Chris Tomlin performed at Taylor University, inspiring community between generations on April 26.
The performance was held in the Kesler Student Activities Center as part of the TUGather weekend and lasted two hours. Tomlin played hits like “Good Good Father,” “How Great Is Our God” and “Holy Forever.”
Brad Yordy, executive director of alumni & parent relations, had a large hand in making this event possible.
In the past, the president’s dinner has been an event to honor donors. This year, the event served as a time to unveil the public phase of the “Life To The Full” campaign, Yordy said.
Vision Financial Advisory Group sponsored the concert and guest chapel speaker Bob Goff’s visit to Taylor. Without this sponsor, these events would not have been possible, Yordy explained.
There were other talents the team was considering, but Tomlin was ultimately chosen to unify all generations present, Yordy said.
“We wanted someone that can transfer to all the generations as much as we can,” Yordy said. “We have grandparents and alumni coming back with their little kids, so the thought was that we translate as widely as we can.”
This year’s TUGather events were distinguished from previous Heritage Day events by these talents. Four times as many people visited campus in comparison to past years.
A component of this weekend was education, displayed in Taylor’s decorations. A goal of the signage and stickers around campus is to educate visiting parents, grandparents, donors and other guests about Taylor and the Upland community thriving, Yordy said.
Taylor and the Upland community’s goal to thrive was accomplished through the President’s Vision Gala, which preceded the concert.
Madison Slusher, content and special programs developer, works with the advancement team and office for alumni and parent relations. She shared her experience with the gala and concert.
Before the fieldhouse was transformed into a banquet hall, it was simply an indoor track. Behind the scenes, a team of 30 to 40 people from the advancement team as well as student volunteers from the football team and Samuel Morris Hall, cleaned and prepared the fieldhouse for the concert. They budgeted just thirty minutes to rearrange the space to accommodate over 2,000 guests.
“I just sat back at one point before the concert started and thought, ‘Wow, I am so excited that God called me to be a part of this.’ It was a really surreal and amazing experience and I can't wait to do it again.”
