DALLAS, Texas (Jan. 19, 2009) – Northway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Dallas has made a $250,000 gift to Jarvis Christian College, a fully accredited, private liberal arts institution in Hawkins, Texas. The gift will be used to endow a new permanent scholarship at the historically black college.
The gift to Jarvis, made by a Northway church member who wishes to remain anonymous, was announced during the weekend of the national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Ongoing support of Jarvis Christian College is one of three "signature" mission outreach programs of Northway Christian Church, located at 7202 W. Northwest Highway in North Dallas, said Senior Minister Douglas Skinner.
"An anonymous member of our congregation who believes in the mission of Jarvis Christian College heard the calling to support Jarvis in a very tangible way," Dr. Skinner said. "The desire is to provide a permanent endowment for a Northway Scholar at Jarvis Christian College every year in perpetuity."
"This is a great surprise," said William Smialek, Executive Vice President for Major and Planned Gifts, at Jarvis Christian College. "About 95 percent of all of our students are eligible for some financial aid, and this significant gift will allow us to provide a scholarship to a deserving and talented student who might not otherwise have the financial resources for higher education. We are very grateful to the continuing and loving support from Northway Christian Church."
Dr. Skinner announced the gift at Sunday services at Northway, where the Jarvis Christian College Concert Choir sang for members of the predominantly white North Dallas church. News of the gift was a surprise to the congregation and members of the Jarvis choir, who rose to their feet in applause, prompting congregants to stand and applaud them.
The other two major mission outreach programs at Northway are twice-annual mission trips to Honduras, where the church has adopted a impoverished village of the endangered Pech Indians, and L.L. Hotchkiss Elementary School, located in the Northeast Dallas area where some poverty rates are high. A group of 13 church members left Saturday for a week-long mission trip to Honduras.
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About Jarvis Christian College:
Founded in 1912, Jarvis Christian College is the last remaining college of 12 original black colleges founded by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a mainline Protestant denomination. The college is located in Hawkins, Texas, about 90 miles east of Dallas. The college offers degrees and courses in three divisions: arts and sciences, education and business. The college’s nationally-recognized men’s basketball program has appeared in the NAIA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament two times (2003 and 2008). More information is available at www.jarvis.edu
About Northway Christian Church:
Founded in 1906 above a butcher shop on McKinney Avenue in what is the Uptown neighborhood of Dallas today, Northway moved to its current 12.7 acre location at Airline Drive and Northwest Highway in 1949. The church celebrated its Centennial in 2006. Known for its commitment to local and global outreach, Northway’s mission is to proclaim Christ boldly, worship God passionately, teach the faith effectively, create community intentionally and serve others enthusiastically. Northway is a congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a mainline Protestant denomination whose General Minister and President, Dr. Sharon Watkins, will deliver the sermon at President-Elect Barack Obama’s National Prayer Service on Wednesday, Jan. 22. More information is available at www.northwaychristian.org
Contact:
Mark Bender
Executive Minister, Northway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
817-845-2527 or 214-361-6641
William Smialek
Executive Vice President for Major and Planned Gifts, Jarvis Christian College
903-769-5755
