Cheerful Givers

Kurt ’92 and Heidi Rupprecht ’92 Jahnke deeply commit to pouring into the lives of Asbury students through their 29 years of giving to their alma mater.

Their unlikely journey to Asbury showcased God’s divine plan. Both Kurt and Heidi planned to attend other colleges. “My mom kept leaving literature around the house from Asbury,” explained Kurt. “I said that I’d go visit Asbury to get her to lay off the idea a little bit.” After visiting, Kurt fell in love with Asbury and knew that it was where God called him to be.

Heidi briefly stepped on the Asbury campus for a choir competition and later applied just to see if she would be accepted. After Heidi’s acceptance, her advisor,
Dr. Winston Smith ’50 reached out to her in a way that she described as personal and defining.

“His encouragement was a thoughtful and eye-opening gesture unlike a state school where I thought I’d end up,” Heidi recalled. “It was a big step of faith and was part of the Lord’s doing to draw me here.”

In their time as undergraduates, Heidi majored in biology, played intercollegiate softball, and served as a class officer and chaplain. Kurt studied music education, performed in the Asbury concert choir, orchestra, and jazz band, and served on summer ministry teams. As Heidi and Kurt became friends, they eventually formed other pivotal friendships, including mentorships showcasing the hospitality of professors.

“We were at people’s homes with our peers, and it was a really unique thing,” said Kurt. “All of those impactful experiences laid the formation of our lives.”

Their first donation to Asbury was in 1994, two years after they graduated, and the Jahnkes have humbly given ever since. The couple regularly returns for Reunion and stays in touch with the happenings of Asbury.

“We continue to see the improvements on campus and the intentionality Asbury has with updating spaces or thinking about the student body and culture — those are worthy and worth supporting,” said Heidi.

Now living in Mountain Lake, Minn., Kurt and Heidi focus time on two grandchildren, as well as their ministerial call to their jobs and community. They have been serving in the Christian and Missionary Alliance church as members for more than 20 years. The two shared that they view life as the mission field and feel a responsibility to minister to those around them through loving and serving people like Christ. One of those methods of service – giving to Asbury students through financial means.

The Jahnkes, impacted by their spiritual formation, education, and relationships as undergraduate students, felt a call to give back through donating to the general student scholarship fund and Reunion gift projects.

Their story and offerings to Asbury embody 2 Corinthians 9:7: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

“Donating is really important to us and a real blessing,” said Heidi. “We felt God asking us to give back, and it’s our pleasure to do so with Asbury.”

Long Faithfulness in the Same Direction

My wife Diane and I recently visited Charleston, S.C., on a short anniversary get-a-way. What an historic and beautiful place with fascinating stories represented, both tragic and inspiring. Decisions and priorities are represented in various institutions and architecture, creating the DNA of this unique city.

Not long after, as we celebrated a great Reunion, at Asbury with what is perhaps one of our biggest groups ever. I was reminded that this special place has a great history of people making missional-minded decisions and sacrificially prioritizing to stay focused on God’s call on this place for generations. This calling is in Asbury’s unique DNA, and we are grateful for God’s continued provision and presence among our university family.

We will be unwrapping what God allowed us to host in the Outpouring in February for decades, just as the classes of the early 1950s and 1970s continue to see God’s goodness in his outpouring of revival in those generations. There is such a great need for a place like Asbury in this current climate and culture, and courageous faith and faithfulness are needed in the face of adversity.

Our long-term sustainability and viability are provided by God but shored up by the prayers, wisdom, and support of our larger Asbury family. That growing Asbury family continues to prioritize their support in inspiring ways faithfully focusing on excellence and increased spiritual temperature in the lives of our students and community.

We are privileged to get to know so many of you and to celebrate God’s goodness to you, to Asbury and to our students. We need your prayers, support, and encouragement now as much as any time in the past. God loves this place called Asbury University and, more importantly, he loves our students, our alums and our team living into the DNA and mission. There is a bright future for AU. Continue to join us in this important work! THANK YOU!

Dr. Mark Troyer
Vice President for Institutional Advancement & Strategic Partnerships

Your Savings, Your Legacy

If you are 70 1⁄2 or older, you can use your individual retirement account (IRA) to support the Christ-centered mission of Asbury University. Making an IRA charitable rollover gift to us may lower the income and taxes from your IRA required minimum distributions this year. Direct up to $100,000.

Visit our website at asbury.giftlegacy.com to learn about how you can create your legacy by making an IRA charitable rollover gift to support our cause this year.

RANDY NELSON
AVP for Lead and Planned Giving
plannedgiving@asbury.edu • (859) 858-5544