More than a Name
Words: Jordan Christner ’11, MBA | Campaign Director
Photo by Laura Armstrong
At Wheaton College, tradition and transformation walk hand in hand. For more than 160 years, the College has remained anchored in the Christ-centered mission to educate students to build the church and benefit society worldwide. Out of this unwavering commitment, the name for our campaign emerged: Faithfully Forward.
The title is more than a theme. It is a declaration of identity and direction. Faithfully speaks to who we have always been. We are a community grounded in the truth of Scripture, committed to the authority of Christ, and inspired by generations of alumni who have lived lives of service, sacrifice, and witness. From our abolitionist founding, through wars, cultural shifts, and global change, Wheaton has never wavered from its spiritual core. The faithful legacy of those who have walked this campus before is not a relic of the past but a compass for the future.
And yet, to be faithful is also to be responsive to God’s leading, the needs of the world, and the call to prepare students for service in complex and changing times. Forward affirms our resolve to innovate boldly, meet new challenges with courage, and equip students with knowledge, wisdom, resilience, and a deep love for Christ and his kingdom.
We believe that faith and forward-thinking are not paradoxes but partners in a reality where “the Word of God is living and active.” In Christ, tradition fuels transformation. Conviction inspires creativity. The same God who has been faithful throughout Wheaton’s history is the one calling us forward into a new season of growth, impact, and service.
Faithfully Forward is rooted in a holy tension of honoring our past while advancing with confidence toward the future, with Christ at the core. This campaign represents our commitment to build on our firm foundation of faith, while investing in the resources, programs, and people that will shape the next generation of servant leaders. This campaign expands scholarships to attract the best and brightest future Christian leaders, strengthens academic programs that unite faith and learning, and reimagines campus spaces for deeper community and collaboration. Every initiative is motivated by the purpose of glorifying God and better serving his world.
This name also reflects what we find every day in our students. They are hungry for truth in Scripture and eager to serve in every sphere of society. From classrooms to clinics, churches to the corporate world, mission fields to media platforms, they will be better prepared to shine the light of Christ. Wheaton will prepare them not just for success and achievement, but also for significance and impact rooted in eternal purpose.
As we step into this next phase of the campaign, we do so with joy and gratitude for the God who has been our help in ages past and will be our hope for years to come. We also do so with humility, knowing that this endeavor is not about us. It is about participating in God’s ongoing work in equipping the church for the challenges ahead and preparing Christ-followers to serve with wisdom, love, and courage in a world hungry for the hope that only comes from Jesus.
Wheaton’s mission has never been more relevant. And so, we move Faithfully Forward—inspired by our past, empowered by our hope and faith in Christ, and committed to shaping a future that honors him.
To God be the glory.
