MADDEN URGES CHURCHES TO OPEN HEARTS FOR TOMORROW'S BAPTIST STUDENTS

JACKSON, November 15--Tom Madden began his college career with $13 in his pocket. Armed only with a note from his pastor guaranteeing payment of his first semester's tuition, Madden began his freshman year at Oklahoma Baptist University. With the financial support of his home church, Madden completed his education and built a career as a pastor, as a denomination leader, and ultimately as executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Today, recalling his own experiences of 40 years ago and wishing to make a similar impact on the lives of today's students, Madden is leading a $30 million statewide campaign for Tennessee's three Baptist colleges.

Madden knows Baptist students still rely on their local churches to meet the ever-rising costs of Baptist higher education. Speaking in a Nov. 12 session of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, he told of a bright young member of another pastor's congregation who was forced to drop out of college for financial reasons.

"We are leaving young people behind because we don't know how to help them," Madden lamented.

Like many others, Madden realizes the importance of meeting the needs of students in Tennessee churches through church-funded scholarships.

"Financial obstacles should never be a reason one of our young people cannot attend Belmont University, Carson-Newman College, or Union University," Madden professed.

In 1995 the presidents of Belmont, Carson-Newman, and Union were notified that Cooperative Program funding would not grow proportionally with the schools' budget needs in the forseeable future.

As a result, members of the TBC `s budget and program committee proposed the schools launch a collective campaign geared toward long-term funding needs. To ensure a bright future for Tennessee Baptist students, the convention's three colleges will work cooperatively with Tennessee churches to build endowment for student scholarships.

The convention has charged each institution with raising $10 million from regional churches, offering them the opportunity to invest in their most valuable resource-- their own young people.

"The dividend on that $30 million investment is the gifts these young people bring back to your church and community as the future families of our Tennessee Baptist Convention," Madden said. "Many will never have the opportunity unless we help them. Not only will they lose, but all the rest of us will lose. The Kingdom of God will lose."

Endowment funds will be held permanently, with interest producing annual income for scholarships, while the principal remains intact for the benefit of future generations.

"These dollars will allow the children in your pre-schools, church choirs, sunday schools, RAs, and GAs to be able to attend a Tennessee Baptist college," Madden said.

"You will hear from representatives of this campaign in the near future who will assist your church in building a Tennessee Baptist Scholarship Endowment fund for the students from your own church. Please make them welcome," Madden said. "Like Jacob's well, this campaign will become the perpetual spring to quench the thirst of mind, body and spirit of future generations."