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February 8, 2006: We’re coming
around the bend of the current academic year and see many signs of a
bright, positive road ahead. Increasing enrollments, a strong
curriculum, rising finances and a positive, caring community all
point to Jerusalem University College as the place to consider a
serious educational experience in the land of the Bible. Let me
relate some data that helps to put structure on this reality:
- The January
short-term program, the Geographical and Historical Settings of
the Bible, had 60 students, by far our largest January
enrollment in several years. Westminster Seminary,
Asbury Seminary and Central Christian College (KS)
all sent large groups. The weather was reasonably cooperative,
given the time of year, and we had wonderful days in the field.
-
Semester enrollment has reached a spring headcount of 52,
with steady growth back toward a full campus. Of these, 36
are graduates. Associated schools sending students this
spring include Taylor University, Columbia
International University, Calvin College, Gordon
College, Crown College, Colorado Christian University,
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Alliance Theological
Seminary and Southern Theological
Seminary.
- At 20
students, Anson Rainey’s Historical Geography course has its
largest enrollment in a number of years. And, we are happy that
we are now able to add Colloquial Arabic to our curriculum, with
seven students this spring.
- Rev. Dr.
Glen Snyder, senior pastor of First Baptist of Davis,
California, is resident on campus this spring as campus pastor.
Glen has attended several JUC programs over the years and will
be leading members of his church for the April
Pastor-Parishioner program at JUC.
- We welcome
30 students from the Eastern Mennonite University Middle East
Cross-Cultural Program, who will be at JUC February 20-March
4. We have hosted the Biblical Geography component of this EMU
semester-long program every third semester for the last several
years. This program is headed by Dr. Linford Stutzman, and the
course will be taught by Paul Wright.
- In December
we said good-bye to our campus manager, Johnny Hajjar. Johnny
and his family have moved to eastern Pennsylvania, where they
hope to settle permanently. Johnny served JUC in several
capacities for 10 years.
- I would like
to introduce our new campus manager, William Copty, a lifelong
resident of Jerusalem. William, his wife Sharouk, and his two
young daughters, Luna and Lumara, have moved onto campus and are
finding Mt. Zion to be a wonderful home.
- Other new
staff include Raed Qudsi, part time cook, and Tamar Hadawar,
part time cleaner.
- Regarding
funding, individual gift donations over the Christmas holidays
and in January are very encouraging, and some special gifts have
allowed us to give additional scholarships for needy students
and purchase some kitchen equipment. I offer a special “thank
you” to our many supporters. Your commitment is seeing results!
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Shaped like the
head of a spear that is thrust toward Mt. Carmel and the
Mediterranean Sea, the fertile Jezreel Valley separates the hill
country of Israel from the hills of Galilee to the north. The
Jezreel is connected to the Jordan River by the Harod Valley, a
long, narrow “shaft” that joins the base of this “spearhead.” Mt.
Moreh, a 1700-foot high mountain of black basalt, looms over the
juncture where these two valleys meet, providing a lofty view of
their floors below.
During the time
of the Old Testament, the town of Shunem stood at this juncture,
clinging to the southwestern slopes of Mt. Moreh. Blessed with a
pleasant climate, fertile soil, an abundance of good building
materials and located close to several large springs, Shunem had
every natural advantage to ensure its inhabitants a good life. The
men and women of Shunem farmed the grain fields of the Jezreel and
Harod valleys, reaping the harvest of their efforts every spring
after the end of the rainy season.
An important
international highway ran beneath Shunem, hugging the edge of the
Harod and Jezreel valleys. This highway connected the Jordan River
valley (and the Transjordanian highway further east) with the
Mediterranean coast. Elisha, who hailed from Abel-meholah in the
Jordan Valley (1 Kgs 19:16), often walked this route between his
home and Mt. Carmel (cf. 2 Kgs 2:25; 4:25). From the account of
Elisha's life recorded in the book of 2 Kings, we can assume that he
stopped at many towns and villages on the way, ministering to people
whenever he had a chance. In this way he foreshadowed Jesus, who
also "went about doing good" (Acts 10:38).
The story of
Elisha and the Shunammite woman is one of the better known stories
of the Old Testament (2 Kgs 4:8-37). The Shunammite and her husband,
a prosperous yet childless couple, built a guest room for Elisha to
use on his frequent travels. Out of gratitude, Elisha announced that
the woman would have a son. Tragically, the young child died while
helping his father harvest the wheat fields in the heat of early
summer, an apparent victim of sunstroke. Elisha responded as only a
prophet of God could: in a tender moment infused with divine power,
he raised the boy to life.
By the time of
the New Testament, the village of Shunem was no more. People still
lived on Mt. Moreh, but by now the center of village life had
shifted from the southwestern to the northwestern slope of the hill,
to a village called Nain. No doubt the people of Nain remembered
Elisha, the great prophet who had visited their ancestors on Mt.
Moreh over eight centuries before, going about doing good. The story
of Elisha and the Shunammite woman must have been handed down among
the people of Shunem--and then Nain--from generation to generation,
giving a sense of divine identity to the two towns.
Then, one day,
history repeated itself--only better.
"Soon
afterwards [Jesus] was on His way to a town called Nain. His
disciples and a large crowd were traveling with Him. Just as He
neared the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out.
He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd
from the city was also with her." (Lk
7:11-12).
Jesus was moved by what he saw.
Touching, and then speaking to the body of her only son, Jesus
brought the lad back to life. The response from the crowd was
ecstatic:
"A great prophet has risen among
us! God has visited His people!" (Lk 7:16).
A great prophet
has arisen--again! God visits his people--again! In our hour of
greatest need, God bends down to touch us, to speak to us, and to
give us life. That he has done so is nothing short of miraculous.
And to the extent that he empowers us, we, too, can follow Jesus,
going about doing good. |
