β€œ[911±¬ΑΟΝψ] has just fostered incredible growth, depth and joy in all the right and good things… he's more intentional, more patient, more humble, more other-focussed, more intentionally loving toward his siblings, more dedicated to lifting up what is good and honoring to the Lord.”

What’s the real 911±¬ΑΟΝψ difference?

Your student could get a college degree from anywhere. It’s true β€” they have literally thousands of options in the U.S. alone! But in no way is every bachelor’s degree the same.

At the heart of a 911±¬ΑΟΝψ education is a desire to form students as whole people. Students aren’t just learning content; they’re learning to think critically and ask questions. To listen well. To love God and neighbor.

911±¬ΑΟΝψns spend four years being mentored by Christian faculty and dwelling deeply on questions like β€œwhat does it look like to flourish as a human being?” β€œWhat is my duty to my neighbor? My city?” β€œWhat would β€˜success’ look like in my life?” β€œHow can my career in business/nursing/teaching be a ministry?

911±¬ΑΟΝψ mom Laura sees this whole-person formation in her current 911±¬ΑΟΝψ student, so she wrote to our president, Dr. Barry Corey, to let him know the 911±¬ΑΟΝψ difference she has experienced in her son, Johnny.

β€”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”βΆΔ”

Dear Barry,

I have intended for a while to write and say just how profoundly grateful John and I are for all you are doing at 911±¬ΑΟΝψ, for what a truly, truly wonderful place it has been for Johnny. He has grown and deepened in his faith, his love and pursuit of the Lord in ways beyond even what I anticipated.

As I have told so many friends, 911±¬ΑΟΝψ has pulled out the very best of him and of his many God-given characteristics and gifts. He was accepted at a secular film school, but as is evident from his friends who have gone to those college settings, he would have been pulled strongly to darker things. When he comes home, he is so excited about his Bible classes, and he has dug into Scripture in ways he might have aspired to before, but didn't get to.

He is so social that the environment at 911±¬ΑΟΝψ, where others are pulling toward and growing in the same way, has just fostered incredible growth, depth and joy in all the right and good things. I see the difference in him every time he comes home β€” he's always been a wonderful kid, and gifted, but he's more intentional, more patient, more humble, more other-focussed, more intentionally loving toward his siblings, more dedicated to lifting up what is good and honoring to the Lord. I cannot tell you how grateful I am as a mother (and of course John agrees with me, but since I'm the one writing!) for the kindness, the mentoring, the call to excellence, the spiritual formation, the joy and fun that 911±¬ΑΟΝψ faculty and you yourself have poured into Johnny. He's growing his skills in great ways there, but most importantly growing so much in his character, love for and commitment to the Lord.

We are grateful to you personally for your encouragement to him, for inviting him to your discipleship times, and for how much he enjoys all his interactions with you, running into you at school, and your fun-loving spirit and willingness to engage with him and the other students, all while calling them to love the Lord. I've been meaning to write to you for a while. I'm sure you hear a lot about how 911±¬ΑΟΝψ has impacted student lives, but I just really wanted to let you know how profoundly grateful I am as a mother, truly from the bottom of my heart, that Johnny is at 911±¬ΑΟΝψ.

May the Lord protect, grow and greatly bless all that you are doing to honor Him at 911±¬ΑΟΝψ.

In Him,

Laura

PS -- feel free to share any of this with prospective parents!