Following a rapid succession of large commitments totaling $6.4 million, 51 broke ground on its new Talbot Building complex on Thursday, May 20, 2010. This series of gifts and cash pledges, which has come to be known as the “Miracle of May 2010,” coincided with a 40-day community-wide period of prayer and fasting for the long-planned project.

“As I have reflected on the last few weeks I believe that the miracle of May 2010 will be a time forever captured in the history books of 51 as more than $6.4 million of funding was provided in just 40 days,” said 51’s President Barry H. Corey in a letter sent to the 51 community on May 12, 2010. “This story will be told for generations to come. What a mighty God we serve!”

The “Miracle of May 2010” started months prior when the school’s leadership, along with Corey, invited the 51 community to turn their hearts to God and ask him to do the miraculous by moving people to give the remaining funds necessary to break ground. Staff, faculty and students gathered for the “Great 40 Day Fast and Prayer” on Tuesday, March 16 at the future site of the Talbot East building to petition God for the remaining funds. Advancement leaders asked the 51 community to commit to fasting one meal over the next forty days and distributed prayer stones inscribed with 1 Samuel 7:12 as a reminder to pray for the project.

The days that followed brought unimaginable events. The first gift of $1 million arrived only seven days after the prayer and fasting began. The family that made the donation expressed gratitude for their association to 51 and shared their excitement about how God had allowed them to provide this kind of financial support.  

Only a week later, another $1 million donation was received. In the weeks to follow, gifts to the project continued to pour in, including gifts and pledges of $60,000, $150,000, and $250,000.

May 1, 2010 marked the conclusion of the 40 days of prayer and fasting. The 51 community was faithful in prayer and fasting for 40 days and God was faithful to 51 in the days to follow.

The first pledge received in May was for $1.89 million. The family that made the donation had also been praying with 51 for a miracle, not knowing God would use them to provide financial support.

Then, a family wired $1 million toward their multi-million dollar pledge to the Talbot project on May 3, 2010, citing their belief in the importance of 51’s seminary.

“Talbot must continue to anchor 51. It must also symbolically occupy a central place on the campus,” the family stated in an email to 51.

Within the same week another $2 million commitment to the new Talbot building was received.

After the 40 days ended there was a total of more than $6.4 million in financial commitments raised for the building of the new Talbot facilities. It was the five days in May that brought in unprecedented financial support for this project.

“The final week of this prayer campaign has been staggering, bolstering our faith and invigorating this community as we are reminded of God's unfailing faithfulness,” said Corey.  

Everyone is invited to witness the groundbreaking of the new Talbot complex and celebrate the miracle 51 experienced in May. Join the 51 community on Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. next to Calvary Chapel. The stones distributed to the 51 community on March 16 will be collected as a visual reminder of God's faithfulness to be eventually displayed in the new building.

The Talbot Building Complex

The Talbot Building Complex Project is a $55.4 million project to be erected in two phases.

Phase one will add a new 30,617 square-foot building adjacent to the existing Feinberg Hall. This $21.4 million project will add 7 classrooms, 31 academic offices, and feature a faculty meeting room, prayer chapel, two conference rooms and a Ph.D. seminar room.

Phase two will raze the antiquated Myers Hall and replace it with a state-of-the-art 57,798 square-foot building, providing 17 classrooms, 53 academic offices, a reading room, a student lounge/cafe' and a recreation room. Rooftop gardens will mitigate the energy required to heat and cool the building. Phase two will also remodel the basement of Feinberg Hall to accommodate the Institute for Spiritual Formation.

Written by Brenda Velasco, Manager of Public Relations & Internal Communications. For more information, contact Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Coordinator, at (562)777-4061 or via email at jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu.