CLINTON, Miss. — Mississippi Christian University (MC) launched the most ambitious capital campaign in its history during the Bicentennial Gala on Sept. 29, inviting the MC family to help position the institution as a national leader in Christian higher education for the next 200 years.
MC President Blake Thompson said “Rise to 200: The Bicentennial Campaign for MC” seeks to increase University resources by $200 million.
“This is an exciting time to be part of Mississippi Christian University,” Thompson said. “It is rare to reach a 200th anniversary, and we shouldn’t take it for granted. MC is not here by chance – we are here because of generations of prayer, planning and work. And now, it’s our turn to rise and continue supporting MC and its vital mission of excellence in education and commitment to the cause of Christ.”
To illustrate Rise to 200’s impact, Thompson was joined onstage by dozens of MC students representing those who will benefit from the campaign.
“MC is preparing these students for professional careers, but we are also invested in the purpose behind those careers,” said Katrina Pace, chief executive officer of the MC Foundation. “By maintaining a focus on faith-based education, we are producing professionals who care for others in a Christ-centered way. They have a unique perspective that is based on the education they receive at MC. That’s what makes MC special.”
Pace said the campaign’s strategic direction was informed by University leaders and is already more than halfway toward its stated financial goals.
Rise to 200 is organized around four pillars that will strengthen the people, programs, outreach and places that make MC distinctive.
Reach: expanding MC’s Christian mission through programs and ministries that provide opportunities to share Christ’s love through service and outreach.
Inspire: creating innovative academic programs in high-demand fields and growing signature programs that equip graduates for lives of professional, personal and spiritual significance.
Support: providing scholarships that expand access to Christian education and endowments that help MC recruit and retain exceptional faculty and leaders.
Elevate: investing in facilities and capital projects to enhance the quality of MC’s academic programs and support the student experience.
Pace said the Bicentennial Gala provided the perfect setting to launch the campaign.
“We’ve been celebrating our bicentennial all year, from Founders Week that began in January through Convocation in August,” she said. “The gala was the pinnacle of MC’s bicentennial celebration and allowed us to move from celebrating the institution’s history to planning for its future. It’s a pivotal moment for MC as we launch this campaign to support the institution’s priorities for the next 200 years.”
She said MC has spent years putting the systems and structure in place to manage a campaign with the scope of Rise to 200, including gathering input from academic and program leaders across campus to ensure the campaign accurately reflects the University’s priorities.
“We have been blessed with broad support for this campaign,” Pace said. “Our Foundation Board and Board of Trustees have been deeply involved with six campaign committees that are led by board members. There are many people with an interest in seeing Rise to 200 succeed who have put a lot of work into the initial stages of this campaign. It’s been a community-wide effort.”
With Rise to 200 officially launched, Pace said the campaign represents an important opportunity to invest in MC’s future.
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