marks three generations to attend Liberty

February 26, 2019

David and Linda Rhodenhizer were among Liberty University’s first students when the school started in 1971. After David graduated in 1974, he served as a staff member in two churches before starting New Life Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va., in 1977. New Life merged with Calvary Road Baptist Church in 1979 and David has remained Calvary’s pastor.

The couple’s five children attended Liberty. This fall, the Rhodenhizers will become a three-generation Liberty family when their granddaughter, Madelyn, arrives on campus.

“To say that Liberty University is special to Linda and I is an understatement,” David said. “We love Liberty, and now it is such a blessing that our granddaughter will be attending.”

Madelyn, the oldest of 15 grandchildren, is the daughter of alumni Chris Rhodenhizer (’96) and his wife, Krista (’99, ’18).

“I hope that many of my grandchildren attend Liberty and above all may each one do God’s will for their lives,” David said. “It would be wonderful if Linda and I could even see a fourth generation attending, Lord willing.”

David and Linda Rhodenhizer’s relationship with Liberty actually predates its founding, as both were saved when they were young through the ministry of Liberty’s founder, the late Dr. Jerry Falwell, at Thomas Road Baptist Church. As a pastor, Falwell was a mentor to David Rhodenhizer and a great blessing to the family.

“Watching Dr. Falwell’s life was the greatest education I received,” David said. “Now my granddaughter Madelyn can observe President Jerry Falwell Jr.’s life as he leads Liberty University.”

David Rhodenhizer was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from his alma mater in 1985 and was the keynote speaker at the university’s 45th Baccalaureate Service last spring. He has served on Liberty’s Board of Trustees since 1987 and is currently on the Executive Committee.

“I cannot adequately express how wonderful it was to be a part of Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty University,” he said. “It was a tremendous training ground for Linda and I. Our experiences there certainly laid the foundation for our future ministry.”

But he noted that his church is not their greatest legacy: “Our family is our greatest legacy — my kids and grandkids are going to take the Gospel forward.”
His son Chris, who serves as the lead pastor at Image Church in Woodbridge, Va., said it is “a real honor to be a part of that line of the Gospel going on.”
He called his time at Liberty the best years of his life.

“Watching my dad as a kid, his life, his integrity, his passion for Jesus and the Gospel, made me always want to go to Liberty,” Chris said. “Being a part of that legacy meant everything to me.”

Madelyn Rhodenhizer plans to study nursing and is excited about continuing the family’s legacy.

“Since I was born, our family’s favorite topic, other than Christ of course, was Liberty University,” she said. “They have all talked about the impact Liberty leaves on its students that goes further than just an education. I visited campus and fell in love with it immediately. I know Liberty is where I’m supposed to be; I know it’s where Christ wants me to be.”

“It feels like just yesterday,” she added, “when my grandfather gave me one of his old Liberty T-shirts and said, ‘Maddy, I can’t wait until you can experience Liberty. It will change your life.’ I look forward to making great friends who share the same love for Christ that I do. I also look forward to being a part of Liberty’s mission, to make Christ-centered followers. I plan to accomplish a better and growing relationship with Christ, and to successfully pursue my passion while making my family proud.”


For families interested in carrying Liberty’s legacy to the next generation, Liberty offers the Legacy Scholarship. This $1,000 scholarship — awarded each year for up to four years — is open to new residential students with a parent/guardian who earned an undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degree from Liberty.

Learn more at Liberty.edu/Scholarships.

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