As America continues to celebrate its 250th anniversary, Liberty University is welcoming students into a new academic year rooted in truth and American heritage, with opportunities to put faith and freedom into action through the Freedom Center Society.
This week, the quiet streets of Lynchburg, Virginia, will once again be bustling with activity as over 16,000 new and returning Liberty University students and their families prepare for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr., Liberty’s founder, once said that the “last thing” America needed was another academic institution. Instead, he envisioned a fully accredited, quality academic institution that unashamedly honored Christ as Lord and the Bible as the inerrant Word of God and placed both at the center of Liberty’s educational approach. Students who come to Liberty participate in a form of biblically based education that continues to be a refreshing alternative to what the world offers.
In addition to its commitment to unapologetically Christian education, Liberty stands apart for its patriotism and its dedication to teaching America’s history, exceptionalism, individual liberty, and Christian heritage.
For the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, Liberty hosted multiple events, conferences, and a special “I Love America” concert on campus to commemorate this special year in our nation’s history.
Liberty has always celebrated America with concerts, fireworks, readings of the Declaration of Independence, and other events. In fact, 50 years ago, on July 4, 1976, Dr. Falwell Sr. and Liberty University honored America’s bicentennial with a jubilant celebration concert and fireworks on Liberty Mountain, an event that drew over 20,000 attendees.
Numerous opportunities exist at Liberty University for students to gain a deeper understanding of America’s distinctly Christian heritage and get involved in shaping her future.
One unique avenue is through the Standing for Freedom Center. It exists to uphold the Christian faith and defend America’s Constitution; inform Americans on matters of faith and liberty; and equip faithful men and women to protect and defend their strongest-held Christian beliefs in every facet of society.
It also sponsors the Freedom Center Society, a student-run, student-led community that equips Liberty University students to engage with culture, defend freedom and truth, and build meaningful friendships through biweekly meetings and events. These include social events, seminars, and a chance to hear from unique speakers who have invaluable experience serving in elected office or standing on the front lines of cultural debates.
Events for this fall include our kickoff celebration, “Picnic with Patriots,” on the Lawn, a tailgate and formal, as well as seminars on foreign policy and biblical dating. You can view our schedule here:
Freedom Center Society members also have an exclusive opportunity to volunteer and be part of the Freedom Center’s flagship event: “Freedom Uncensored 2026,” scheduled for October 23-24. Speakers include Riley Gaines, Isabel Brown, Leigh-Allyn Baker, Nick Freitas, Benny Johnson, Lucas Miles, and many more.
This year’s event will challenge students and all other attendees to deepen their understanding of critical issues, strengthen their faith, and boldly engage with a culture that desperately needs biblical solutions to problems present in a world that does not know the truth. The event concludes with a gala dinner featuring special guest Dr. Ben Carson.
Freedom Center Society members also have a unique opportunity to attend other critical events shaping America’s future, including the Annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., the Virginia March for Life in Richmond, and the Leadership in Action symposium at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.
Liberty has been described by its founder, Dr. Falwell, as an “institution of destiny… for a people of destiny” for a reason. It’s an institution of higher learning that, perhaps better than any other school in the nation, exemplifies the concept of a “city on a hill,” which Christ Himself described as a way for His church to be a beacon of hope to the world.
Liberty accomplishes this by training the hearts and minds of the next generation not just to think critically but to view every concept they learn in the classroom, every experience they have on the athletic field, and every spiritual activity they participate in through the truth of knowing Christ as Lord over their lives. For this reason, Liberty stands out and offers something that is incredibly unique and original — even among Christian schools.
The upcoming 2026-27 academic year isn’t just going to be another year of studying and learning, but one in which tens of thousands of students’ lives will be transformed by the truth of the Gospel and equipped with the tools needed to restore our nation back to Christ. The legacy of Liberty University isn’t just that of another university but a world-changing force dedicated to training Champions for Christ.
Every generation gets a turn to carry the torch. If you believe students should be equipped to stand for biblical truth, defend freedom, and shape America’s future with courage, consider making a gift to help the Standing for Freedom Center prepare them for the moment.
