We’ve welcomed the largest incoming class, been ranked by Princeton as the third happiest campus, received $10 million to fund the Cornwall School of Business and Leadership — and that’s all just so far this year.
It’s no surprise that changes at this magnitude may cause some growing pains.
There are two responses that can emerge during a time of exponential growth like Taylor is seeing: criticize and distance or celebrate and invest.
On the Echo editorial board, we believe students should lean into what the Lord is doing through the generosity of Taylor’s network and celebrate his faithfulness by taking inventory of the countless stories of impact that transcend both numbers and expectation.
Why is Taylor different?
Of course there’s the beloved traditions, unique location and history of unrivaled success. Mike Falder (’94), vice president for University Advancement, believes it’s more.
“As compared to our secular peers, we have the faith element, believing that our mission really is about taking the gospel through our servant leaders that we develop here,” Falder said. “I think it’s a really effective way of advancing the gospel in our world. The world has never needed more Taylor graduates than what we do right now.”
Those who have visited campus recently can see the fruit of many of the gifts the university has received: the newly completed Horne Academic Center, Hodson Dining Commons and Stillman Fieldhouse.
Still, construction continues for projects like the Nussbaum Science Center nursing facilities.
These are not simply efforts to beautify campus or remain in step with other universities.
Noah Huseman (’22), coordinator of digital engagement and annual giving, invites students to zoom out from the perceived goal of such initiatives and consider the potential for Kingdom-altering impact.
“When people are getting sick and going through hard times or on their deathbed, who better to be there than a person who’s filled with the love of God ministering to them?” he said. “So yes, we need a nursing program, and those are some of the things that are funded in that.”
Like with any Christian organization, boundaries must be set to ensure the protection of a biblical perspective.
Falder leads Taylor’s Advancement team to adopt a posture of prayerful dependence on the Lord.
Hanging on the wall opposite his office is a banner harkening back to centuries past.
“We put that up because we believe it,” Falder said. “The prayer band in 1927 believed it too. That’s like the great cloud of witnesses. They’re cheering us on: ‘Remember to pray.’”
Brad Yordy (’05) is the senior executive director for Advancement.
Like Falder, he believes it’s not just what God is doing through Taylor now that matters, but what he’s done time and time again.
“I would say we have a long, long history of utter dependency on the Lord,” Yordy said. “Mike is … shepherding a long history of people who have been nudged and tapped to be in these spaces.”
One of the best things students can be doing is to pray for wisdom for Taylor’s leadership and those who give.
Huseman also encourages students to engage in dialogue with Taylor faculty about what they are seeing.
“When you see something that you’re like, ‘Oh, OK, so what $500 million?’ or ‘Is it all about the numbers?’ If you’re having those questions, ask someone,” he said.
In the end, Huseman said, the work of Advancement is about considering how to unite student need with donor passion.
It’s a delicate balance of considering what God is calling someone to do with what he’s blessed them with, how Taylor has impacted them and what students need most.
In giving, donors choose to remain connected to a place that has meant so much to them, Huseman said.
The hope is that, in turn, such generosity will create space for deeper belonging, investment and legacy.
There’s a deep need and purpose behind each project, Yordy said.
“The heartbeat of all these plans is a bunch of people that believe in our students, believe this kingdom story that we all say we’re on, and they want to see it flourish and thrive, and they want to support that,” he said. “And so they see Taylor as a way to really effectively make an impact on the kingdom and a younger generation.”
