Planned Giving

Donors

Investing in the Future — Lee and Elizabeth Popwell, Brooks, Lisa, and Benjamin

Finding a good chiropractor in Greenville is a little easier now that Dr. Lee Popwell has come to town.

For years, the Popwell family benefited from a close relationship with Bob Jones University, albeit from a distance. Dr. Popwell's wife, Elizabeth, attended Bob Jones Academy and University, and their children, Brooks, Lisa, and Benjamin, were loyal BJ HomeSat students. For cultural enhancement in the fine arts, they often would pack their car and make the long trek from Jacksonville, Fla., to Greenville, S.C., for the various Concert, Opera, and Drama Series programs. It was their desire to see their children eventually attend college at Bob Jones University, but as their children grew older, the Lord began to make it clear that He had plans to strengthen the tie even sooner.

Mrs. Popwell had always placed a high emphasis on her children's education. "To me, a solid Christian elementary school education is every bit as important as a solid Christian college education." So in June of 2003 Dr. Popwell sold his Florida family chiropractic practice of 25 years, packed up everything they owned, and headed north, destination: Greenville, S.C.

What would compel a well-established family to make such an extreme move? It certainly wasn't due to a lack of business. In fact, his business was flourishing, and the Lord was blessing his work there. Rather, it was that Dr. and Mrs. Popwell were convinced that their children should be enrolled in the Bob Jones precollege educational system—at both the elementary and the high school levels. To them, it was important for their children to be trained at a place that not only emphasized academic excellence but also provided and encouraged spiritual excellence. They have never once been disappointed.

Over the past three years, the Popwells have also witnessed firsthand the far-reaching influence the University has to reach the lost world for Christ. As a result of seeing the University's incredible influence worldwide, the Popwells have become convinced of the need to support BJU financially. "I really see it as making an investment for eternity," says Dr. Popwell. "If BJU trains the students to be Christian pastors, teachers, and professionals, and its graduates go out and make an impact for Christ throughout the whole world, we feel like we are part of the bigger picture of world evangelism." Mrs. Popwell wholeheartedly agrees. "The school has changed since I was a student, but they have not compromised. They are staying solid, and we want to invest in that."

John and Sharon Yessa

When John Yessa headed off to a secular university in 1957, he knew little of the road he would travel over the next forty years. As a newly saved young man, John entered college as an accounting major. He knew the major in which the Lord wanted him, but he wasn't sure if he was in the right place to receive his education. After just one year at a private school, the Lord made it clear that Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, was the place for him. It was there that John learned "not only academic material, but more importantly, how to live for God."

And he has been learning to live for God ever since. Upon graduation from Bob Jones University in 1961 with a degree in accounting, John earned his CPA certificate and began working for Peat, Marwick Mitchell & Co (now KPMG) for 6 1/2 years. Shortly thereafter, John started working as the Chief Financial Officer at a start-up company listed on the Nasdaq. One of the benefits of working for this company was the opportunity to participate in its Employee Stock Option Program, where John purchased stock in the company at a discounted rate. By the time John was thinking about early retirement, his stock purchases had appreciated in value and had accumulated significant capital gains.

John and his wife Sharon were faced with three important goals. First, they wanted to receive sufficient income from the stock to meet their financial needs during their retirement years, as well as help their grandchildren obtain degrees from BJU. Second, they wanted to financially support the Lord's work at Bob Jones University. Finally, the Yessas wanted to avoid paying over 25 percent in taxes on the accumulated capital gains when they sold their stock.

Part of the solution was the establishment of the Yessa Family Charitable Remainder Unitrust (commonly referred to as a "CRUT"). The Yessas transferred ownership of some of their stock to the Trustee of their CRUT (which happens to be John). Since a CRUT is a tax-exempt vehicle, when the Trustee sold the stock, there was no capital gains tax due to the IRS. Under the terms for the CRUT, the Yessas will receive a set percentage of the value of the funds in the CRUT on a quarterly basis to help meet their retirement needs for the remainder of their lifetimes. Upon their deaths, whatever is remaining in the Yessas' CRUT will pass to the Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery to indirectly support the work of Bob Jones University. In John's words, "the CRUT maximized our income and our giving without Uncle Sam getting part of the benefit. Using the CRUT will help provide for future generations to have solid Christian training to be the salt and light in this world, as the Lord tarries."

The Yessas are thankful for what they and their children have received from Bob Jones University. "What we received at Bob Jones University, we wanted for our children. Now that we have grandchildren, we want them to have the same opportunity." By establishing the Yessa Family Unitrust, they are making an eternal difference.

A Life to Remember — Mr. Heyward Miller

Mr. Heyward Miller was a cherished friend of many at Bob Jones University. From the late 1980s until his homegoing last June, Mr. Miller's devotion to the Lord's work at BJU was evident to all who came in contact with him. Although he was a man of very few words, he was always quick to give a word of exhortation from God's Word. Truly, he was humbly devoted to the Lord he loved.

The first time Mr. Miller stepped on campus was in 1988 at a Sword of the Lord Conference. He saw the students firsthand and immediately had a great respect for the type of student the University was producing and a high regard for Dr. Bob Jones Jr. (who spoke at that conference). Shortly after returning home from the meetings, the Lord began to impress on him the need to finalize his will and other estate matters. He knew that if his estate was not in order when he passed away, his money would be used to support causes of which he did not approve. Being therefore determined to have his money used for the Lord, he made the two-hour trip to BJU, went to the Information Desk, and requested a meeting with Dr. Bob Jones III. Betty Fagge, Dr. Bob's assistant, recalls her first encounter with Mr. Miller: "This sweet little man came to the Information Desk requesting a visit with Dr. Bob. Although Dr. Bob was out of town, he was able to meet with Stephen Jones. Little did we know at that time that Mr. Miller would be greatly used by the Lord to further our ministry, both spiritually, through prayer, and financially, for years to come."

Mr. Miller was strong about his desire to see his resources used to help students who couldn't otherwise come to school. Dr. Roy Barton, former CFO, recalls his relationship with Mr. Miller. "Our conversations were always relative to the Word of God. He spoke of his study, of the Word, and about Christians being what they ought to be. He read his Bible and lived as close to the Lord in as frugal a situation as I have ever seen in my life. It was thrilling to know him."

Mr. Heyward Miller lived a life that showed he was serious about his faith in Christ. By leaving the majority of his assets to the University, he felt that he could encourage others to live in like manner. In a letter to Mr. Miller, Dr. Bob Jones III stated: "God was good to BJU when He raised you up to be a friend and prayer warrior. Together we are blending our efforts to prepare the next generation to love and serve Christ."