Recent gifts bring chapel groundbreaking considerably closer

      Robert and Barbara Whiteman’s gift to Campbell University’s Butler Chapel moved the $6.8 million chapel capital campaign into its public phase; Benson businessman Luby Wood pledged $1 million, bringing the project even closer to groundbreaking.

      With the Whiteman’s gift, the campaign reached its silent goal of 70 percent before declaring a public phase to raise an additional $1.7 million. Wood’s pledge sets the remaining goal of $700,000 before construction can begin. The chapel campaign cabinet hopes that alumni and friends of the university will help complete the campaign before the end of 2007.

     Dr. Jerry M. Wallace, president of the University, said the chapel will be the capstone of the 120-year-old campus.

     “The building of Campbell University’s first chapel will be a permanent statement to all of this University’s unashamed commitment to Christ and to the mission of Christian higher education,” said Wallace. “The chapel will be a place of worship, inspiration, and comfort in times of crisis. Our desire is to provide the best possible worship settings to enable our students to consider the challenge of Jesus to be ‘the salt of the earth and the light of the world.’”

     “To make this worship center a reality, we are calling on the churches and individuals who have known and loved Campbell and have used their graduates as ministers to help us in this endeavor,” added Dr. Michael Cogdill, dean of the Campbell Divinity School. “You are at the heart of missions giving when you help prepare ministers, missionaries and chaplains for the future.”

     For more information on how to assist Campbell as it seeks to raise additional funding for the Butler Chapel, contact the Campbell University Advancement office at 910. 893.1215 or 800.334.4111, ext. 121