This May, Pensacola Christian College introduced the Center for Faith in Public Service with three inaugural events. Located on the Rebekah Horton Library fourth floor, the Center houses two collections highlighting alumni in public service. Visitors appreciated the room’s intentional design, which alludes to the U.S. House of Representatives Chamber through distinctive wallpaper, ornate cabinet finishes, and a curved ceiling. During the opening week, there was a sneak peek for students, faculty, and staff, a grand opening where special guests met esteemed alumni, including Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Pre-Law ’90), Michigan Representative Phil Green (Youth Ministries ’99, M.A.: Bible Exposition ’09) and Indiana Representative Christy Stuzman (Music ’95), followed by an open house for the public and 2026 PCC commencement guests. Coinciding with America’s 250th anniversary, the anticipated attraction spotlights Christianity’s influence on the United States, one nation under God.
The focal collection is the Cathy McMorris Rodgers Congressional Archive. The exhibit houses papers and artifacts donated by the respected alumna, making PCC the seventh college or university in Florida to hold such an exhibit. As visitors enter the Center, they are greeted by the congresswoman’s portrait. The display commemorates her 30 years of service to Washington state, 10 as a state representative and 20 in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. Congresswoman Rodgers shared a warm response. “I am so honored that Pensacola Christian College would make a home for my congressional papers in the library’s new Center for Faith in Public Service,” she said. “To God be the glory.”
PCC Artistic Producer Liz Thomason (Performance Studies ’16, M.F.A. ’19) aided in the Center’s creation and was impressed by the alumna’s Christian influence. “When you look through the collected items and speeches, you’ll see Congresswoman Rodgers’ evident faith,” Miss Thomason noted. Some examples are personal prayer lists and a Faith and Law award. Most prominently, a monitor plays her 2014 State of the Union response where she offers a prayer for the United States.
The second collection is the Called to Serve: Distinguished Alumni in Public Service archive. Presented on a digital kiosk, visitors interact with stories of graduates in community leadership, elected office, the judiciary, law enforcement, and public policy. This inspiring record will be continually expanded as PCC alumni continue to invest in their communities. Friends of the College can recommend graduates to be featured here!
Since the Center for Faith in Public Service opened, many have experienced these displays and considered how Christian belief benefits the United States. College President Troy Shoemaker encourages PCC and the Pensacola community to join in America’s 250th anniversary celebrations by visiting. “This thoughtfully designed space demonstrates how God is using graduates to influence communities across the country,” President Shoemaker shared. “Make it a point to stop by and be encouraged by how God is working through alumni in the area of public service.”