Why We Give: Paul and Sandy Moore

Although they themselves are not Covenant alumni, Dr. Paul and Sandy Moore have a deep love for Covenant, evidenced by their involvement on campus and in their faithful giving. As active members of the Parents Council, with three children who are current students, and two who are recent graduates, Covenant is a second home to the Moore family. 

Sandy grew up in Columbia, SC and lived in Chattanooga for a while, so she knew of Covenant and had seen it atop the mountain. Paul lived in Orlando, FL and recalls attending a Bible camp on Covenant’s campus when he was younger. Although they were both familiar with Covenant, they didn’t realize at the time how much of an impact the college would have on their family.

Their story begins as students at Furman University in Greenville, SC where Paul studied biology and Sandy studied English. Paul graduated from Furman and attended the Medical University of South Carolina. Sandy later transferred from Furman to the University of South Carolina where she pursued graduate studies in law. They married in Paul’s last year of medical school while Sandy completed her degree.

They moved to Colorado (where Paul completed his residency), then spent several years in Kentucky, and finally returned to their beloved South Carolina, settling down in Laurens, SC. Here, Paul practiced as a family physician before entering emergency medicine. He has worked as an emergency doctor for the last 13 years. Meanwhile, Sandy passed the bar exam and worked for a while before deciding to leave the professional world to stay at home with her kids. She now serves on local committees and coaches basketball. 

Practicing generosity is not only something Paul and Sandy do as they seek to be faithful Christians, but it is also part of who they are as people. Sandy learned to practice giving from her father. As a young girl, she remembers seeing a folded check by the table every week ready for Sunday’s offering. When she started her first job and received her first paycheck, her dad sat down with her to show her how to calculate ten percent in order for her to begin a practice of giving. 

For Paul, practicing giving was something he pursued while in medical school. Even though he had little to give while living on a student budget, he faithfully sponsored a child through World Vision. Now, he and his wife sponsor several children through World Vision and other organizations. 

Paul and Sandy believe that giving can involve money, but it can also be through time and other resources. When considering how to offer their time and resources to Covenant, Paul and Sandy choose to devote time to Covenant as members of the Parent’s Council. They enjoy reaching out to future parents, answering questions, providing encouragement, and sharing from personal experience the impact the college has on a child’s life. They also enjoy giving monetarily to Covenant because they believe in Covenant's mission, and they have a deep connection to the place and people since they have seen it shape their children’s lives.

In their eyes, Covenant has made such a positive impact on their children’s faith by consolidating, reinforcing, and challenging their views. Covenant also allowed the Moore children to explore things in a unique setting, outside of a church or family environment. Through student life at Covenant, their children’s faith gained credibility (as they were able to live out their faith) and assurance (as they grew to be trusting and confident in their relationship with God). Paul and Sandy appreciate the like-minded environment stemming from Covenant’s foundation in the Gospel and how it provides friendships that encourage yet challenge their children in many ways.

Paul understands giving to Christian institutions like Covenant as part of the command in Scripture to give to the church. He remarks, “I see Covenant as an extension of the mission of the Church and therefore feel that giving back is an act of obedience.” Additionally, he perceives a need to support the school as a way to help other students and families experience what his kids have been offered.

The Moores encourage families and friends of the college to give, but Paul specifically exhorts alumni to give to Covenant. “Giving is a way for alumni to continue to be actively involved in the Covenant community post-graduation. They are the main constituents of the college, the primary Scots community.”

When considering making a small gift, Paul notes that “a habit of giving will soon lead to an attitude of giving in all aspects of life.” Although resources might be in short supply soon after college, Paul and Sandy want to remind young people that being faithful with a little leads to faithfulness with more in the future.