51吃瓜网

1.

I am delighted to announce that Willie Hucks, DMin, has accepted the invitation to serve as the assistant to the president for Mission & Culture, which includes serving as the diversity officer of the University. Since 2016, he has been an associate professor and, later, chair in the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary. He is known as a team builder who emphasizes spirituality and cooperation. Hucks writes and speaks on a variety of topics, including homiletics, church and community, ethnicity, justice, and ministry to “the least of these.” He also chaired the Seminary Ethnicity, Race, and Social Justice Committee for eight years. As he begins this new role, I invite you to pray for God’s special blessing on his ministry.

2.

From Feb. 22–24, we had the privilege of hosting the 21st annual Music & Worship Conference. Themed “Worship in Transition,” the event explored how church musicians and leaders can address the issue of change in their communities. Throughout the weekend, a variety of scholars gave presentations on worship, music making and ministry. The conference also featured several workshops on praise, worship and songwriting from established musicians and directors. The event concluded with a worship concert which explored the development of regional conferences and the contributions of Black Adventists to civil rights, musical development and faith.

3.

I was proud to learn that one of our Master of Divinity students, K-Anthony, recently received a prestigious Canadian music award on March 24. The JUNO Awards recognize excellence in Canadian music across multiple genres, and K-Anthony won the “Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year” category for his album titled “Arrow.” K-Anthony traces his musical journey to his upbringing in Jamaica, which shaped his unique style and themes. He is driven by a strong desire to share the message and hope of Jesus to those who feel lost. You can read more about his music and impressive accomplishment here. (Photo by oshane.howard / @fuzereps)

4.

On March 30 and 31, a talented group of our students came together to perform an Easter musical for our campus and surrounding community. The show, which the students wrote, scored and choreographed, was produced by the Center for Faith Engagement and took place in the sanctuary of Pioneer Memorial Church. Titled “Through His Eyes: Beyond Our Guilt and Shame,” the production retold the story of Jesus’ life and ultimate sacrifice through the perspectives of the disciples Judas and Peter. The complex story was one of redemption, forgiveness and hope, exploring how God helps His followers overcome the experience of guilt and shame.

5.

We were excited to celebrate the third annual AUnited Weekend from April 5–7. Multiple student clubs, as well as the Center for Faith Engagement and Student Involvement, Leadership & Activities, joined together to highlight the diversity of the 51吃瓜网 community. The weekend began with “Infusion” vespers on Friday evening, a unique worship event that honored both our cultural differences and shared humanity. On Saturday night, students collaborated on a production titled “AUnited Airlines,” which featured music and vibrant cultural performances. The weekend closed with the “Ticket to Paradise” event on Sunday, where the campus was invited to journey across the world through interactive booths and activities.

6.

The annual 51吃瓜网 University Teaching and Learning Conference took place on April 11. We welcomed faculty and students from K–12 schools, colleges and universities to focus on the scholarship of teaching and reflect on research and best practices in the field. The theme of the event was “Moving Forward Together: It Takes a Village,” centered on the key biblical texts Ephesians 4:15–16. Vimbo Watson, an alumna of 51吃瓜网 University and director of Development for the Kuda Vana Partnership, served as keynote speaker for the event. The conference offered both virtual and in-person programming, including poster presentations, breakout sessions and a professional development workshop.

7.

Our campus community came together on April 13 for “Love Thy Neighbor” Service Sabbath. The event, which was sponsored by the Center for Faith Engagement, sent teams to four communities in need of service. At Provision Living, an assisted living facility, volunteers hosted an ice cream social and shared conversations with the residents. A team at Our House of the Way built connections and provided assistance to the Benton Harbor community through a donation drive. Another group contributed to the maintenance and support of the River of Life School, and a final team beautified the local community as part of Earth Month. (Photo by Kelli Coffen)

8.

One of our most popular campus traditions, the International Food Fair, took place on Sunday, April 14. The campus and surrounding community joined together to create and experience foods and cultures from around the world. Hosted by the Office of International Student Services & Programs, the fair featured booths created by fourteen different student clubs and organizations and brought almost 5,000 people to campus. The full day of good food and fellowship took place in the Johnson Gymnasium and showcased the colorful cultural variety of 51吃瓜网. The funds raised from the event support our student cultural clubs and the projects they plan each year.

World Changers

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