During this season, Biola University rejoices with students like senior Sheena Boyd, a journalism major who next year will become the first in her family to graduate with a bachelor’s degree and wouldn’t have been able to attend Biola without scholarships.

Boyd has found her niche at Biola in the public relations program, serving as director of Biola’s student-run PR agency, 6th Street PR. She also traveled twice to Sacramento with other Biola students to lobby on behalf of the Cal Grant, which many Biola students rely upon in order to afford a Biola education. She has a passion for social justice and hopes to one day work in PR for nonprofits.

And freshman Riley Mailman, a business major who has already authored a book and founded a movement. When he was still in high school, Mailman launched a movement to communicate to his generation that Jesus Christ, and Christ alone, was the only thing that could satisfy their needs.

Today, Mailman blogs at theneedmovement.org and shares the Good News with teenagers all across the country impacting the world for the Lord Jesus Christ while he studies at Biola.

As of Nov. 30, Biola University supporters have contributed $6.6 million of this year’s $18 million goal to offer a biblically centered education to students like Boyd and Mailman who may not be able to afford tuition otherwise. Biola celebrates the work of God and financial generosity alumni, parents and friends of the university have contributed towards Biola’s mission — equipping men and women in mind and character to impact the world for the Lord Jesus Christ.

“We rejoice in the work God is doing on this campus, in our students lives, in our graduates’ lives, here in La Mirada and throughout the world,” said Biola President Barry H. Corey. “We recognize that God has blessed us immensely through the generosity of our supporters and through the financial wisdom of our leaders. We rejoice that after 105 years, we are still going strong, holding firm to our core convictions, educating men and women in mind and character to impact the world for Christ.”

Students Jose Anaya and Caroline Nam have already seen the fruit of their time at Biola, partially funded by Biola supporters.

Finances were tough for Anaya’s family but God provided the resources for him to attend Biola, where he is making the most of his education. Anaya, a junior business major was born in Colombia. He and his family were forced to flee Colombia when Anaya was only 9 years old, and they made a new life in America, just down the street from Biola in Downey, Calif. A standout business student, Anaya was one of 26 college students accepted to attend Nestle’s Training Development symposium for leadership development, and he was the only representative from a private Christian school.

Nam, a senior biblical and theological studies major has served as director of the Evangelical and Mormon Interaction ministry on campus, studied abroad in South Korea and was able to travel to Sri Lanka with Biola’s Student Missionary Union to care for orphans, widows and the “least of these.”

Nam says she is passionate about sharing the gospel with her family, many of whom are not saved. Nam recently celebrated the joyous news that her father, a lifelong atheist, put his trust in Christ. She now plans to move to Korea to teach English and hopefully share the gospel with her extended family in that country. After that, she dreams of going to law school and working in the arena of human rights.  Biola rejoices with Nam that God is faithful and can work through people in such amazing ways.

It’s through the generosity of Biola’s donors that students are able to attend Biola and be equipped to impact the world for Jesus.

If you would like to give to Biola and contribute to the year end goal by Dec. 31, please visit giving.biola.edu. For questions, contact Mark Miles at (562)903-4717.

Written by Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Specialist. Contact Jenna at 562.777.4061 or jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu.