Friends of Mission U,
What does Christmas mean to you?
Music?
Cookies?
Twinkling lights?
Time with family?
Christmas movies?
Stockings?
Presents under the tree?
A Savior wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger?
Have you ever considered that Christmas is all about sacrifice? Many of us, as parents, have sacrificed our hard-earned dollars to purchase the toy that our child had to have. We have sacrificed our time to be present at Christmas programs or sing Christmas carols to the home bound. Why do we so readily give up our time and our treasure? Simply for the joy it brings. There is nothing like watching children unwrap their gifts, or swelling with pride at the Christmas program, or seeing the hope a simple song brings to the lonely. Our sacrifice brings joy, not only to others but to ourselves.
The sacrifice Christ made for us began that first Christmas day. In John 8:38, Jesus said, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” Jesus left the splendor of heaven for a sordid stable. He replaced royal robes with swaddling clothes, a stately throne for a meager manger, and a crown of glory for frail humanity. He came down from heaven to make a way for us to join Him there. The sacrifice Christ made brings joy to heaven as the angels rejoice every time a sinner repents.
Mission University is an institution built on sacrifice. In 1950, a group of men sacrificed greatly as they stepped out in faith to begin a new work God would use to change the world. Churches sacrificed financially to support this fledgling college. Their gifts allowed students to study the Bible and equipped them to take that gospel to the world. Men and women left Springfield and started churches globally.
The sacrifices made by those early leaders and supporting churches brought joy to heaven and earth as people accepted Christ. Mission U is thriving today because of people like you who are willing to sacrifice. You sacrifice your time as you lift our college in prayer and your treasure as you give financially to support the mission of the college. Many sacrifice their talents as they use their God-given gifts to teach and serve our students.
The sacrifices you make literally bring joy to the world.
This past year, I resumed traveling on behalf of the college following the Covid-19 shutdowns imposed in 2020. What joy these trips brought to my heart as I saw how God is using our students to share the gospel of Christ throughout our country. In Apopka, Florida, I celebrated with Jason and Judy Henderson as they dedicated their church’s new campus. Renewal Church is reaching Apopka for Christ. In Colorado, I marveled at the work Derald and Penny Gautier have done as God used them to revive Belmar Church and reach Lakewood for Christ. I was blessed to be in Montana to see how God has used David and Kathy Klass faithfully for over twenty-five years to win the lost in their community. David loves and serves everyone he meets in hopes of telling them about the sacrifice Jesus made for them. In South Dakota, I rejoiced with recent Mission U graduates Kenneth Brock, Andrew Daniel, Mike Estell, and their spouses and families on the blessings God has given them as they started Mercy Gate Church, Mercy Gate Church – Box Elder, and Freeway Ministry. Their work keeps expanding as God keeps blessing. In Missouri, I experienced how God is using Mission U alumni to reach both the inner city and rural communities. God is using Joey Candillo to reach the lost in Kansas City alongside recent grads Matt and Carly Reilly, who are learning to serve students others would be reluctant to reach. In Buffalo, Missouri, Mission U interns work with Mission U alumni to serve at a church located deep in the country. In Taylor, Michigan, I was honored to preach at Beacon Baptist Church. Beacon has faithfully supported Mission U for over sixty years. In Indiana, David and Theresa Martin have planted Graceway Church and reach young professionals with the gospel. Each of these pastors use what they learned at Mission U to lead others to Christ. The sacrifices you make bring joy to the world.
The sacrifices you make have allowed Mission U to overcome many obstacles and thrive. Mission U has earned the top accreditation status with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the Association of Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). The work done by our accreditation team was exemplary. Their outstanding work led to invitations to assist other institutions with their accreditation journeys. God uses what you go through to allow you to help others.
The impact that Covid made on college enrollment is significant. Springfield is a college town and is home not only to Mission U but also to MSU, Drury, and Evangel. Mission U is the only one of these colleges that did not experience an enrollment decline. The fact is, we welcomed over 100 new students. Mission U grew by over 20%! We praise God for this growth!
In the fall of 2020, Mission U started 100% online degree programs. You can now earn an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree entirely online. Many of you attended Mission U but never had the opportunity to complete your degree. These programs allow you to finish what you started or to earn an advanced degree. In May of 2021, some of our first online graduates were those who had earned a three-year degree from the Mission U or those whose life situations kept them from completing their degree. How proud they were to finish what they started and receive their diploma! In December, our first online Master’s cohort will complete their programs and earn their degree. We are so excited to be able to offer these programs. It is a tremendous blessing to students worldwide as they can now earn a degree from Mission U from wherever they are.
If you would like more information about this great opportunity, you can find more information here. gobbc.edu/online-degrees These programs are possible because of you. Your gifts are used to educate students around the globe. Your sacrifice brings joy to the world.
Sports made a comeback at Mission U this year! In addition to our championship Mission U Men’s Basketball program, we now offer Women’s Basketball, Women’s Volleyball, Women’s Cross Country, Men’s Baseball, and Men’s Golf, and we plan to add Men’s and Women’s Soccer and Women’s Softball soon. We are excited for the opportunities these sports give our students to learn teamwork, but even more excited about how our degree programs help our students grow biblically. You can learn more about our sports program here. gopatriotathletics.com
At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the sacrifice He made as He left the glory of heaven to become one of us. At Mission U, we are devoted to educating and equipping men and women to share that gospel with the world. Your sacrificial giving enables us to fulfill that mission so that the world can know the joy that only comes from knowing Jesus.
In the past year, we have made some much-needed facility improvements. Through the tragedy of Beth Adams passing, we have kept her memory alive in our midst with the mail room hallway renovation, which has been transformed into a welcoming place for students to enjoy. This area is now a beautiful reminder of a wonderful godly person. We began work on our Bible studies classrooms in honor of Ken Adrian, a long-time pastor and friend. Ken was such a gentleman with a gift for encouraging people. That encouraging spirit lives on by helping new pastors prepare for ministry. These rooms are an important reminder of not just his ministry, but undergird the priority Mission U places on the Bible and ministry preparation. We also began an Alumni Project to remodel the Chapel, which hosts our weekly student gatherings. And, just in the last few days, the work to totally replace the roof on the W.E. Dowell Fieldhouse was completed. These improvements help our students prepare for ministry as generations before them have.
This Christmas can I ask you to help us complete these projects? The Chapel remodel and our ministry classrooms are still in need of funds to fully finish the necessary work. We have installed lots of carpet and window treatments, painted, and made technology upgrades, but there is still work that needs to be done to complete these projects. $25,000 is needed to help finish the work.
This Christmas we celebrate our Savior, we join with family and friends and we give gifts of love. Here at Mission U, we join with you in the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As you consider giving gifts of love, would you consider how that sacrifice would help Mission U to accomplish these important projects as well as help us financially through the Christmas holiday break? This is an exciting time of new programs, new growth, and new students. But, we still focus on sharing the same important message the angel shared with Joseph:
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus:
for he shall save his people from their sins. ~ Matthew 1:21
I wish you could walk with me during class hours and hear our professors teach our students about the canon of Scripture, the stories of the Old Testament, the Life of Christ, the Life of Paul, how to share their faith, how to teach, how to lead, how to counsel, and how to run a business – so much learning takes place every day.
Would you help us continue to equip people for ministry? It has been decades since our facilities have been updated, and it is exciting to see the improvements being made. These projects can be completed between semesters if we all help. Even a small gift will help accomplish this work.
If you would like to make a gift, then please prayerfully fill out the enclosed card and return it with your gift. You can also give online. gobbc.edu/give
We do have a new method to give to Mission U, which is giving through stocks and bonds. Please let us know if we can help you give or answer any questions in regard to this new opportunity. I am so very thankful for you! For years we have worked to get Mission U in a healthy position. We are so very close and the potential is so great. It has been quite a journey and we have witnessed God do amazing things. The sacrifices made by you and others like you in the past have put us in a position to continue our current growth trends. Thank You! For standing with us, by us and for us. Your prayer, support and financial gifts are all so very important to us and to our future.
Your sacrifices have enabled us to do the task God has called us to do.
There is joy in the world as the gospel is shared and sinners are saved. You have made that possible.
God bless you and Merry Christmas!
Mark Milioni
Merry Christmas from our 21-22 Trustees