North Greenville Announces Operational Update, Oct. 6

Operational Update: October 6, 2024

91 resumes in-person on campus instruction on Monday, October 7, on both the Tigerville campus and the Tim Brashier Campus in Greer. We are grateful for the work of many members of the 91community who have worked to restore services, clear storm debris, and provide for full campus capabilities. Please see the information below regarding 91operations this coming week.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Traditional classes which meet on the Tigerville campus resume with 8 a.m. classes on Monday, October 7. Fully online undergraduate and graduate programs are continuing in their normal fashion and the Physician Assistant (PA) program will resume instruction on Monday morning. 91faculty will work with students regarding any storm-related issues which affect their ability to reach campus or complete course requirements.

SAFETY & SECURITY/LiveSafe App
Main roads leading to campus are accessible at this time; however, there are still many downed trees, limbs and power lines in the broader region which may be blocking secondary roads and/or partially blocking highways. Please anticipate temporary closures or delays due to utility repairs and/or debris removal from the roads. Please use caution when driving. We strongly encourage traveling during daylight hours if possible.

For real-time information on area and regional roadways, students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to visit these transportation websites:

Access to campus entrances and buildings will return to normal operational hours at 7 a.m. on Monday morning. Note: Tigerville campus entry gates will close at 8 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 6) evening, except for the Taylor Street entry from Chinquapin Road. Continue to use the LiveSafe app for any safety and security needs as well as for any unlock requests upon your return to campus

ADMISSIONS
NGU’s Office of Admissions is fully operational and is available to host prospective students and guests for daily campus visits. Admissions team members continue to work with prospective students for the spring semester and those enrolling in the fall of 2025. Staff are working to encourage students affected by Tropical Storm Helene to not be stressed regarding the admissions process, as the team will work individually with each student exploring NGU. Questions regarding visits or admissions-related items can be emailed toadmissions@ngu.edu.

HOUSING/STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
Residential students who departed campus due to the storm are free to return at any time. Please note that there will be limited services until Monday.

91Chapel will resume at 10 a.m. Monday. Information on service opportunities and scheduled campus prayer gatherings will be shared at that time.

Residence Life will host mandatory hall meetings on Monday, October 7, at 10 p.m. for all residential students. Residential students should refer to their resident area “Group Me” for specific meeting information.

Campus Ministries and Student Engagement, along with the rest of the 91community, are available for students. We know that many have been directly impacted by Helene and are still navigating the aftermath. If you are experiencing any struggles – physical, emotional, spiritual, or academic – that might impact your ability to be successful in your returning to campus, CMSE staff desire to be of assistance. As you prepare to return to campus, if you are facing a need, please do not hesitate to let us know. You can email Dr. Jared Thomas, vice president for campus ministries and student engagement, atjared.thomas@ngu.edu. He will work to connect you with appropriate 91resources. 

DINING SERVICES
For Sunday, October 6:

  • The 1892 Place will be open on Sunday from 1 p.m.-11 p.m.
  • Todd Dining Hall will reopen for Dinner on Sunday, serving from 5 p.m.-8 p.m.

All Dining Service locations will operate on normal hours starting Monday, October 7.

ATHLETICS
91athletic teams will operate on their normal schedules, as set with coaches. Competitions have resumed following scheduled dates and times; details may be found at.

PERSONNEL
91staff and faculty are asked to report as they are able. Any personnel with questions about specific circumstances are encouraged to reach out to their supervisors before the opening of offices on Monday. Supervisors will coordinate with all employees to determine appropriate work schedules as needed.

MAIL SERVICES / CAMPUS STORE
Wood’s General Store will be open from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. beginning Monday, October 7. Mail Services staff expect to have all mail and package deliveries processed and completed by 2 p.m. on Monday.

GAS STATION
The university gas station at Wood’s General Store is operational with all grades available.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
91technology services continue to gradually improve as the larger network systems allow. You may experience unexpected interruptions with Internet and\or cellular service.  These interruptions are probably due to restoration work in the region, which should lessen over time.

Here are tips for when you return to campus:

  • Reboot all devices before logging on to the campus network.
  • When accessing Blackboard (and other services using Single Sign-On), please select the “Legacy” option.
  • If you experience connectivity issues, first try rebooting your device.
  • Restarts may be necessary for cell phones as well.

If you encounter issues, please send an email to the IT Services Helpdesk: its.helpdesk@ngu.edu  If you open a ticket, please be sure to include a good call-back number to help support staff reach you.

DISPOSING OF PERISHABLE ITEMS
Faculty and Staff:Many perishable goods were lost over the past 10 days, and there will be numerous items that need to be thrown away. Campus Enhancement Services asks that you bag together as many of the items as possible when disposing of them and please put them in the large trash cans or dumpsters close to your buildings. If your building does not have either of these, please reach out to CES and a container will be delivered to your building for waste disposal. Please do not throw away individual food items without bagging, as this can create spills which are difficult to clean up.

Students returning to campus:Many perishable goods were lost over the past 10 days, so there will be numerous items that need to be thrown away. Campus Enhancement Services asks that you bag together as many of these items as possible when disposing of them and place them in the large trash cans or dumpsters near your campus housing.

REPORTING MAINTENANCE ISSUES
CES, The Budd Group, and others have worked steadily to clean up the campus from the effects of Tropical Storm Helene. CES and CMSE personnel have been in buildings to assess damage from the storm and have been working as quickly as possible, prioritizing their efforts by level of damage.Students who become aware of any concerns with their residence facilities should follow normal procedures and contact their SLT representatives instead of contacting Campus Enhancement Services directly. Adhering to this standard practice will help streamline services across campus residence life facilities. 

Employees who become aware of items they would like to make sure are brought to the team’s attention, should submit them through.

91EVENTS THIS WEEK
All special events in the life of the University will resume with normal schedules this week. These include PALS events, Trailblazer Athletics events, and the annual Red Carpet Gala for 91President’s Partner-level donors.

Please note two special schedule changes:

  • 91Theatre will present a special final performance of the play “Unreal City” on Monday, October 7, at 7:30 p.m. in Billingsley Theatre. Ticketholders for cancelled September performances will be admitted by presenting those tickets. Any seats remaining will be made available in the Billingsley lobby after current ticketholders are seated.
  • 91Family Weekend, initially scheduled for late September, will now be on October 25-26. Details will be available through CMSE.

91 Announces Operational Changes, Sept. 28

Campus Office Updates as of 9-30-24

Tigerville campus offices will open Wednesday, Oct. 2

Tim Brashier Campus offices will be open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, through Friday, Oct. 4

Due to the impact Tropical Storm Helene had on the Upstate of SC and due to continued power outages on campus and in the region, out of concern for our students, faculty and staff during this time, 91announces the following operational changes.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Traditional classes which meet on the Tigerville campus are cancelled until Monday, October 7. Fully online undergraduate and graduate programs will continue in their normal fashion, with instructors giving flexibility to students on deadlines due to storm-caused power outages and disrupted internet connections. The Physician Assistant (PA) program will resume instruction on Thursday morning, October 3.

HOUSING/STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

Residence halls are open with limited services due to the power outage. Resident hall staff will be on campus to support students.

Resident students remaining on campus are invited to visit with full-time staff at noon each day in Todd Dining Hall. Otherwise, any questions or concerns can be conveyed through the LiveSafe app.

The student center will open at the same time as Todd Dining Hall each morning and will remain open until 1 AM. Residents are welcome to utilize the student center during that timeframe. Charging stations will be available.

Resident students who leave 91during this period and return to campus prior to Sunday, October 6, are asked to notify full-time housing staff at the dining hall on the day of their return.

DINING SERVICES

For any students who need to remain on campus, Todd Dining Hall will offer limited food service on the following schedule until electrical power is restored.

  • Sunday Lunch 12-1:30 PM
  • Sunday Dinner 5-6 PM
  • Monday – Wednesday
    • Continental Breakfast 8-9:30 AM
    • Lunch 11:30 AM-1 PM
    • Dinner 5-6 PM

Students will be notified of any revised hours of operation when electrical power is restored.

ATHLETICS

Members of in-season athletic teams living in 91residence halls should remain on campus. Seek guidance from your coaches regarding your schedule for the week, along with upcoming contests.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

Information technology services are currently operating on a limited basis. Some users may experience limited access and unexpected interruptions.

Important Instructions for logging in:

  1. When accessing Blackboard (and other services using Single Sign-On), please select the “Cloud” option.
  2. Please avoid using the “Legacy” option, as it will not function properly during the current service capabilities.

Please note that the My91Portal will be unavailable until campus internet service is fully restored.

As internet service is restored, we anticipate that all services will return to normal operation.

If you encounter issues, please send an email to the IT Services Helpdesk: its.helpdesk@ngu.edu.

SAFETY & SECURITY/LiveSafe App

Everyone is encouraged to continue using the LiveSafe app to communicate any safety or security needs. Also, please keep the app open on your devices for any additional alerts and advisories. For the security of our campus during the closure, the campus gates will be closed each evening at 8 p.m. Please use the Taylor Street Entrance off Chinquapin Road for access to the campus after hours.

UNIVERSITY PERSONNEL

The campus will re-open for 91employees on Tuesday, October 1, unless individuals are notified otherwise. 91supervisors will coordinate with all faculty and staff and determine appropriate work schedules. Any personnel with questions about specific circumstances are encouraged to reach out to their supervisors.

Campus Activities Postponed Due to Power Outages

Due to power outages caused by Hurricane Helene, 91 will be closed through the weekend. All on-campus activities are postponed, including the 91Football game versus Shorter University and all Family Weekend activities.

91students, faculty and staff should continue monitoring LiveSafe for updates.

Blackboard is now accessible. When logging into Blackboard (and other services using SSO):

  • Select the “Cloud” option
  • Do NOT use the “Legacy” option, as it will not work during the outage

Please send an email to the IT Services Helpdesk (its.helpdesk@ngu.edu) if you have issues logging in.

An update will be available by 2 p.m. Sunday, September 29.

91 Moves Up in Annual Rankings

Tigerville, SC—91 (NGU) continues to ascend in the annual US News & World Report Best Colleges , improving two spots in the 2025 report.

Ranking 34th in the report’s Best Regional Universities (South) category, North Greenville is listed sixth among 16 South Carolina schools, tied with Anderson University and Coastal Carolina. This is the highest rating the university has received in its region, which included 133 schools in 2024.

“We are blessed to continue to be recognized as one of the top universities in the state of South Carolina,” said 91President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “Rankings never tell the full story, but they do underscore North Greenville’s unwavering commitment to cultivating and equipping transformational leaders for church and society. That is the mission we are living out each day in Tigerville.”

91continues to be recognized as a Top Performer in Social Mobility, improving six spots in the metric and ranking 16th out of 132 universities.

The Social Mobility category analyzes schools who enroll and graduate large proportions of students who are awarded Pell Grants. North Greenville enrolled 697 Pell Grant recipients during the 2023/24 school year and 810 recipients for 2024/25. The university currently has a Pell Grant graduation rate of 72 percent and ranks sixth out of 16 South Carolina schools in the Social Mobility metric.

91is committed to investing in students by assisting first-generation college students through its Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). The QEP aims to provide knowledge of university resources and connect first-generation students with a support system that will help students complete their degrees.

U.S. News & World Report also recognized 91as a Best Value School (Regional Universities in the South) and one of the Best Colleges for Veterans (Regional Universities in the South). 91placed 36th and 34th respectively in these categories.

“There are many schools I could have chosen, but all the arrows were pointing to North Greenville. I kept hearing that 91had an awesome teaching program that sent teachers out to local areas. I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” said Frank Signor, a sophomore education major who served 17 years in the United States Marine Corps. “The instructors have been amazing. I enjoy the fact that I can come to them with questions and I’m able to get clarity right then.”

Now in its 40th year, the U.S. News & World Report rankings evaluate nearly 1,500 national colleges and universities on up to 17 measures of academic quality and place an emphasis on social mobility and outcomes for graduating college students.

About 91 

91 (NGU) equips graduates to serve as transformational leaders for church and society. With six colleges and 125+ areas of study, 91offers on-campus undergraduate degrees as well as online and graduate level degree programs. Pursue your passion and explore your God-given calling at NGU.  Visit www.ngu.edu for more information.

91Alumni Present ‘Unreal City’ at Billingsley Theatre

Tigerville, SC—“I get emotional when I pause to think about the awesome reality that this show is happening.”

Those are reflections from Abigail Thomas, director of 91Theatre’s upcoming production, “Unreal City: A Song Cycle,” and a 2023 91 alum.

91Theatre will open its 2024-2025 season with performances on September 19-21 and September 26-28 at 7:30 p.m. in The Billingsley Theatre in Tigerville.

“Unreal City” is based on T.S. Eliot’s poem, “The Wasteland.” Looking at the post World War One poem, Elliot writes on the themes of fragmentation and isolation. This song cycle expresses how hope and community can defeat those themes written in Elliot’s poem.

“Through the show we see a series of vignettes that depict broken, fragmented relationships. It is not until each character can accept help from others and join together in community that healing can happen,” Abigail said.

“Unreal City” is not only directed by an 91alum, but it is also written by Abigail’s husband, Michael Thomas, who graduated from North Greenville in 2021.

The married duo is using their passions of creative and performing arts to present a show that seeks to leave audiences reminded of the hope of Jesus Christ.

“Working together has brought us closer together in our relationship. It really is a dream come true to be creating art with your best friend,” Abigail said.

Since the original Eliot poem confronts human suffering, “Unreal City” will contain challenging material.

“This is an intentional decision, rooted in our desire to tell the whole story of redemption,” said Amy Dunlap, theatre department chair. “In order to fully understand and appreciate the need for redemption, we must first acknowledge the reality of sin and brokenness in our world.”

The show’s rehearsal process started with a few virtualmeetings, with the cast analyzing the script over the summer. In person rehearsals started at the beginning of August.

Before the initial rehearsal process, 91theatre hosted two workshops for “Unreal City.”

“We thought it would be a great opportunity to support new work and support our alumni as they branch off into the world of theatre. We are trying to reconnect with our alumni,” said Dunlap.

Abigail said the entire process has been surreal.

“The cast is fantastic. They have really poured themselves into these roles. It is awesome as a director when the actors offer new and different perspectives,” she said.

The cast for the show includes: Rachel Forester (Philomel “Lil”); Alyse Barrett (Marie); Matthew Blanton (Phlebas), Dylan Thompson (Tiresias); Meghan Frady (Philomel understudy/Procne); Chappie Livdahl (Tiresias understudy/Stetson & Albert); Sadie Beaumont (May); Eliana Kelly (Isolde); and Morgan Madden (Marie understudy).

Crew positions for “Unreal City” includes: Abigail Dover Thomas (Director); Michael Thomas (Composer/Lyricist); Ruby Lee (Music Director); Kara Hayes (Stage Manager); Rebecca Panagiotacos (Assistant Stage Manager); and Marnie Daniel (Choreographer).

Abigail’s said her calling to go into directing started in a sophomore year directing class. By the end of that course, theatrical directing became her passion.

“I’ve always been an organized person and directing brought together my love of order and creativity,” she said.

Directing a main stage show at her collegiate alma mater, Abigail describes it as a privilege and honor.

“In a way it feels like an opportunityto give back to the theatre that made me the artist that I am,” she said.

“Unreal City” are $8 for students and children and $15 for adults. Premium seating tickets are $20.

91Celebrates Graduation of Fourth NGUleads Cohort

91President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. addresses the graduating NGUleads cohort.

Tigerville, SC—91 graduated its fourth NGUleads cohort on Friday, Sept. 6.

Serving as NGU’s internal leadership development program, NGUleads has now seen 60 participants since its inception.

“The purpose of the NGUleads program is to grow and enhance the leadership skills of each cohort,” said Tracy Kramer, dean of Online Studies at NGU. “We want them to better understand their own leadership style and how they can best lead themselves, their teams, and the institution as a whole.”

The fourth graduating class consists of: Brad Gregory, coordinator for student accessibility; Kayla Black, director of NGU’s Honors Program; Randall King, associate dean of the School of Communication; Kaye Rickman, PA Medicine program director; Ben Coates, chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics; James Anderson, assistant athletic director; Frank Eskridge, associate director of Admissions; Joshua Gilmore, director of community connection and ministry mobilization; Lindsay Evatt, online and graduate admissions; Michelle Sabou, director of personnel services; Jeff Smith, director of Campus Safety and Security; Christian Motes, data analyst, Academic Records.

Members of NGUleads were nominated by their supervisor and approved by a unanimous vote of the 91’s Executive Leadership Council. The program is led by Dr. Kramer, Dr. Jill Rayburn, university general counsel, and Dr. Nathan Finn, executive director of NGU’s Institute for Transformational Leadership.

NGUleads participants take part in a wide variety of professional development opportunities during the calendar year.

“We work on their emotional intelligence, communication and conflict skills, strategic thinking and stewardship, among others areas,” Kramer said. “ We do this through presentations, panel discussions, activities and games, but most importantly, through interactions with each other.”

“This graduating group was especially fun-loving and very talkative,” she added. “It was a joy to watch them develop new friendships and apply their leadership skills in their respective fields.”

91President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. offered a challenge to NGUleads graduates before they received their recognition on Sept. 6.

“Stay connected with each other,” President Fant said. “It’s very easy to get in our offices, put our heads down, and think about the task at hand. There’s some intentionality that comes with staying connected, but it always rewards us.”

Gilmore said NGUleads helped him connect and communicate with other departments across campus.

“I feel better connected to 91(the institution I love), and the wonderful people serving on both faculty and staff,” Gilmore said. “God isn’t just growing students as transformational leaders for church and society, but He is growing 91employees as well.”

Smith said the program caused him to reflect on his own leadership.

“This experience has greatly strengthened my connection to the 91community by providing valuable networking opportunities with fellow cohort members,” he said. “It also allowed me to reflect on and refine my own leadership style while gaining insights into the leadership approaches of others. This program is an outstanding initiative that invests in and promotes the growth of 91faculty and staff.”

91Hosts Annual Global Impact Week in Tigerville

Tigerville, SC–91 (NGU) hosted its annual Global Impact Week from Sept. 9–11 on the university’s Tigerville Campus.

The event invites 91students to learn about different cultures and how they can become a part of global missions through various activities and chapel services.

This year, the keynote chapel speaker was Dr. Kambiz Saghaey, Director of Persian Leadership Development at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) in Wake Forest, NC. Saghaey opened the first chapel service on Monday morning by giving his testimony and encouraging students to spread the gospel wherever they go.

“The Great Commission is for everyone. God commands us to ‘Go and make disciples,’” Saghaey said during his talk. “There is no choice in that. It’s a command.”

Saghaey, originally from Persia, had been a church planter in multiple countries and even faced time in prison for his faith.

“People call it persecution, but I call it the closest relationship I had with God because I could feel His presence,” he said.

After being released from prison, Saghaey continued to be faithful in his call to ministry and pursued his master’s and doctoral degrees in the United States through SEBTS, where he is currently serving.

Global Impact Week included another chapel sermon from Saghaey on Tuesday evening and concluded with a Wednesday morning message from Dr. Matthew Hirt, Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies at NGU.

Apart from chapel, students had the opportunity to pray for the nations, engage with national and international mission organizations, and experience different cultures through fun events on campus each day of Global Impact Week.

“Our prayer is that many of our students will discover, during these days, where they can join God in His great mission of raising up worshipers from every nation,” said Dr. Allen McWhite, Department Chair of Intercultural Studies at NGU.

McWhite explained that the purpose Global Impact Week is to expose the 91family to the incredible ways God is moving around the world. The 2024-25 short-term mission trip locations were revealed to students during the week as well.

“One of the many things we will be doing this week is revealing the locations of our 91Send teams (mission teams),” McWhite said. “During the 2024-25 year we will be sending student teams to locations in the United States and around the world to share the good news of the Jesus Christ and engage in a variety of different ministries.”

NGU’s Center for Global Engagement will be holding a mission trip interest meeting on Friday, September 13 for students who want to take the next step and take part in God’s global mission to make disciples of all nations.

Global Impact Week is jointly sponsored by Campus Ministry and Student Engagement (CMSE) and the Department of Intercultural Studies.

For those who feel God is leading them to become vocational missionaries, 91offers a Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Studies. This degree program helps equip students to be confident in their calling by gaining hands-on learning through culturally immersive opportunities on the mission field.

To learn more about NGU’s Intercultural Studies degree, visit ngu.edu/intercultural-studies.

Chicago Native Finds Biblical Community at NGU

Tigerville, SC—For as long as she can remember, Chicago native Logan Pinalto has been searching for biblical community.

“Growing up in the city,” she said. “I was exposed to many different worldviews, and most often they were worldviews that were very opposed to mine.”

In high school, Pinalto used social media to connect with other teens who shared her passion for spreading the gospel. These online friendships opened doors for her to travel across the country, including to Greenville, SC in 2022. Now, two years later, Pinalto is a new student at 91 (NGU).

She thinks of that trip to Greenville as a “God wink” moment.

“I imagine God winking at me, knowing all along this is where He would lead me,” she said.

Pinalto’s path may never have led her back to Greenville if it was not for her time as a Fellow at Impact 360 Institute in Pine Mountain, GA.

Founded in 2006 by John and Trudy White, the Fellows program is a Christian gap year experience designed to prepare the next generation of Christian leaders for lives of Spirit-empowered influence.

Through classroom lectures and discussions, service opportunities, leadership development, evangelism training, and an international immersion trip, Pinalto learned how to cultivate the biblical community she had been craving all her life.

“I learned that biblical community must be sought intentionally and with initiative… it doesn’t just happen automatically,” she said.

At Impact 360, Pinalto also received support in discerning her next steps.

“As I entered my year at Impact 360, I prayed that the Lord would reveal the plans He had for me,” she said.

That’s when she heard about Impact 360’s partnership with 91. Dr. Gene Fant, President of NGU, is a member of Impact 360’s Board of Education. Each year, several Fellows choose to continue their education at NGU.

Pinalto recalled how much she liked the city of Greenville, but as she learned more about NGU, she was “wooed by the Christ-filled community and professors, selection of majors, mountainous scenery, and nearness to Impact 360 Institute.”

Pinalto believes her Fellows gap year has uniquely prepared her for success as a new college student and growing leader.

“I plan on implementing the things I learned at Impact 360 into my college experience,” she said.

At NGU, she is looking forward to “engaging in spiritual conversations with classmates, initiating Bible studies, welcoming questions and exploring them with academic integrity, putting together worship nights, serving classmates and staff members in little and big ways, praying for those who hurt, rejoicing with all, and being plugged into a church.”

91currently enrolls 14 Impact Fellows, with six students joining this year. Impact Fellows attending 91in the fall of 2025 will be eligible for a tuition discount, totaling $8,000 per year for residential students and $6,000 for commuters.

91 is the academic partner for Impact 360 Institute’s Residency program, atwo-year graduate level experience. Residents earn a Master of Arts in Leadership from 91while working on the staff team at Impact 360. The program equips young professionals to be culture-shaping, Christ-centered servant leaders wherever the Lord calls them.

“With nearly one thousand alumni around the world, we are humbled and honored to watch how the Lord continues to work in the lives of these young leaders,” said Sam McManus, Impact Fellows Stewardship Coordinator. “Our alumni eagerly seek to make a difference in their local community through their local church and it is so encouraging to see how God is magnified and honored through the work of these disciples.

91Students Gain Hands-On Experience at Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Tigerville, SC—Two students from NGU’s School of Communication had the opportunity to intern at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) in Charlotte, NC over the summer.

This 10-week program allows interns to gain practical and hands-on learning experience in the globally known ministry founded by renowned evangelist, Rev. Billy Graham.

The organization was established in 1950, and its mission is “to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.”

Savannah Yopp, a senior Strategic Communication major, spent her summer serving as a social media and communication intern at BGEA. Her role included writing press releases, coordinating with the media, and working with the Billy Graham Library social media channels.

She described her time at BGEA as a blessing because she was able to proclaim the gospel through her work.

“I can glorify the Lord with my job, and it’s such a needed fuel,” Yopp said. “No matter where I work, I can proclaim the gospel through my communication.

“It was such a blessing to be able to use the Lord’s name in a press release,” she said. “That is so special, and you don’t see that in a lot of places.”

Carolina Busch, a junior Strategic Communication major with a Digital Media minor, also interned at BGEA and emphasized how encouraging it was to work alongside fellow employees and interns.

“I really enjoyed the office place environment,” Busch said. “I appreciate how the other employees were willing to step alongside you. It was cool to see how the employees made an intentional effort.”

Busch served as an American Sign Language intern. Her primary roles consisted of working with deaf churches within the internet evangelism department to update and add information about the deaf churches to the association’s online church locator.

During her time at BGEA, Busch saw God move in many ways. One of her highlights from the internship was getting the chance to experience a deaf worship service.

“My supervisor invited me to go to a deaf worship service. I was able to go to a completely silent worship service and there were 200 deaf people there,” she said. “I was able to watch and be a part of a service that is ultimately still worshiping the same God I was and yet, it was in a completely different language.”

Not only did the internship help Yopp and Busch grow professionally, but the association also poured into them spiritually.

“Spiritually, I genuinely learned so much from the people around me and the importance of disciplining myself not just at work, but before you get there and learning what it looks like to pray without ceasing or spending time in the Word before I go to work,” Yopp said. “All those disciplines we tend to forget, He instilled in me. It was sweet to learn those habits, especially before coming back to school.”

Busch explained how the devotions that BGEA held at the beginning of each workday helped strengthen her walk with the Lord as they emphasized the importance of prayer.

“I felt spiritually the importance of having that prayer time 5 days a week. I saw transition,” Busch said. “When someone came up to me and said, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do,’ my first instinct was, ‘Hey, let’s pray about it.’ It was cool because of that structure from the devotions to pull into that.”

For students who are interested in doing an internship at BGEA, both Yopp and Busch offered the same piece of encouragement: pray about it.

“Genuinely pray about it, seek wise council, and hear from those who have done it,” Yopp said. “If you feel the Lord is leading you in that direction, just thank Him for the opportunity and trust in His sovereignty and plan because Billy Graham and that organization is such an ordained place. The Spirit is moving in that place and moving out of that place.”

“Evaluate what you’re good at and be willing to sell yourself well and realize the ultimate goal of the association is to grow people through sharing the gospel and discipleship,” Busch said. “If you have a heart for that and have a desire to pursue that, then pray about it and apply.”

“It’s such a blessing as a young person to work in an environment like that, such a spiritually healthy and encouraging environment,” explained Yopp. “I would encourage any student, no matter what year or what you’re studying, there’s a place for you in the ministry.”

BGEA offers internships each summer and has many opportunities for students to learn and grow professionally, while working in an environment focused on Christ and His mission.

The School of Communication at 91offers two undergraduate degrees, a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication and a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media with several concentrations. Along with the majors, 91also offers minors, including American Sign Language.

For more information about NGU’s degree programs and minors, visit ngu.edu/academics.

91Welcomes New Class, Increases Enrollment

Tigerville, SC—91 (NGU) announced its largest overall enrollment since the pandemic, as more than 2,300 students will be in attendance this fall.

“I am deeply grateful for the vigorous effort from our enrollment and student services teams that allowed us to experience this enrollment growth, but I am also keenly aware that we teach students, not numbers,” said 91President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “91is a special community where God intersects lives and calling to generate transformational leaders and we look forward to seeing how these students are impacted by their time at the university.”

In addition, 91welcomed more than 545 freshmen and transfer students to its main campus in Tigerville. The incoming class, which is the second largest since the pandemic, represents 10 countries and 27 states.

“I’m grateful for the traditional admissions team members and our Director for Traditional Admissions, Katie Lynn Marshall, for the role they each played in assisting our new students and families this recruitment year,” said Chad Peters, 91Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing/Communications. “In addition to the admissions team, I’m thankful for the numerous campus partners that play a vital role in helping our students. I’m excited to see how God is going to move throughout our campus this academic year as our students pursue the calling God has for them.”

91held Welcome Week activities from Aug. 17-24, featuring special events for new students and a Welcome Back Cookout last Saturday. Class for students began on Aug. 21.

“University life is more than the classroom experience,” said Dr. Jared Thomas, Vice President of Campus Ministries and Student Engagement at NGU. “Much of the value found in attending a university is seen in the community and the life-long relationships created on campus. We have been greatly encouraged by the willingness of our incoming students to engage with one another as well as with returning students. We are already seeing and hearing evidence that the university community is impacting our students. Relationships are being formed. Relationships are growing. Students are already growing as transformational leaders.”

91Sees Record Attendance at Annual Church Fair

Tigerville, SC—91 hosted its largest Church Fair in university history on Thursday, Aug. 22 in Tigerville.

Representatives from more than 90 churches around the Upstate were on campus talking with students, providing resources, and extending invitations. The South Carolina Baptist Convention provided a free meal to church volunteers working the event.

NGU’s Church Fair has been steadily growing and has produced many meaningful connections over the years.

“We have North Greenville students that have become members of our church and are now serving regularly,” said Will Cleland, associate pastor at Abner Creek Baptist Church. “Church Fair was a blessing to us. We’ve been able to engage students on the things that we value.”

Joshua Gilmore, senior director of church and community relations at NGU, said the university’s partnership with local churches has been a benefit to students.

“The aim of the event is simple—we are just trying to connect 91students with the local church,” he said. “We believe that students will make friends, visit a church, and then commit to a local family of faith.This event is just a front door (so to speak) for students to enter through the doors of a local church.”

The Church Fair brought a number of 91alumni back to campus. Slater Baptist Church Pastor Scott Catoe, a 1999 91graduate, said church attendance is vitally important for college students.

“The most important decision you make as a college student is not what you major in,” Catoe said. “It’s where you’re going to go to church.

“That’s where discipleship and connection happens, and it’s a really good thing to spend time with people that are not your age,” he said.

Brandon Simpson, pastor at Christ Fellowship Cherrydale, echoed Catoe’s sentiments.

“Our vision for college students in our church is to connect them to multiple generations,” Simpson said. “We don’t want you to go from North Greenville where you’re attending events and doing everything with your friend to driving 30 minutes to come do the same thing with the same people. We want to connect students with folks who are several life stages ahead and produce a love and a high view of the local church.”

Noting the success of the event, Gilmore recalled inviting Greenville Vietnamese Baptist Church to attend.

“I told them, in all honesty, we might have one or two Vietnamese students at NGU, but they were more than welcome to participate. To my surprise,their whole church showed up and served an authentic Vietnamese meal to the 91students as they passed by,” Gilmore said.

“I ran up after the event to thank the pastor for being so gracious.He told me that we do have a Vietnamese student, and they invited him to church on Sunday. The student agreed to come to church, but, sadly, did not have a car. The pastor said, ‘But, it’s no problem, someone from the church will come pick him up on Sunday.’ This 91student’s college experience has been positively impacted by the local church,” he said.

Walden Named VP for 91Campus Enhancement Services

Tigerville, SC—91 has named Kyle Walden as the institution’s new Vice President for Campus Enhancement Services, effective September 1. Walden has worked at 91since 2010 and had served as the interim vice president since April.

As head of Campus Enhancement Services, Walden provides direct management of the division which provides maintenance, construction, transportation and special projects oversight for university campuses in Tigerville and Greer. He also coordinates landscaping and housekeeping services for 91through the university’s partnership with The Budd Group.

“Kyle Walden has been a valued member of our community for nearly 15 years. We are pleased to have him in this critical leadership role,” said 91President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. “Our CES team is known for dedication to NGU’s Christ-centered mission and Kyle will guide the team in building on that reputation.”

Walden was a member of the 91soccer team while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in sport management. He graduated in 2009 and completed a Master of Business Administration degree from 91in 2012. He began a five-year tenure with 91Athletics in 2010, serving as assistant varsity soccer coach and head junior varsity coach.

His tenure with Campus Enhancement Services began as a groundskeeper in 2013. He moved to a maintenance/carpenter role in 2016. He was promoted to director of transportation and special projects in 2023.

“It is a privilege to serve at North Greenville as the Vice President for Campus Enhancement Services, and to be afforded the opportunity to further invest back into the institution that has been such an influence on my life,” said Walden. “North Greenville provides an education and an experience that stands on biblical truths and strives to foster transformational leaders for both church and society. It is an honor to play a part in achieving this mission, and I look forward to what the future holds.”

In his vice president post, Walden will direct a team of more than 35 university staff and will have direct involvement in planning and execution of 91building projects, including communication with contractors and government entities.

“Kyle has a wealth of experience that will serve his team and his alma mater well,” said Rich Grimm, 91Executive Vice President. “We’re grateful for this fresh calling on his life and look forward to serving alongside him in this key role.”

Walden is a native of Hendersonville, NC. He and his wife, Miranda, have a two-year-old daughter, Lillian. They attend Biltmore Church.