President’s Post: Welcome home, students
One of the most gratifying experiences while serving as Liberty University’s interim president is seeing our students return to campus for the start of another academic year. Our students come from all 50 states and over 30 countries. Dear student, your presence and smiling face brings life, joy and energy to our campus, unlike anything else. That’s what I love about “Training Champions for Christ.”
I have great appreciation and admiration for how motivated and hardworking our students are who want to change the world for Christ. Their charisma and enthusiasm are contagious and encouraging and give me great hope for the future. My responsibilities as president include ensuring that the ultimate mission of our school is upheld according to the Word of God and that the quality of our education is top-notch.
As president, I have often addressed our student body and their parents with the concern of greatest priority, and that is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Only Christ is our security and sure foundation. I want our students and their parents to know Jesus Christ fully and completely and that their salvation is secure if they will put their faith and trust in him.
In Matthew’s Gospel, we are reminded in the parable of Jesus that the wise man built his house upon the rock and the foolish man built his house upon the sand (Matthew 7:24-27). We are also told in Revelation 3:20 that Jesus stands at the door of our life for anyone to hear his voice and open it to him. My sincere hope for our students is that if they have not opened the door of their life, they will, making Jesus the Lord of their life. In addition, that our students would make other wise choices in what they open their life to.
So often, the greatest dangers in life come from open doors that we should not have entered.
As president, I will do all that I can this year to point our students to Jesus Christ and encourage them to make wise choices for their lives. In addition, I want our students to be safe. Many of you will notice that there are over a dozen blue light boxes placed throughout campus for student safety and security. My prayer is that they never have to be used. But if they are, know that our campus police are ready to respond and serve you.
This year is the second-largest incoming student class on record. Last year was the largest. Liberty University has the largest residential population going into the 51st year. All glory belongs to God for this magnificent growth.
My friend, Jerry Falwell Sr., believed that if Liberty University stayed true to the gospel mission and the Word of God, there would be no limit to what God would do through our university. And that is why Christ is always our security and sure foundation.
Prevo is the Interim President of Liberty University. Follow him on Twitter @JerryPrevoLU