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Northwest University Chapel Renovation Campaign

Hi, I'm Joe Castleberry, President of Northwest University. Since 1934, we've been teaching the word of God in a Christ centered community by the power of the Holy Spirit, and we haven't given up one inch of that mission. Would you give us just a few moments, as Phil Rasmussen and Christian Dawson explain this new project?

Today we'd like to share some stories and talk about the need for upgrading the chapel. I'm standing here with Christian Dawson, who's leading the charge in Spiritual Formation at Northwest as our current campus pastor. The chapel is an incredible place and is considered the heart of what happens at Northwest University. We've been blessed because there's some good things that have happened. As you can see, the stage has been upgraded to meet the current needs of our culture, and it's working quite well for us. But there are some other things that need to happen in this building. Our biggest need is a prayer room that's open 24 hours a day for students who are seeking the call of God on their lives. We also need a new hospitality center and some exterior updates. So much happens in this room. Not only are students encountering God, students come and learn to preach, lead worship, develop technical skills for church ministry. The good news is that we've already had a very generous donation come in by one individual who donated $400,000. That said, before we can use that $400,000, we'll need to get the chapel up to city code for a total renovation cost of one and a half million dollars. And that's why we're coming to you. We would be so grateful for dollars, thoughts, prayers that you could give towards this effort, because Christian Dawson interacts with students in this building almost every day, I've asked him to share about the important moments that happens in Butterfield Chapel.

Yeah, this chapel, it changed my life. It created a space for me to meet with Jesus as a student. I can think of the spots in this room where I sat and God really spoke to me and my friends. Now, for the last five years, I've been able to be on staff here and see God work in the lives of students, just like he did on my own. This past semester, we had four students who signed up to get baptized in the chapel. They shared their stories of repenting and turning from sin of abuse and hurt from their lives and how they wanted to give that all up and follow Jesus. Then, in response to their testimonies, 24 more students and even some non-students jumped in the tank and were baptized. Maybe the coolest part of that night was what happened the next morning at 7:00 a.m. those students who were baptized in the chapel were in the cafeteria reading their Bibles with their friends who watched them get baptized the night before. It just goes to show that there's something special about having sacred space. It's one thing to have time set apart to be with Jesus, but having a dedicated sanctuary, a space to meet with Jesus, it makes a significant difference in the lives of students.

We just want to say thank you for any amount that you would contribute to this effort. Yeah. Please pray for what is happening here at Northwest for the students, the journey that they're on, the challenges that we're facing. God is doing exciting things at Northwest University and we are honored to be a part of his work. God bless you and thank you so much.

About 60 years ago, President C.E. Butterfield knelt down to pray on the foundation of an old cabin that had stood in the village of Houghton. Once the home of the Stewart sisters, the cabin had hosted Bible lessons and worship services for Japanese students at the University of Washington for years. It was saturated with the sisters’ prayers that God would always use their property for the spiritual training of young people. Not many years later, Northwest University would build a beautiful chapel on that very property to call out to God daily for the abiding presence of Jesus on our campus.

Today, our chapel building has grown weary in serving our community, not only suffering the physical ravages of wear and weather, but also falling behind in the technical challenges that every house of worship faces in our time. It is no longer large enough to meet the demands of our growing student body. Our students need a new, dedicated 24-hour prayer room.

The Butterfield Chapel means more to us than any ordinary building. It stands as a house of worship. It must be renewed now if we expect it to continue serving God’s purposes on our campus.

Northwest cannot remain as the Christ-centered learning community our founders intended and without a vibrant program of worship and discipleship at our center. So, we have prioritized the restoration and enhancement of the chapel as our first project in the rebuilding of our campus. More than a generation ago, believers invested their treasure in this vision by constructing the chapel. Our generation must now rebuild it, with the same vision for spiritual life that inspired the founders and followers of our past. We invite you to join us in bold generosity to invest once again in Christ-centered, Spirit-filled education for the glory of God and the fulfillment of God’s mission in our time.

Respectfully,
Joseph Castleberry, EdD President, Northwest University

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