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November 18, 2008: Dr. Paul Wright,
I’m heading off to Providence, RI, to represent
Jerusalem University College at the annual meetings of the
Evangelical Theological Society and before representatives of JUC’s
Consortium of Associated Schools, Nov 19-21. There’s a lot of
interest in JUC’s programs, and a lot to tell. It’s always good to
see folks face-to-face, either on my travels to the US, or over here
in Jerusalem.
I hope that you are able to scroll through the
pictures that we post periodically on our web site.
They tell our story better than my words are able to do. The
activities, the smiles, the on-hand-in-the-land learning: this is
what we do so well. A few days ago we were visited by a
re-accreditation team from the Asia Theological Society. One
representative came from Japan, and two from Jordan. Their visit was
engaging and productive. Toward the end of the visit, the head of
the team told me: “your faculty keeps talking about ‘we,’ not ‘me’
and ‘them.’” What a great testimony! In its formal report, the team
wrote: “JUC should be commended for the international learning
community it has fostered with respect and fairness towards all on
the basis of its principles and thorough scholarship.” While it’s
nice to be recognized, its even better to be affirmed in what I
already knew: JUC students and faculty are tops!
Hands-on activities outside of the classroom
this fall included olive-picking on the grounds of East Jerusalem
Baptist Church (the fall harvest here is olives, not so much
apples), serving Iraqi and Kurdish children who are waiting for, or
recovering from, heart surgery at Shevet Achim (the
organization for which Martha Berg works), and of course our own
Talent Show and Fall Festivus, complete with a mixed-up dinner and
dress-up.
We have hosted three short-term, intensive
study groups this fall. In October we welcomed a church group from
Cornerstone Bible Fellowship in Bermuda led by Pastor Gary Simons
and taught by Dr. Perry Phillips. That was followed by our regular
Pastor-Parishioner program, instructed by Dr. Carl Rasmussen. At the
moment Carl is also teaching a three-week program for Westmont
College. We of course are mindful of last weekend’s fire that
damaged and destroyed parts of Westmont’s campus, including the
homes of several of the Westmont faculty. The home of Drs. Ken and
Kim Kihlstrom, who are with us in Jerusalem as co-leaders of the
Westmont group, was one of those that was completely destroyed. Our
hearts, as I am sure yours, are with Ken and Kim and their family,
and we pray for special blessings for them from the open hand of
God.
I will be meeting with the JUC board of
directors this week, in Providence RI. While there are always
challenges at hand, I plan on presenting a report that is as upbeat
as is our operations. Thank you for supporting our ministry and work
on Mt. Zion. It’s great to have you aboard. |
