Courage to Speak

June 19, 2018

Greetings in Christ from the Campolo Center at Eastern University!

While the academic year has ended, we continue with our mission and Tony’s vision: to identify, recruit, financially support and mentor students who demonstrate a calling, giftedness and commitment to vocational Christian service in a church or para-church ministry.

Tony continues to preach and advocate nationally and internationally and recently finished grading final exams from the Sociology class he taught at Eastern.  The Campolo Scholars are busy serving in ministry in their home churches and local ministries, making an impact for Jesus in their communities.

Please take a moment to read our profile of James Williams, an outstanding seminarian accepted into the Campolo Scholars program last fall.  You’ll also find an article by Tony that reveals the practical wisdom he imparts as mentor to the Campolo Scholars.  I am especially excited to briefly celebrate Brittney Daniels, who is the first Campolo Scholar of the inaugural cohort to graduate from the program and from Eastern in May, with a degree in Missions and Anthropology.

Left to Right: Peggy Campolo, Lauren Daniel, Brittney Daniel (class of 2018), Tony Campolo and Robert Gauthier at the Campolo Scholars Graduation Reception May 2018.

Brittney is a highly motivated student, who completed all of her course requirements in just three years.  Thanks to the generosity of all of our donors, and especially the Flaherty Family Foundation and Street Charitable Trust who have underwritten the Campolo Scholars Pilot Program, Brittney will be graduating with no debt, which fulfills Tony’s ambitious vision and a principle objective of the Campolo Center.

In addition to growing in her knowledge and faith, during her three years with us, Brittney has ministered to hundreds of youth, both through her service with Wayne Presbyterian Church’s youth group and children’s choir, and as the summer youth group intern with her home church, Allentown Presbyterian Church.  Please keep Brittney in your prayers as she furthers her education and training in seminary next fall.  After being offered full-scholarships to Princeton Theological Seminary, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Columbia Theological Seminary, Brittney will begin the next chapter of her ministry at Columbia, in Decatur, Georgia.

(Right to Left) Jackie Baugh Moore, VP of the Eula Mae and John Baugh Family Foundation, Robert Gauthier, Director of Campolo Center, and Dr. Tony Campolo at a Celebration Banquet in honor of Babs Baugh in San Antonio, TX.

We’re thrilled to announce that the Campolo Center has been awarded a generous grant from the distinguished Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation in San Antonio, TX.  They will be partnering with us, as a leadership sponsor, to underwrite the Campolo Fellows Speaker Series for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Campolo Fellows are faith and thought leaders, influenced and inspired by Tony, who share his vision for a holistic gospel that combines a personal commitment to Jesus and the pursuit of social justice.  They speak to the Eastern community and mentor and encourage the Campolo Scholars to use their gifts and training for the benefit of the Kingdom. Stay tuned — we’ll be announcing our Fall schedule of speakers soon! 

Three generations of Baughs, three generations of social impact for the Church of Jesus Christ. Left to Right: Jackie Baugh Moore, Babs Baugh, Julie Baugh Cloud, Jake Moore III, and Katie Moore.

Tony and all of us at the Campolo Center are grateful for the collective support and partnership of friends like you.  Your help is essential in training current and future Campolo Scholars for vocational Christian ministry.  Please keep James, Brittney and all the students in your prayers and please continue to give as generously as you can to up help expand and enhance Tony’s vision – and its impact – through the Campolo Center.  We can’t do it without you.  Thank you and God bless you.

With gratitude and hope,

Robert Gauthier
Executive Director of Development

P.S. Don’t miss the profile of Campolo Scholar and seminarian, James Williams or Tony’s article, Preaching is an Art Form.