Fall 2018 Magazine

41 Fall 2018 2018 GIVE BACK GALA As part of the Bethel College Day of Giving, Bethel hosted the first ever Give Back Gala on May 12, a fundraising opportunity focused on the value of Christian higher education. This year’s event featured New York Times best-selling author Lee Strobel. The purpose of the gala event, which included dinner, was to raise money for the General Scholarship fund, which supports student scholarships and areas of greatest need. Two students also spoke, including Rebekah Miller ’18, who chose Bethel over a full-ride scholarship to Yale University, and Keenen Boyce, now a sophomore, who is the first recipient of the Bethel College Rising Entrepreneurship Scholarship – in partnership with Startup Moxie. Additionally, the Bethel College Concert Choir performed. More than 500 people attended, and $290,000 was raised! impacting millions for Christ, and become a teaching pastor at Woodlands Church, where he currently serves. The Ulrich’s stayed in northern Indiana and used their tragedy to minister to other couples coping with the loss of a child. They even met another couple who lost twins in a Pinto accident. The Ulrich’s youngest daughter, Sharon (Ulrich) Minnich ’86, who was about 13 at the time of the crash, went on to study at Bethel College. She married Ryan Minnich ‘87, and two of their three daughters, Kimberly (Minnich) Swygert ’15 and Kari Minnich ’19, attended Bethel as well. So when Strobel came to campus, it was an answer to prayer for the Ulrich/Minnich family – even though Earl, who passed away two years ago, wasn’t able to be there. Bethel’s alumni office set up a special lunch, where Mattie was able to share with Strobel that she and Earl visited the driver of the van and forgave him, not even a week after the crash happened. This was an astonishing show of grace that Strobel hadn’t heard about before. She also talked about her girls, who she describes as “outspoken about their faith.” Judy, a free spirit, wanted to study interior design and always decorated the house for every holiday. Lynne wanted to be an accountant and loved riding horses. “We know where they are because they had such a deep faith,” Mattie says. Strobel shared about how he uses the Pinto case as sermon illustration, detailing the impact that it had on his life. “As painful as it is, God used it in me coming to faith,” he says. LEFT TO RIGHT : KIMBERLY (MINNICH) SWYGERT ’15, KARI MINNICH ’19, STROBEL, MATTIE ULRICH, SHARON (ULRICH) MINNICH ’86 AND RYAN MINNICH ’87. Total raised - $290,000 Alumni - 39% Parent - 10% Friend - 29% Trustee - 4% Staff - 12% Corporation - 6% DONORS of gifts came from newdonors 17% Total donors 255 All gifts support student scholarships and areas of greatest need! Giving Recap