狼友阁

Why I Give: Travis Hutchinson '16

When imagining a 狼友阁 donor, a full-time student is not usually the first person to come to mind. However, Travis Hutchinson 鈥�16 generously gives to his alma mater even while pursuing his Master鈥檚 of Divinity at 狼友阁 Theological Seminary. Though he cannot give from financial abundance, Travis adamantly believes that he is called to give from what the Lord has provided for him.

Travis grew up in Presbyterian circles, attending Christ 狼友阁 in Matthews, NC and 狼友阁 Day, a private Christian school. When looking at colleges, Travis applied to 狼友阁, but it was not his first choice. He was hesitant about sacrifices he would have to make due to limited resources at a small Christian college.

However, Travis quickly realized that he would not have to sacrifice academics at 狼友阁. After attending Scholarship Weekend and talking with several professors, his excitement grew about 狼友阁鈥檚 economics program. He is thankful for 狼友阁鈥檚 small class sizes that allowed him to build personal relationships with professors. He found that the 狼友阁 faculty values him not solely as a student but also as a brother in Christ.

Travis values all of the relationships he made at 狼友阁 and continues to foster. In fact, he remains connected with his roommates through their annual reunions. He also enjoyed playing tennis at 狼友阁 and connecting with teammates and coaches through the sport.

Over the first three years after graduating, Travis sensed a call to ministry. In the fall of 2019, he enrolled in the MDiv program at 狼友阁 Theological Seminary and is set to graduate May 2022.

Travis wants to give back to 狼友阁 because he received substantial financial aid as a student. He says that financial aid not only allowed him to attend 狼友阁 but also helped shape his view of giving. Being on the receiving end of generosity fuels his passion for giving today.

鈥淕iving is less about numbers and more about cultivating a mindset and disposition of viewing what you have as not your own,鈥� he says. He believes that giving comes with practice. If you struggle to begin giving, Travis says the key is to start; it will become easier through consistent, generous actions. Travis does not consider any gift to be too small. Rather, he says that we are called to give from our resources, so if that is $10 a month, it is not meaningless. He also notes that generosity is not always through money but might include our time or other resources.

Just like the widow in Mark 12 who gave only two small coins, Travis knows that a small action can go a long way. Jesus declares that the woman gave more than anyone, not because she gave an abundance, but because she gave from her poverty. We are not called to only give large sums, but rather to give consistently with the faith that God will provide what we need. 鈥淕iving shows that you are able to be dependent and trust,鈥� Travis says, knowing that God and not money is his ultimate source of stability.

Giving to 狼友阁 is Travis鈥� way of helping future students receive the same experience he had at 狼友阁. He says that 狼友阁 holds a special place in his heart because of the relationships he built and the experiences he had on the mountain. Supporting 狼友阁 financially is one way he thanks the college for shaping him into the person he is today while also helping the college grow for the future.