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April 2: Dr. Paul Wright,
It’s another wonderful semester at Jerusalem
University College. As you can see from the new pictures just
posted, we are having a glorious spring. But it’s not just the
weather that’s favorable. Look at the smiles, the bright eyes, the
eager faces. Learning opportunities at JUC abound: in the classroom,
in the dorm, in the field, at off-campus service centers—just about
everywhere you look, JUC students are engaging the land and its
people.
From the pictures you wouldn’t know these are
also difficult times, both economically and politically. As an
institution we are grateful that a few years ago the JUC board of
directors had the wisdom, foresight and courage to restructure our
budget and operations in such a way that we are able to respond
immediately to financial downturns (and upturns), irrespective of
their cause. Because our method of operations is secure, we
are able to stay true to our historic core while continuing to offer
on-sight programs of study for students interested in the lands and
peoples of the lands the Bible, on the graduate, undergraduate and
lay levels. We are honored to be your partner in the Holy Lands.
This past weekend we concluded our annual
spring Pastor-Parishioner’s program. This year 84 adult students
participated, most of whom are from three church groups:
- Christ the Rock Community Church (Port
Orchard, WA) led by Dwight and Jane Kennedy
- Woodburn Missionary Church (Woodburn, IN)
led by Joel and Judy DeSelm
- Cokesbury United Methodist Church
(Knoxville TN) led by Micah and Kim Nicolaus
All three group leaders are JUC veterans. The
program was instructed by Cyndi Parker and Jack Beck.
Thank you to all! Here is one student comment: “Thank you so much
for this opportunity! I don’t know if you realize how much this trip
has changed my life. My thirst for more information is so great now.
All I want to do is hole up with my Bible and my maps.”
I am pleased to announce the two scholarship
recipients for our Geographical and Historical Settings of
the Bible (with the Jordan extension) and Jesus and His Times
summer programs. Congratulations to Kevin Oberlin of Grace
Theological Seminary (IN) and James Sung-Hwan Park of Westminster
Theological Seminary (PA)! Both are preparing for ministry among
churches in developing parts of Asia. And, as special thank you to
the donor who made these scholarship funds available. Additional
scholarships for the summer programs will be available in 2010.
We are in the final stages of producing an
Egypt CD of pictures taken on our last two fall semester Egypt
trips. If you have been on the trip this is a great way to remember
what we did, or if you would like to go it is a great way to
anticipate “the splendors that were Egypt.” The CDs are available
through our Rockford IL office—check there for more details.
After nearly two years of intensive coursework
in the field of biblical historical geography, including classes in
archaeology, Hebrew language, geography, history and culture, and a
number of on-site field studies with guided and self-exploration,
five of our students are working hard on their JUC MA theses. I want
to share the thesis titles with you so that you can see what kinds
of subjects are being pursued at advanced levels here at JUC:
- John Arnold, “The Role of the Plain
of Acco in the Lower Levant in Iron Age II”
- Sang-yeup Chang, “An Analysis of
Methods of Fortification Systems in the Land of Israel and their
Geo-political Dynamic during the Tenth Century BC”
- Nathan Gibson, “The Exodus:
Geographical Argumentation in the Former Prophets according to
Toulmin’s Model of Argument”
- Aubrey Alexander, “The Mountains of
God in Psalm 68”
- Vernon Alexander, “A Late
Monarchial View of the Religion of the Patriarchs”
Our longest-serving instructor, Dr. Anson
Rainey (since 1962!), is fond of saying that if biblical
historical geography is being taught anywhere in North America, at
any level, it is being done by someone who came through JUC. Not
everyone is able to pursue the full JUC MA degree, but those who are
(such as the current five who are working on their theses) graduate
with a package of skills in research, observation and application
that are unsurpassed in the field for the MA level. Our MA students
have committed a minimum of two to three years of their lives to the
process. They stand to be able to make wonderful contributions to
the kingdom of God in both the church and the academy, and are
worthy of our support.
I offer a big thank-you to all who have
committed to supporting the people and programs of Jerusalem
University College over the years. We stand committed and able. |
