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January 05, 2012 - From
Dr. Paul Wright
This is a short note of New Year’s greetings
from the family of Jerusalem University College. As we look forward
to the new year, we are mindful of the faithful hand of God in all
of our lives, and rejoice in his blessings and provision. Challenges
abound across the globe, but we rest in the promise that “the eyes
of the LORD our God are upon [us] from the beginning to the end of
the year” (Deut 11:12).
I owe everyone an update on our
semester-concluding student trip to Egypt last month (03-10
December). I accompanied 28 JUC students across the Sinai to Cairo,
up the Nile as far as Aswan, back into the Delta to Tell el-Yehudiya,
then down to Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa) and back to Jerusalem. There
was some concern as to whether or not we would be able to keep to
our full itinerary, but everything went very smoothly (save for
normal Cairo traffic jams). We even made it to the Egypt Museum on
Tahrir Square (where the bulk of the televised unrest has taken
place in Cairo)—there was absolutely no one in the square but normal
vehicle traffic. The country was virtually devoid of visitors, as I
had suspected. Yet I can report that every place that we went was
absolutely quiet, that the Egyptians were warm and welcoming
throughout, that the goals for our trip were met 100 per cent.
Still, there was some unease in the air, understandably, as to what
might come next (the weeks since have indeed shown an upturn in
protests). Of particular concern is the condition of the various
Christian communities in Egypt, many of whom are justifiably worried
that their rights and statuses as citizens of Egypt and as people of
faith might be weakened as the new government is put into place.
I would also like to thank Dr. Byron and
Sue Ann Curtis for being a part of the JUC community this past
fall semester. Byron served as our visiting professor, taught the
course Judah’s Exile and Restoration, and worked on various
publications related to his sabbatical project from Geneva College.
Our January interim courses are underway. For
our annual Geographical and Historical Settings of the Bible
course we welcome groups from Biola University (with Dr.
Judith and Paul Rood), Calvin College (with Dr. Ken Pomykala),
Greenville College (with Dr. Richard and Ruth Huston) and
Taylor University (with Dr. Bill and Susan Heth). We also
welcome students from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary,
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Grace University.
We are also facilitating two pastor-parishioner style programs for
church groups, one led by Rev. Dave Heilman of Calvary
Christian Reformed Church (Orange City, IA) and the other by Rev.
Emily Chapman of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church (Houston,
TX). The winter rains are, so far, “in their season” (i.e.,
plentiful; note Deut 11:14), and everyone is doing well.
We are also happy to announce that the
SHORT-TERM
PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP opportunity continues this year with three
full scholarships available for the complete 6A through 7B with the
Jordan extension. Those dates are June 11 - July 15, 2012.
Read all the details
here.
Dr. Paul Wright
President, Jerusalem University College |
