ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) — A Grand Canyon University Scholarship Foundation affiliate, Scholarships for GCU Students, will receive a 217-acre campus in Northfield, Mass., from Hobby Lobby.
Scholarships for GCU Students and the North American Mission Board were the final two entities under consideration for the property, a private school founded by evangelist D. L. Moody in 1879. After evaluating potential uses for the campus, logistics and operating expenses, NAMB leaders requested that the mission board be removed from consideration.
NAMB President Kevin Ezell congratulated Scholarships for GCU Students on officially being named by Hobby Lobby today (Sept. 21) as the campus recipient.
Grand Canyon University is a private Christian university in Phoenix.
“We are very happy for Scholarships for GCU Students today and excited about the opportunities this property will open up for them,” Ezell said. “I also want to convey my deep gratitude to Hobby Lobby for considering NAMB. Their generosity and desire to see this property continue to be used for furthering the Gospel is something I will always appreciate and admire.”
Purchased in 2009 by the David Green family — founders of Hobby Lobby, the arts and crafts retail giant — the property has since received more than $5 million in renovations. The Greens stipulated they wanted the property to be used by a ministry dedicated to furthering the Gospel in North America.
Established by Moody as an educational institution for the underprivileged, the school was divided into the Northfield Seminary for Young Ladies in Northfield, Mass., and the Mount Hermon School for Boys in Mount Hermon, Mass. The institution dropped compulsory theological education in the early 1900s. The Northfield and Mount Hermon campuses consolidated in 2004 on the site of the Mount Hermon property six miles away in Gill, Mass., leaving the Northfield campus vacant and unused.
NAMB, based in Alpharetta, Ga., works with Southern Baptist churches, associations and state conventions to impact North America for Christ through evangelism and church planting.
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Mickey Noah writes for the North American Mission Board. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp).
