November 2008

November has arrived, bringing the holiday season right along with it. The season of thankfulness is upon us- a time when we all should pause from our busy lives to reflect on the ways in which God has blessed us. I know we all have much to be thankful for. I am thankful for Biola University and the faithfulness of its students, faculty and staff.

I am thankful for a mother who prays for me every day. I am thankful for these new challenges in higher education that keep us praying for wisdom and Christ-honoring decisions. I am thankful for the Biola staff who work so diligently at every level. I am thankful for the legacy Clyde Cook and the goodness of Anna Belle Cook. I am thankful for a powerhouse women’s volleyball team and their history-making performance this year. I am thankful for an Enrollment Management team that recruited and helped retain our largest student body to date. I am thankful for our Torrey Bible Conference calling our students to sexual integrity. I am thankful for the local church we all give ourselves to. I am thankful for my wonderful wife and children who love me despite my shortcomings.

Last month, Paula and I were delighted to hold our very first Biola event in our recently-inhabited Fullerton home, hosting nearly 50 missionary kids who are current Biola students. Many of these globally-minded students shared over dinner wonderful stories of life in the mission fields of Kenya, Mexico, Russia, Haiti and other foreign countries in need of Gospel-bearing families like theirs.

I recently returned from my first trip to Korea, a trip originally scheduled for Dr. Cook. I spent four full days there meeting with university leaders and Christian business leaders. I also met prospective students and alumni and spoke at four churches, one university and a seminary.

This month, I will return to Asia as Paula and I travel to Indonesia and Hong Kong. A year ago I accepted an invitation to speak at the commencement ceremonies of Universitas Pelita Harapan and at a number of other sessions to Indonesian Christian leaders, faculty and students. We are in the process of forming a study exchange partnership with UPH, a Christian university in Indonesia. During my stay in Hong Kong, I will meet with alumni and friends of Biola and hear how God is using our graduates in this strategic city. Please pray that this trip bears fruit for Biola and the Kingdom of God.

This time of year is also an opportunity for Biola to express gratitude to its employees through recognition and celebrations. The Hoffman Awards, recognizing excellence among staff employees, were held on October 31. I’d like to extend my congratulations to this year’s recipients- Anne Creamer, Ketha Boespflug, Jerrel Haugen, Susan Lopez and John Ojeisekohba.

Another important Biola honor is the Service Award, which is given to members of the Biola community to recognize their years of service to the university.Bill Lock, Paul Poelstra and Jack Schwarz have served here for 45 years. Paul and Jack have each come out of retirement to take on important leadership roles. Thanks to both of you!

Biola’s annual employee Christmas party will take place on campus this year on December 3. With the theme of “A Neighborhood Christmas” the event will celebrate Biola’s 50 years in the city of La Mirada.

Today is election day and as our nation elects a new president, may we be responsible citizens who not only vote with our convictions, but stand together in prayer for our country’s leaders. This election is expected to have the highest turnout of college age voters. I am proud to see our students act responsibly as voting citizens.

Finally, I remain thankful even in the midst of economic distress globally. At the end of October I was at Stanford in Palo Alto attending an AICCU (Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities) presidents’ retreat. Though the theme of this meeting was technology in higher education, conversations inevitably returned to the current condition of the economy. From schools with large endowments to those with modest ones, every private college is feeling the strain of families having to re-evaluate their economic priorities.

As a private university, Biola needs to be prepared to respond to these unstable times. I want to assure you that the PAC team and I are listening carefully and having discussions, as well as my engaging with the Board of Trustees to undertake some initiatives to safeguard Biola economically. I want to further emphasize that we will be seeking the Lord in prayer for all of these matters and we will continue to trust that God’s work will be done in God’s time and will not lack God’s supply.

Later in November I will talk with you more about some of our ideas, and I will communicate some preliminary thoughts by memo this week.

In closing, I continue to be inspired by the Biola community and I count it a joy to serve alongside each of you in our shared calling of providing an education of the heart and the mind for the cause of Christ and His Kingdom.

In Christ,

Barry H. Corey