As we begin our celebration of our Centennial Anniversary, I am mindful that our institution has undergone numerous changes while keeping central its commitment to Jesus Christ and the authority of Scripture.

We live in a day and age where living with purpose and sacrificially is not necessarily a very popular idea. Disappointment, disillusionment, and discontentment plague the human condition. We live in a fallen world. But the follower of Christ must nevertheless take up his cross daily and declare with Joshua to all those around him, “Choose you this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

This passage appears to be Paul’s central thrust as he deals with the three problems the Thessalonians were facing. In Chapter 1 severe persecution and afflictions threatened to unnerve them. In Chapter 2 false teaching about the day of the Lord threatened to confuse them. In Chapter 3 the undisciplined lives of some threatened to derail them. Paul’s words, about gaining the glory of Christ in 2:13-17, seem to be his primary and unifying exhortation to them.

Through the redemption brought forth by the work of BTC, I am again reminded that true art is larger than paintings or photographs – for we are all artists in our own regard. One person uses pixels or paintbrushes, while another may mix spices and meats, and yet another speaks words of encouragement.

Christian Education is still a new idea in Brazil. There are few Christian schools, and teachers do not quite know how to incorporate biblical integration in their classes. The Association of Christian Schools International has worked hard to train and equip teachers in this practice, but there is still a lot to be done.

Above all this, we agreed together that this University would maintain is central commitments to Christ and the Word by making it clear that “the mission is the vision” here. There are many new things to celebrate: new degrees, new First Year Programs, new opportunities for partnerships and service, and new challenges that will strengthen us and be used of God to further the work at Cairn.

The landscape of higher education is constantly changing, but perhaps more so in the last few years. Students take longer and longer to decide which college to attend, higher education has been hit with budget crises, and even the value of a college education has come into question.

“Begin with a rejected foundation.” It is hard to imagine architects in training hearing such things from their professors. It is easier to imagine the administration letting go professors with strange views like these.

A little over a year ago I had the opportunity to attend a student leadership conference in Philadelphia. One of the final sessions was a roundtable discussion with other student leaders. When I spoke up the group was dumbfounded that their typical college lifestyle is prohibited at Cairn. Some asked me why I didn’t just transfer to a school that didn’t “tell me what to do.” After all, how could I, a college student, an adult for that matter, continue to let someone or something tell me what to do?

t has not taken long for me to begin amassing a few new collections recently. Over the past couple of months I have had colleagues, friends, and fellow alumni sending me photos of cairns and actual stones from all over the world. Each one tells a story and is now part of a larger story …