Campus ministries building named in honor of missionaries

^{Dr. William Viel and Linda Viel, at center, cut the ribbon Monday at Carson-Newman University’s campus ministries building alongside, from left, Board of Trustees Chairman Bob Gay, student Grayson Boyer and Acting Vice President for Student Services Gloria Walker. The University renamed the building in the Viels’ honor.}

(Sept. 22, 2020) JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — Carson-Newman University named the institution’s campus ministries building in honor of alumni Dr. Bill and Linda Viel’s lifetime of service as missionaries.

The Viels met at Carson-Newman in 1960 and married after Bill Viel’s graduation in 1963. Linda Viel graduated the following year. After college, the couple went on to spend more than 40 years sharing the gospel around the world, from inner cities to underground churches in the Soviet Union and classrooms in the Ukraine.

“As a Christian university, there is no greater pride than to see our students leave Carson-Newman and dedicate their lives to the sharing of God’s word, love and redemption,” President Charles A. Fowler said. “We chose to honor that dedication with a ribbon cutting for the newly minted Bill and Linda Viel Center for Campus Ministry and Missions.

“Our Campus Ministries shares Christ’s love with the community, ministers to our Eagle family, promotes a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and leads our campus’ efforts in service and missions,” Fowler said. “After a lifetime of witnessing, the Viels are excellent representatives for this charge.”

The Viels joined University administration and the Campus Ministries Leadership Team for the Sept. 21 ribbon cutting and unveiling of the new sign that dedicates the building in their honor. It is located at 2214 Branner Avenue in Jefferson City.

Acting Vice President for Student Services Gloria Walker noted that Sept. 21 and 22 luncheons with the Viels offered opportunities for students to learn about their experiences on the mission field.

“It was important to us that our Carson-Newman students have the opportunity to hear from the Viels — missionaries who dedicated their lives to serving others and furthering the kingdom for Jesus Christ,” Walker said. “Whether our students enter the local workforce or travel the world to serve diverse populations, they will all have opportunities to share the love of God with others. Hearing about the Viels’ experiences helped to prepare our students for their own mission fields.”

Founded in 1851, Carson-Newman is a Christian liberal arts-based university affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention. The University is located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, among the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and has over 2,900 students. Carson-Newman offers 50 undergraduate majors, as well as associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.