Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia
Liberty claims to be the largest private, nonprofit university in the country and the largest Christian university in the world. Its 7,000-acre campus has numerous facilities that make meeting there a pleasure. Liberty has a variety of event spaces, auditoriums and halls, and a stadium and an arena to service meeting and event attendees.
DeMoss Hall has several large spaces with capacities ranging from 350 to 850 people, as well as a grand lobby that holds 150. Towns Auditorium seats 750. LaHaye Student Union, a multipurpose center, has event space and accommodates more than 600. And Old Pate Chapel accommodates 400.
The Old Thomas Road Baptist Church is still in use and available for event rentals. A new church has replaced the original one, which was founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell and others in the 1950s. It was the site for the national television show “Old Time Gospel Hour.”
Also part of Liberty University is the 13,000-square-foot Liberty Mountain Conference Center, located across from the main campus. “The versatility is what makes it unique,” said Mitria Vaughter, director of events at the center. Business meetings, seminars, receptions and banquets happen frequently. Capacity is up to 400 guests. There are two 125-seat rooms and six 24-seat rooms. There is an open lobby for gatherings.
Many local churches use the space for worship, meetings and events. Different denominations are welcome to use it.
“We are here to serve,” said Vaughter. “We have all types of groups call on us.”
Oral Roberts University
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Oral Roberts University (ORU) likes to say it educates the whole person — mind, body and spirit. As part of that Christian mission to connect with people, the university opens its doors to the public for meetings, seminars, conferences, religious events, academic and athletic camps, performances and social events. Church groups often book spaces on this pretty campus. ORU has an impressive operation called Conference and Event Services, a complete solution that serves both the university and the Tulsa community. Its marketing team is dedicated to helping planners select the right venues and amenities.
The university can present huge gatherings, such as the three-day E21 spiritual renewal conference, at the versatile 11,000-seat Mabee Center, which boasts 105,000 square feet of space. The center can also service smaller events like seminars, corporate announcements, church meetings and banquets.
Besides the Mabee Center, ORU has numerous buildings and venues that accommodate many needs. One of them is Christ’s Chapel, a fine choice for a small meeting or for a conference attended by as many as 3,000. A smaller yet comparable sanctuary is the serene Kennedy Chapel. Also on campus is the Prayer Gardens, a pleasant, multilevel outdoor area with shade trees, fountains and walkways.
Howard Auditorium seats 900 for a small to midsize faith-based conference, concert or performance. Meetings and banquets can be held at the Armand Hammer Alumni-Student Center. The hospitality room at Johnson Stadium, ORU’s baseball field, is another option for planners to consider.
