Doors open at new Champion Center, a vivid reminder of Liberty’s enduring mission

At the grand opening of Liberty University’s Champion Center on Tuesday, leaders spoke to the purpose of the latest addition to Liberty Mountain: to preserve and protect the original mission of Training Champions for Christ and inspire others to join it.

Spanning 64,000 square feet, The Champion Center is an extension of the Hancock Welcome Center that features multiple exhibits on Liberty’s history and the continued impact the university is making on the world. The building includes a large ballroom that accommodates 2,000, a Global Prayer Room that is open 24/7 with livestream capabilities, a theater, and a rooftop plaza.

[View more photos and descriptions of the building’s features below.]

The invitation-only ceremony welcomed university leadership, Board of Trustees members, local government officials, Liberty donors, special guests, and those who worked to make The Champion Center an innovative epicenter for the university community to grow and gather in light of Liberty’s mission. World-renowned evangelist and Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham led a prayer of dedication.

In opening the ceremony, Chancellor Jonathan Falwell remarked on the center’s creative displays that reflect God’s provision across the university’s 55 years — a provision he’s witnessed as the son of Liberty’s founder Dr. Jerry Falwell.

“Inside, with all of the different stories that are told, all of the different elements of this building … you can see what this campus has come from and where it is today,” he said. “Every day, when I walk onto this campus, and now when I have the privilege of coming here (to The Champion Center), I’m able to see what (Liberty) is today, and the only thing that can come to mind is, ‘Wow, what a mighty God we serve.’”

President Dondi E. Costin said the center has “come to life through the hands of many, many people over many, many hours.” He explained that the facility was envisioned by President Emeritus Dr. Jerry Prevo as a physical location that reminds visitors of Liberty’s history and mission. Recalling the story of Joshua 4 in which the Israelites laid stones in the Jordan River to serve as a reminder of God’s faithfulness, Costin said The Champion Center will be Liberty’s remembrance stone.

“The thing that we humans have in common is that we are by nature forgetful people. We see all the things that God has done for us, and we rejoice in it for a moment, and then we move on to the next thing. … We take for granted the people who have gone before, we forget the stories, we forget the mission, we forget the vision,” Costin said. “The Lord gave Dr. Prevo the idea that we would never want to get to a place in the history of this university that we would forget why Liberty University exists, and so he rallied the troops. He would often say, ‘We need a stone of remembrance, we need a platform where people can see that. Until the Lord returns, this facility will protect and preserve the mission of Liberty University.”

Prevo thanked the many teams and individuals who built the center, literally and figuratively, into its current standing as a technologically innovative reminder of the university’s continued mission and how it is lived out around the world each day by the growing alumni body who are serving Christ in all disciplines.

“We’re not only just saying we’re ‘Training Champions for Christ;’ we’re doing it. The product is out there, all across this country and around the world,” Prevo said. “We have champions who are champions in their field of their career, but most importantly, they’re Champions for Christ. And you’re going to see some of those champions as you go to these (areas) in this building.”

After the ceremony, guests were invited to watch a 15-minute film in the Flames Theater. The film was produced by Liberty staff and introduces viewers to the past, present, and future of the university.

“This (center) is a continuation of Dr. Falwell’s original vision, and it marks all of those who have come along from that day until this day and beyond,” said Dr. Jerry Vines, who has served on Liberty’s Board of Trustees since 1988. “I’ve been through the whole facility, it’s spectacular, and the main video (in the Flames Theater) is very moving; it’s an emotional experience for me to see it all. You can’t watch it and not be convinced that God has done a miracle on this mountain.”

A reception followed in the ballroom, which is now the largest meeting room of its kind in the Lynchburg area.

“(The Champion Center) is just unbelievable,” said Board of Trustees member and Liberty alumnus Will Graham (’97). “When you look at a lot of other higher education institutions, they all started off as seminaries, but they’re all drifting. This place is that stone of remembrance that keeps us from drifting. We know our place and purpose, and that’s what I’m really excited about people seeing when they come here. It’s going to keep us on mission and won’t let us drift. You see that especially in the (Flames Theater) with the video, and you hear Dr. Falwell’s own words of what this place is and what it’s not going to be.”

>>The Champion Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 12-6 p.m.

Around the Champion Center

MISSION WALLS: Journey through Liberty’s history with this interactive display. Through archival photographs, historical footage, and firsthand accounts, witness the faith and perseverance that carried Liberty through every mountain and valley and continue to shape its legacy.

MAP ROOM: Watch Liberty Mountain transform before vour eyes! Through immersive projections and a three-dimensional topographic map crafted by the university’s Cabinet Shop, discover how a college without a campus grew into the thriving university we know today.

FLAMES THEATER: Experience Liberty’s mission through a 15-minute film created by Liberty students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Breathtaking visuals, powerful storytelling, and an original score explore the vision behind Training Champions for Christ. The Flames Theater also hosts events, lectures, film premieres, and conferences.

PATH OF CHAMPIONS: In this area, you’ll be surrounded by stories of students and alumni who embody what it means to be Champions for Christ. Hear how they’re carrying the Gospel into every industry, serving Him through their work, and making a difference in communities around the world.

THE ROUND: Whether hosting lectures, classes, receptions, or special events, The Round adapts to the needs of the Liberty community. Sweeping visuals projected across a curved screen create a unique, customizable atmosphere for any occasion.

GLOBAL PRAYER ROOM: This room welcomes students, faculty, staff, alumni, families, and friends to gather in person or via livestream. Open 24/7, it keeps Liberty’s passion for prayer burning bright through guided prayer experiences, ongoing initiatives, and curated resources.

BALLROOM: The Ballroom accommodates up to 2,000 guests for university and community events, conferences, banquets, and galas. Seven LED screens — the widest on Liberty’s campus — create an extraordinary setting for large and small gatherings, making this one of Central Virginia’s most distinctive venues.