Continuing the Momentum
President Dr. Frank Weller

Let us know you will talk with your church

Three months. That’s how much time we have to convince the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) that this new era at Great Lakes Christian College is for real. The stakes are high, and I need your help.

Since becoming President in June 2022, I’ve tried to communicate with transparency our efforts to develop a sustainable plan for the College’s future. This letter is the latest in a series sent to churches, alumni, and friends of the College. I hope you will read it and prayerfully act on it.

In June 2022, ӣ����Ƶ was in deep financial trouble. The College had lost money for nine of the previous ten years. Ninety-one small, private colleges have closed in America since the pandemic, and we were on a path to join the list of casualties. We faced existential threats on three fronts: our auditors, the US Department of Education, and our accreditors, the Higher Learning Commission.

One year later the picture is enormously improved! First, our 2023 audit showed a huge improvement. For the first time in a decade the College ended the year with a budget surplus! Second, we eased the concerns of the Department of Education by depositing $113,000 in a reserve fund. Now comes the third challenge: satisfying the concerns of HLC.

When the HLC visited our campus in April 2022 they were so concerned about our finances that they placed the College on probation. They gave us a year to turn things around. With God’s help and the generosity of His people we have! Giving last year was up 140% over the previous year. Enrollment jumped 7%. We developed a three-year strategic plan that ensures we will continue the momentum.

But, as has been said, “You can expect what you inspect.” That is why HLC is sending a team to campus on March 25. They will review our strategic plan. They will scrutinize our budget and financial statements. They will interview our administration, faculty, and staff to assess our efforts to develop a sustainable business model.

The best way we can ensure the peer review team recommends probation restrictions be lifted is to be in the strongest financial position possible when the HLC team arrives.

With your help we can continue the positive momentum together and fulfill that mission for a long time to come. As we anticipate ӣ����Ƶ’s 75^th anniversary later this fall, I believe our best days are ahead of us. Because of your generous support, when the Higher Learning Commission arrives in March, I think they will agree.

-President Frank Weller

Log Cabin Society

President’s Report

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GRACE RIVALRY WEEK
February 9, 2024

Buy a shirt OR sweatshirt, wear it to the games, and support the
Crusaders during Grace Rivalry Week!

(Order deadline is January 22…order a shirt whether you can attend or not!)

Wear it to the February 9 games and you get in free!!!!
Let’s make it a “BLUE WAVE” NIGHT!

Women’s Basketball vs. Grace Christian – February 9 – 5:00 p.m. in the Doty Center
Men’s Basketball vs. Grace Christian – February 9 – 7:00 p.m. in the Doty Center.

Shirts & Sweatshirts available in all sizes

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An ӣ����Ƶ Alumni Reflection by Carrie (Foust) Leazenby
(presented at the alumni meal on August 22)

I could tell a thousand stories about my time at Great Lakes during the 3 short years I attended. I could talk about how friends became family, about how professors took the time to get to know students on a much more personal level by spending just as much, if not more, time with us outside the classroom, about how God was pursuing my heart and how He used my time at Great Lakes to help me grow in knowledge and in faith. But that would take all day and Phil promised I only needed to share a minute or two. Before I begin, I would like to apologize to the rest of my class as I am sure there are much more trained and eloquent speakers, but since only 3 of us rsvp’d to this event, you got stuck with me.

I would like to use my minute or two to recall a few of my most notable memories. I would love primarily to remember some people who are no longer with us, some of whom have received the ultimate reward for a life lived well and faithfully, a few who moved on to pursue other great and noble opportunities, as well as a few who continue to bless Great Lakes Christian College with their presence and service.

I would like to acknowledge what a privilege it was to learn from some seriously great and inspirational professors and teachers. What an honor to have been a student here and to learn under the wise and faithful tutelage of Doc Doty. I still vividly recall the sound of sirens and can see in my mind the flashing lights of emergency vehicles from the corner of my dorm room window on that dreary, winter morning that the Lord called him home. I will never forget his humor and wit and how, by the time WE were students, he could barely stay awake in class. And who could forget, Mr. Fisher. I still remember the shock on the faces of some of the students when I referred to the beloved Professor as Ron (which was simply NOT allowed and unheard of), because I had known him my entire life before I came to Great Lakes. I cannot name them all (time does not allow) but what a blessing it was to experience teachers like Jim Estep, Mark Christian, Ron Klepal, Greg Steere, and Paul Kissling to name a few. I would like to take his moment to offer a special apology to Mark Christian. I still cannot give a speech without writing it word for word, and I probably never will. I’d also like to give a special thanks to Paul Kissling, whom I will never think of and not remember this phrase so passionately uttered in class on many occasions, “You didn’t learn THAT in Sunday school, did ya?”

I would be remiss to miss the opportunity to express my appreciation for Esther Hetrick as some of my most favorite and beloved memories revolve around singing in the choir, choir tours, and madrigals. And speaking of Madrigals, for George Brown, also without whom Madrigals could not, would not, should not exist, nor the ability to diagram somewhat grammatically “complex” sentences such as those that exist within this speech. And last, but certainly not least, the national treasure that is Lloyd Knowles. Lloyd will forever have a little piece of my heart. But poor Lloyd. When we were students, Lloyd was in charge of tracking down every student at the end of the year to take a survey. During that time there was a popular television commercial for Dominoes Pizza with the catch phrase, “Avoid the Noid” (something about freezing pizzas, I don’t know…doesn’t matter). I’m assuming this wasn’t any kind of big secret back in the day, but the students, MOST affectionately I assure you, changed that catch phrase to, “Avoid the Lloyd!” It was a great game to see who could “avoid the Lloyd” the longest and be the last man standing. On behalf of the class of 1998, I would like to formally apologize for our mischievous behavior as it relates.

As a freshman, I was offered a job in the PR department and then quickly moved on to the mailroom.  That job offered me the unique opportunity to get to know staff and faculty in a way that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise, especially those staff who operated a little more behind the scenes. I got to serve and work with some amazing individuals during that time. These individuals played a special role in my life, because we became friends and family, and they were huge sources of encouragement to me. I fondly recall Pat Girdwood who was my first boss at Great Lakes. She invested in me and believed in my abilities and stretched me to step out of my comfort zone and take on responsibilities that I felt inadequate for but rose to the occasion for because she believed in me. I recall fondly so many wonderfully encouraging conversations with Mary Lou Platner and Marie Riggs and Sandra Kuest. Their friendship was and continues to be a blessing to my heart. And speaking of my heart, Mr. Ted Kees will always have a special spot. I think mostly because he reminded me of my dad. He knew no stranger and could talk and talk and talk…and talk some more. One of my most favorite memories was when he discovered the “Hamster Dance” video on YouTube and he went around playing it for everyone to enjoy and experience! One more thing that I think is worth mentioning: I am pretty sure that Jerry Paul was secretly “the Menards guy” and I told him so, once. If you don’t know, google it. It’ll be worth it, I promise.

I wish that I had the time to name and praise each and every individual, because there are so many more, all equally deserving of mention, who have touched my life and the lives of countless others, in one way or another here at Great Lakes Christian College. But there would never be enough time, this side of heaven. And so, I end with a consolatory thought. One day, when Christ returns, we’ll have an eternity to share ALL our wonderful memories together. What a blessed assurance and hope we have as followers and servants of Jesus.

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Great Lakes Christian College Receives Second Major Donation in Second Quarter
Tennessee Entrepreneur’s $100,000 Gift Helps College Balance Budget for Fiscal Year

Lansing, MI, May 19, 2023: Great Lakes Christian College is excited to announce a $100,000 gift from a non-profit directed by Jamie Osborne, a Tennessee-based entrepreneur, pastor, and philanthropist. This gift caps an exceptional year of giving to Great Lakes Christian College.

The College began the current fiscal year anticipating a nearly $600,000 deficit. Targeted budget cuts, modest
increases in tuition and room and board, and the exceptional generosity of churches and individuals have made it
possible to complete the year with a small budget surplus. This is the first budget surplus the College has achieved in nearly a decade. According to Vice President of Advancement Phil Beavers, “This year a dozen churches began supporting or increased their support of the College. Thirty-eight churches took up special offerings totaling $111,874. Additionally, 93 individuals joined the College’s Log Cabin Society, pledging a combined $118,959 per year for the next five years. These commitments played a crucial role in helping the College achieve its financial goals.”

Osborne’s gift is the second major gift the College received this year. Grand Rapids businessman Gary Granger
gifted the College $200,000 in March. “Gifts from individuals like Mr. Osborne and Mr. Granger demonstrate that
donors have confidence the College is doing what is necessary to sustain its mission,” said ӣ����Ƶ President Frank
Weller.

According to President Weller, giving in June must remain strong for the College to meet its financial goals:
“Finishing the fiscal year with a healthy cash reserve shows our auditor, accreditor, and the Department of Education that ӣ����Ƶ is becoming financially healthy. If a donor has been waiting to contribute, now is the time to join the hundreds of others who understand the importance of higher education in a Christian context.”

The College has set a goal of $41,200 in gifts for the month of June. Additionally, the College needs seven more
commitments to reach its goal of 100 new Log Cabin Society members. Donors can contact President Weller or Vice President Beavers to discuss giving to ӣ����Ƶ or can give directly at /advancement/

For interview requests or more details contact: President Frank Weller · 517.321.0242 · fweller@glcc.edu

Log Cabin Society

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