Wisdom in Higher Education
Where then does wisdom come from?
Where does understanding dwell?
God understands the way to it
and he alone knows where it dwells,
for he views the ends of the earth
and sees everything under the heavens.
And he said to the human race,
‘The fear of the Lord-that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding.’
(from Job 28)
This year has seen a remarkable number of high profile debacles in higher education, with scandals involving sex abuse, governance gaffes and student cheating at some well-respected and storied universities. These and other similar accounts have raised questions of integrity in some prominent segments of the academy.
When the transaction of education supersedes the spiritual transformation of the individual, when acquiring knowledge supplants gaining wisdom, and when the fear of the Lord is absent from the focus and goal of learning, higher education institutions risk losing their purpose for being and their integrity.
My prayer for IWS and for all of those we serve, is that we may relentlessly pursue the fear of the Lord and the shunning of evil so that we may be wise and understanding. The world certainly needs wise and understanding people who lead the way in navigating through the often tumultuous seas of life in this world.
Fund Name Changes
We are reducing the number of our funds and combining some of the fund names to minimize confusion.
The Annual Fund and the Alumni Fund will be combined into the IWS Fund. These two funds have operated in exactly the same way, and that operating function will not change at all. Alumni can still make gifts in the name of their classes. The IWS Fund will continue to serve the critical annual fund role of filling the gap between operating revenue and operating expenses. Thanks be to God and to your faithfulness, in this past fiscal year we had the highest total giving to these operating funds in our history! The Annual Report, coming out next month will have more details on last fiscal year’s giving.
| Giving to IWS |
|---|
| You can make a donation online right now; or you may write a check made out to IWS (noted IWS Fund and/or Scholarship Fund) and mail it to IWS, 151 Kingsley Ave., Orange Park, FL 32073.
Gifts may be designated in memory or honor of a loved one, and/or may be anonymous. All gifts are tax-deductible. |
The Alumni Scholarship/Grant Fund and the General Scholarship Fund will be combined into the Scholarship Fund. As above, these two funds have operated in exactly the same way, and that operating function will not change at all. The Scholarship Fund will continue to serve the critical role of the strategic recruitment and retention of students with high impact and demonstrated financial need to IWS. Alumni can and should still make gifts in the name of their classes. Thanks be to God and to your faithfulness, we also had the highest total giving to scholarships in this past fiscal year that we have ever had!
Legacy Giving
According to a study at the Boston College Center for Wealth and Philanthropy, by the year 2052, $41 trillion (that’s trillion) in wealth will be transferred from one generation to the next. In spite of this looming intergenerational transfer of wealth, over 70% of Americans do not have a current will! Without a plan to pass on your personal assets, you and your estate are left at the mercy of the IRS. I encourage all those in the IWS community to employ long-term estate planning to maximize your legacy to your loved ones and to your charitable interests. I also strongly urge you to seriously consider IWS as one of your priority charitable interests. While the annual support of the IWS community is absolutely crucial to the fulfillment of our sustainable mission, deferred support like estate planning can leave a Kingdom legacy with an impact that spans multiple generations. This kind of gift is often the single most significant act of generosity toward God that most of us will ever perform. Let your hands be your executor instead of the government!
In 2009 IWS received notice of our first official bequest from an alumnus. A bequest is a simple way to create a legacy which generously provides for the future of IWS and demonstrates love and support for the advancement of our mission. The inclusion of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies in estate planning assures that your gift will have enduring influence and impact. If you are interested in a bequest, your attorney will need to revise your will or add a codicil to be sure the bequest is left to IWS. A copy of the bequest provision or codicil will need to be sent to IWS for our files. Those making a bequest will be invited to become a member of our Legacy Circle. For more information on bequests or other planned giving options, please contact me at president@iws.edu, or call the IWS office. Your support of the ongoing mission of IWS is absolutely critical to the work of real spiritual transformation through worship.
Thank you for your partnership and commitment to the Lord’s work in and through IWS.
The Lord be with you,
James R. Hart, President
Giving to IWS
Checks can be made out to IWS, noted “IWS Fund” and/or “Scholarship Fund” and sent to IWS, 151 Kingsley Ave., Orange Park, FL 32073. Donations may also be made online. Gifts may be designated in memory or honor of a loved one, and/or may be anonymous. All gifts are tax-deductible.