North Greenville University recently received a $3 million cash gift from a local couple to fund the school's 5,000-seat arena/worship center, the Greenville News reported.

Dr. T. Walter and Christine Brashier's gift is part of the university's $42.7 million G.I.F.T. God Campaign "Hallelujah" Goal, the school's effort to seek funding for the school's most pressing needs.

University leaders announced the campaign in February after the initial GIFT God Campaign goal of $25 million was surpassed. Currently, more than $31.4 million of the 'Hallelujah' Goal fundraising had been raised

The university's basketball and volleyball games will be hosted at the 94,116-square-foot arena, including the new men's volleyball team, which will begin its inaugural season in 2014,

University officials told the Greenville News the facility will feature a president's box, a "jumbotron" scoreboard, two upper-level and two lower-level lobbies and student lounges, mid-court Crusader Club section, locker rooms for home and visiting teams, upper- and lower-level conference rooms, film room, training/sports medicine room, trophy case, two locker rooms for officials, six concession areas, and sixteen office spaces, the university said.

Walter Brashier is a Greenville real estate investor and a longtime supporter of North Greenville.

According to the Greenville News, he built a 10-unit resident hall for the university in the 1970s. He also deeded a 10-story building, which housed the college's downtown extension program, and supported students through scholarship assistance.

He provides scholarship assistance to students pursuing church-related ministries through the T. Walter Brashier and Family Endowed Scholarship program he established in 1998. And In 2005, he surprised the school with a $1 million check to name and support its graduate school.

The new center is currently b being designed by Robert C. Cashion Architect, Inc. of Marietta. Blue Line Consulting, LLC of Greer is the civil engineer for this project and is expected to be completed by fall 2015.