From Surviving without a Home to Finding Her Destiny: The Story of ORU’s Charity Gibbons
Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Strategic Media
C.S. Lewis said that “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” For ORU sophomore Charity Gibbons, this quote couldn’t be truer. Raised in a single-parent home alongside her sister and three brothers, Charity suffered a season of homelessness, but it wasn’t a hardship she suffered alone. Thankfully, Charity had a hero to help lead the way ... her mom.
“My mom is such an inspiration,” Charity said. “She did her best to be both my mother and to fill in for my father’s absence. When things were rough, she always tried to make the best of everything. Even when we lost our home, we found ways to stay hopeful. My mom told us to stay focused on the good and to disregard the rest.”
Destined to Help Those in Need
Despite the hardships she faced, Charity found strength in three things: her relationship with God, her love for people, and her passion for the arts. Determined to break the generational curses in her family, Charity set her sights on earning a college education and enrolled at ORU. Once on campus, she began to build her extraordinary destiny, becoming involved as an ORU student ambassador and as a member of Missions and Outreach.
“I love Outreach,” Charity said, “because it allows me to work with children. Kids go through so much, and sometimes they just need someone to talk to. Growing up, my mom was always busy working to provide for us, and sometimes, I didn’t have anybody to talk to. So when I serve, I try to offer what I needed as a child: a listening ear.”
“I love Outreach because it allows me to work with children. Kids go through so much, and sometimes they just need someone to talk to. Growing up, my mom was always busy working to provide for us, and sometimes, I didn’t have anybody to talk to. So when I serve, I try to offer what I needed as a child: a listening ear.”
Destined to Create as an Artist
Charity’s passion for people drives her, but so does her love for the arts. As a creative, she finds solace and spiritual growth in poetry and abstract painting. Photography, however, is her true passion, allowing her to capture moments of beauty and pain, hope and despair, telling stories that words often fail to express. Her decision to major in Strategic Media was a natural extension of her creative talents.
“I’m an artistic person,” said Charity. “I see things through an artistic lens. Strategic Media allows me to use social media and videography to tell stories and reach people in meaningful ways. And through photography, I can showcase a person’s story without movement or sound. When people look at my photos or read my poetry, I want them to feel something deep. I want them to see the beauty in life even when they’re struggling.”
"Through photography, I can showcase a person’s story without movement or sound. When people look at my photos or read my poetry, I want them to feel something deep. I want them to see the beauty in life even when they’re struggling.”
Charity’s life, like a storm, has had its turbulent moments, but she continues to believe that her extraordinary destiny is unfolding through her challenges. Charity's ultimate goal is to uplift others by blending her love for art with her desire to make a difference. She dreams of opening a community center in Tulsa, a place where youth can explore the arts and find comfort. Through this center, Charity plans to offer the help and resources that she was searching for during her most difficult times.
“I’m not at the peak of my purpose yet,” Charity said, “but I’m getting closer. I now have the tools I need to step into my purpose. Sometimes, it’s scary, but in my moments of fear, my mom’s words always remind me, ‘Take the good and disregard the rest. And remember God will always be there, no matter what.’”
UNIVERSITY BRIEF
ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 16 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William M. Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 160 nations from 2019 to 2024 to be whole leaders for the whole world.
The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2025). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest-ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche has recognized ORU as one of the top 25 most diverse colleges in America, the # 1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and the # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest. Heritage.org classified ORU as a great option for families prioritizing freedom, opportunity, and civil society.
ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:
- #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
- #2 in Most International Students
- #3 in Best Value
- #6 in Best College for Veterans
- #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West
For more information, visit www.oru.edu.
