As I was sitting in the congregation at Springhill Baptist Church this weekend, I was overjoyed to watch what was happening on stage. Several members of the Central Baptist College band, along with their director, Donna Bradley, joined with the church’s musicians to form an orchestra that accompanied the church choir for its Christmas cantata. I was reminded in that moment that CBC does not exist to simply pass on knowledge. We help students use their talents and abilities to honor and glorify Christ.
Every Sunday across the BMA, CBC students and alumni are actively leading in worship, playing instruments and proclaiming the Word of God from the pulpit. We are not just teaching them how to do it. They are actively doing it. They are serving, growing, witnessing and carrying the hope of Christ wherever they go.
Something else crossed my mind as I watched our students on Sunday. Every student on that stage is there because churches and individuals faithfully support our ministry. In fact, every student at CBC receives institutional scholarships of some size. The same can be said of most of our alumni. Some institutional scholarships are large, and some are small. All are underwritten by donors who believe in the eternal value of Christian higher education.
Your generosity is what allows us to meet students on what has become an international mission field. Students arrive from across Arkansas, across the nation, and from countries around the world. Many come with a strong walk with the Lord, ready to grow deeper. Others come searching for answers, for purpose and for the truth of the gospel. When you give to CBC, you make it possible for us to share Christ with each one of them.
As you consider year-end giving, I ask you to prayerfully reflect on how your partnership helps students hear the gospel, grow in their faith and become leaders who will carry Christ into churches, schools, businesses and mission fields for years to come.
A year-end cash gift is the most immediate way to impact students. These gifts strengthen scholarships, academic programs, campus ministries and all the work that makes CBC a place where faith and learning come together. Because CBC is a 501(c)(3) ministry, your gift is fully tax-deductible.
Some donors choose to give appreciated stock. By transferring shares directly to CBC, you may avoid capital gains tax and can deduct the full market value. This allows you to bless students in a significant way while also receiving a meaningful tax benefit.
If you are age 70 and a half or older, a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA is another powerful option. These gifts can satisfy required minimum distributions without increasing taxable income, and they directly support the spiritual and academic growth of students.
I also invite our churches to consider a special year-end offering. When a church supports CBC, it strengthens a ministry that is shaping future pastors, missionaries, worship leaders and faithful Christian servants.
As we approach Dec. 31, I hope you will join me in praying for our students and in thanking God for His faithfulness. I also invite you to consider a year-end gift that will help us continue sharing the gospel and guiding students to grow closer to Christ. Your generosity makes an eternal difference.
