Why I Give: Travis Hutchinson '16

When imagining a Covenant donor, a full-time student is not usually the first person to come to mind. However, Travis Hutchinson ’16 generously gives to his alma mater even while pursuing his Master’s of Divinity at Covenant Theological Seminary. Though he cannot give from financial abundance, Travis adamantly believes that he is called to give from what the Lord has provided for him.

Travis grew up in Presbyterian circles, attending Christ Covenant in Matthews, NC and Covenant Day, a private Christian school. When looking at colleges, Travis applied to Covenant, but it was not his first choice. He was hesitant about sacrifices he would have to make due to limited resources at a small Christian college.

However, Travis quickly realized that he would not have to sacrifice academics at Covenant. After attending Scholarship Weekend and talking with several professors, his excitement grew about Covenant’s economics program. He is thankful for Covenant’s small class sizes that allowed him to build personal relationships with professors. He found that the Covenant faculty values him not solely as a student but also as a brother in Christ.

Travis values all of the relationships he made at Covenant and continues to foster. In fact, he remains connected with his roommates through their annual reunions. He also enjoyed playing tennis at Covenant and connecting with teammates and coaches through the sport.

Over the first three years after graduating, Travis sensed a call to ministry. In the fall of 2019, he enrolled in the MDiv program at Covenant Theological Seminary and is set to graduate May 2022.

Travis wants to give back to Covenant because he received substantial financial aid as a student. He says that financial aid not only allowed him to attend Covenant but also helped shape his view of giving. Being on the receiving end of generosity fuels his passion for giving today.

“Giving is less about numbers and more about cultivating a mindset and disposition of viewing what you have as not your own,” he says. He believes that giving comes with practice. If you struggle to begin giving, Travis says the key is to start; it will become easier through consistent, generous actions. Travis does not consider any gift to be too small. Rather, he says that we are called to give from our resources, so if that is $10 a month, it is not meaningless. He also notes that generosity is not always through money but might include our time or other resources.

Just like the widow in Mark 12 who gave only two small coins, Travis knows that a small action can go a long way. Jesus declares that the woman gave more than anyone, not because she gave an abundance, but because she gave from her poverty. We are not called to only give large sums, but rather to give consistently with the faith that God will provide what we need. “Giving shows that you are able to be dependent and trust,” Travis says, knowing that God and not money is his ultimate source of stability.

Giving to Covenant is Travis’ way of helping future students receive the same experience he had at Covenant. He says that Covenant holds a special place in his heart because of the relationships he built and the experiences he had on the mountain. Supporting Covenant financially is one way he thanks the college for shaping him into the person he is today while also helping the college grow for the future.