The Light Still Shines
December 5, 2018
Dear Friends,
I love the Christmas season! The lights, cards, music and crispness in the air, all reflect this special time of the year. This is my first Christmas as President of Southwestern Christian University, and the Advent season has arrived. As I write this letter it is 34 degrees. The new Christmas decorations are beautiful on campus, and the students are wrapping up a very successful semester. The annual Chrismon service and the REAL meaning of Christmas was shared during our chapel service today. I had the privilege of placing a star on the Chrismon tree. The star symbolizes Jesus Christ, who is referred to as the bright and morning Star. What an honor!
I am quite sure during this Christmas season, somewhere in your home or at your church or in your decorated neighborhood there will be a star, or a star ornament, or picture with a star central to the image. The light from stars has a simple, but unique beauty.
Christmas, more than anything else is about Light. Jesus was born the LIGHT of the world. The star over Bethlehem shone brightly and guided the magi, who left their country and their comfort zone, to go worship the newborn King. The star has illuminated the hearts and minds of men and women and children ever since. The star still shines today and it is ever lasting.
The Star symbolizes so much: heavenly favor, wisdom, guidance, and aspirations. The star stands for high hopes and ideals, a hope for a blessing and to reach above oneself. It is believed that a miracle had occurred at the time of His birth. It is the light that guides and shows us the right path to travel in life. The brightness of the star is the symbols of enlightenment and victory of good over evil. On the campus of Southwestern Christian University, young men and women, our students, guided by the light, search daily for God’s will and are allowing the light of Christ to shine forth in an effort to change the world.
Our students invest thousands of hours into our community; many others go on missions trips, while others commit themselves to serving in local churches each week. There is no question that SCU students and graduates are hearing and answering the call to take the message of the cross and let the light of Jesus Christ shine to a world that so desperately needs it. As the graduates leave SCU they are determined to take the light into the work place and into the communities where they live. They cannot accomplish this without your support. The Star Still Shines!
I believe that every student should have the opportunity for a world-class, Biblically centered, and academically rich education. I believe that every student is a gift to us from God. To provide this rich education, I must have your help. Please be assured that SCU will never cease in its mission to produce graduates that are competent in their field of study, knowledgeable in Biblical studies, and Christians equipped to serve the Christian community and make known the name of Jesus Christ.
It has been said that if you want to change the culture, you reshape the minds and hearts of the next generation. You give them a solid Christian world-view, you help reshape them intellectually, morally, and spiritually. You ground them in the Gospel and equip them to serve Jesus, wherever they go. That is what the faculty, staff, and I do at SCU. Without faithful supporters like you, we simply cannot do this. Please continue to pray for SCU and assist us during this season and the end of the year.
We love and appreciate you, and we are so thankful to have you as part of the SCU Family. Let me assure you that the star still shines on the campus of Southwestern Christian University. Please assist us with your Christmas and “end of the year” gift today. I desperately need your prayers and your financial help. There is a spirit of newness at SCU—Come be a part of this New Day Dawning!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Sincerely,
Tom L. Murray
President
December 5, 2018
Dear Friends,
I love the Christmas season! The lights, cards, music and crispness in the air, all reflect this special time of the year. This is my first Christmas as President of Southwestern Christian University, and the Advent season has arrived. As I write this letter it is 34 degrees. The new Christmas decorations are beautiful on campus, and the students are wrapping up a very successful semester. The annual Chrismon service and the REAL meaning of Christmas was shared during our chapel service today. I had the privilege of placing a star on the Chrismon tree. The star symbolizes Jesus Christ, who is referred to as the bright and morning Star. What an honor!
I am quite sure during this Christmas season, somewhere in your home or at your church or in your decorated neighborhood there will be a star, or a star ornament, or picture with a star central to the image. The light from stars has a simple, but unique beauty.
Christmas, more than anything else is about Light. Jesus was born the LIGHT of the world. The star over Bethlehem shone brightly and guided the magi, who left their country and their comfort zone, to go worship the newborn King. The star has illuminated the hearts and minds of men and women and children ever since. The star still shines today and it is ever lasting.
The Star symbolizes so much: heavenly favor, wisdom, guidance, and aspirations. The star stands for high hopes and ideals, a hope for a blessing and to reach above oneself. It is believed that a miracle had occurred at the time of His birth. It is the light that guides and shows us the right path to travel in life. The brightness of the star is the symbols of enlightenment and victory of good over evil. On the campus of Southwestern Christian University, young men and women, our students, guided by the light, search daily for God’s will and are allowing the light of Christ to shine forth in an effort to change the world.
Our students invest thousands of hours into our community; many others go on missions trips, while others commit themselves to serving in local churches each week. There is no question that SCU students and graduates are hearing and answering the call to take the message of the cross and let the light of Jesus Christ shine to a world that so desperately needs it. As the graduates leave SCU they are determined to take the light into the work place and into the communities where they live. They cannot accomplish this without your support. The Star Still Shines!
I believe that every student should have the opportunity for a world-class, Biblically centered, and academically rich education. I believe that every student is a gift to us from God. To provide this rich education, I must have your help. Please be assured that SCU will never cease in its mission to produce graduates that are competent in their field of study, knowledgeable in Biblical studies, and Christians equipped to serve the Christian community and make known the name of Jesus Christ.
It has been said that if you want to change the culture, you reshape the minds and hearts of the next generation. You give them a solid Christian world-view, you help reshape them intellectually, morally, and spiritually. You ground them in the Gospel and equip them to serve Jesus, wherever they go. That is what the faculty, staff, and I do at SCU. Without faithful supporters like you, we simply cannot do this. Please continue to pray for SCU and assist us during this season and the end of the year.
We love and appreciate you, and we are so thankful to have you as part of the SCU Family. Let me assure you that the star still shines on the campus of Southwestern Christian University. Please assist us with your Christmas and “end of the year” gift today. I desperately need your prayers and your financial help. There is a spirit of newness at SCU—Come be a part of this New Day Dawning!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Sincerely,
Tom L. Murray
President