Houston Baptist University is deeply grateful for individuals who extend the vision and mission of HBU through sacrificial and strategic giving. We gratefully acknowledge Pinky Pampell鈥檚 $5 million gift for the expansion of Houston Baptist University鈥檚 online education and the naming of the HBU Pinky Pampell Online Division.
As we recognize the roadblocks to private Christian universities in this economy and with the culture of our nation as it is, we thank the Lord for generosity from Christian men and women, such as Pinky. Pinky Pampell has donated funds for the building of church and para-church buildings across the state of Texas: the Pampell Family Chapel at Houston Christian High School, a music conservatory in Dallas, The Point youth building and the wedding chapel at Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston, Pinky鈥檚 Place at Star of Hope ministries, and many more. Her generosity has impacted countless lives. Pinky鈥檚 gift was the catalyst for our online education expansion. In giving more than half of the necessary funds for the expansion of HBU鈥檚 online education, Pinky understands that her gift has the potential to build multiple buildings across this University to benefit thousands of students both residential and online.
Pinky is worthy of recognition for her humility, her visionary spirit and her commitment to faith in Jesus Christ. The Pillars聽Editor Dr. Jerry Johnston interviewed Pinky in her home in October.
Giving has been central to your Christian experience. Why is that?
Well, the really above-the-average giving began after my husband died. After he died and everything came to me, and I of course opened the checks and looked at them and deposited them. I thought, gee, I had no idea what we had, and it bothered me. And I thought, 鈥淲hat am I going to do with the money? I don鈥檛 need anything. I鈥檝e got to do the right thing,鈥� because the verse in my head kept saying, 鈥淕od doesn鈥檛 bless you with more than you need so you can spend more than you need on yourself.鈥�
It really began to depress me. I thought, 鈥淲hat am I going to do with this?鈥� I knew I wasn鈥檛 just going to throw it away. I didn鈥檛 want my two girls doing the same thing. So, I began to talk to some of the deacons at the church that I knew were great people, and I thought, 鈥淚鈥檝e got to do something for God with this; I want to give it back to God because he had blessed us so much.鈥� So, it鈥檚 just fun giving and knowing that it鈥檚 all for God. It鈥檚 a real blessing to me.
And you鈥檙e giving to HBU and the naming of the HBU Pinky Pampell Online Division means that thousands and thousands of young people and adults are going to be trained through HBU. In time, you鈥檝e learned, that the online school will build many buildings at HBU on Fondren. How does that make you feel?
Oh my goodness, just the outreach that will effect so many people and to know it will go on and on. It鈥檚 amazing, really amazing.
Was that impact hard to comprehend at first?
Yes it was. It was because I鈥檝e been doing buildings. Looking back, I think everything I did was a building, other than missions.
How important do you think Houston Baptist University鈥檚 ministry is, not just in Houston, but also across the nation?
All Christian organizations are important at this time. And of course Houston Baptist is a big part here in Houston and with this [online] all around the world. If we don鈥檛 keep our children close to God and believing in the principles that we understand as a Christian, they are lost. What do they say? In one generation, the children will be lost. So unless parents are keeping their children close to God, they鈥檙e gone. It鈥檚 a disappointment the way our country is going, and we need Christians to speak up, stand up, and say something, do something, get involved. I think this [Christian education] is going to be a great thing for young people.
The Pinky Pampell Online Division is going to be heard about all over America and probably internationally. Your gift was the catalyst of the funding needed. What does that mean to you?
You know anything we do for God is forever. So it doesn鈥檛 matt er if it鈥檚 small or big. If someone can鈥檛 give a lot, they can give some. And that鈥檚 all that God looks at, just giving. If you give with your heart to Him for Him, it all means the same really. I don鈥檛 really think it鈥檚 the amount I give; it鈥檚 the giving. You know, like the widow鈥檚 mite. It鈥檚 anybody that wants to further God鈥檚 kingdom, for the youth growing up, whatever you give. Give what you can, but give. I think that鈥檚 the key is to give and really the more you give, the more you fi nd God gives back to you, and I think that is so true. I鈥檝e found it true.
I admire your faith. Who is the single person that so mentored you spiritually that you have this solid core Christian faith?
I think my mother and daddy. They really were just common鈥攔eally looking back鈥攑oor people. Of course, I thought everybody was the same when I was growing up. But I always say the greatest thing I鈥檝e ever gotten besides Christ is my parents took us to church. They read the Bible and they talked to us about it. You don鈥檛 realize how important that is to young people until you look back. It鈥檚 the greatest thing just knowing that they did that. On Saturday, we were told to make sure your clothes were ready for church and your shoes were shined. It was a little country church. We were faithful in church. Most of the time, Daddy led the singing. He had a very good voice. We were just there. We were there on time, sitting on the front row. Th at was a big part of our life. Church was a big thing, and I always loved going to church.
The Pinky Pampell Online Division鈥� you have said that by allowing us to use your name, that it is primarily a challenge to others. Can you tell us what that challenge is?
Well I just think when people see a name there, they put it together, and they think 鈥淕ee, she could do that, why can鈥檛 we? Let鈥檚 us try it, too.鈥�
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Gwc_zzwGe8