Financial essay
We live in exciting, yet challenging times across our nation and the world at large.
The pace of change, and the demands on people in all generations, drive the need for continuous opportunities for people to develop and enhance all forms of intellectual knowledge and professional skills. In other words, we all must keep “learning for life” in order to keep up with life’s demands. Messiah College, soon to become Messiah University, is well-positioned to provide lifelong learning opportunities to those seeking Christ-centered, ethical values-based educational programs.
As a Board member and chair of the Messiah College Finance Committee, I am pleased to report that the College continues to be in a very solid financial position. Our financial results for fiscal year 2019 compare favorably to top academic institutions, both secular and faith-based, across the mid-Atlantic region and the country. Our financial statements are independently audited each year, and we get strong financial ratings from a nationally recognized rating agency.
The financial soundness and stability of the College does not happen by chance; it is the result of diligent operational and financial stewardship of the leadership of the College, the faithfulness and commitment of its faculty and staff, and the generous gifts of thousands of alumni and friends each year to support student scholarships, faculty development, and campus facilities enhancements. This tri-partied coalition ensures that over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students each year can participate in “learning for life” experiences in the context of Messiah’s mission to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character, and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in church and society.
The College’s leadership is keenly aware of the pressure that cost of education has on individuals and families. We continuously seek opportunities to limit the increases in the cost of secondary and post-secondary educational programs, while ensuring the College is providing relevant, quality learning experiences and programs to meet the needs of students of all ages; including updated facilities and technologies that enable and support those initiatives. In short, keeping quality educational “learning for life” programs affordable is a key objective of Messiah College.
In order to continue the Messiah College legacy of providing current and future generations with “learning for life” opportunities in the context of Christian values, the College relies on the generous support of individuals, corporations, and foundations to keep education affordable to all who seek it. We should remember the words of the Apostle Paul, who wrote: “Whosoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whosoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6). I pray that as friends and supporters of Messiah College, you will be blessed exponentially as you generously sow into “learning for life” initiatives at Messiah College.
—Ken Moreland, Trustee, Chair of Finance Committee