Economics professor from Taiwan traces incredible faith journey
Whether teaching students to be good stewards of God’s provision or finding hope during the dark times of his own life, Liberty University School of Business Professor Dr. Andrew Light points to the Bible for answers.
Light said he grew up poor by American standards, but his family had the necessities for a simple life in Tainan County, Taiwan. His parents did not practice any faith. A friend invited him to a Christian church as a teenager, but like other children of the culture, Light’s studies were his focus, and passing entrance exams to attend quality schools took priority. He attended the esteemed National Taiwan University, where he met his wife, Susan, in the economics program. After graduation, Light was working at the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research when he decided to explore Ph.D. programs in the United States.
But before he left for the U.S., he made an even larger decision than the one to fly across the Pacific. In 1979, he experienced a period of depression and could not bring himself to share his struggles with anyone and didn’t know where to look. Something stirred him to grab a Bible, and he began reading the book of Matthew. He spent each night searching for an answer to his problem.
“By God’s mercy, He used His Word to answer my questions and heal my troubles and help me make the decision to follow Him,” Light said, noting that 2 Corinthians 7:10 brought answers to his deep troubling questions.
Having saved enough for a plane ticket and two pieces of luggage, Light made his way to Virginia Tech on a teaching assistant scholarship. A year later, he transferred to Ohio State to study alongside Susan, where he completed his Ph.D. in economics.
Dr. Andrew Light teaches an economics class in 2006.
In 1985, following a one-year teaching job at Ohio State, both he and Susan were hired to teach at Liberty. From the time he started at Liberty, Light has carried out his passion for teaching Christian principles in economics and business. He spent a year reading through the Bible and taking notes on every mention of money, stewardship, and related topics, essentially creating an index that he adapted into a textbook, “Biblical Sense Economics,” that he now uses in his class.
“I tell my students, ‘You can forget about common sense economics, but you cannot forget about biblical principles because they can help you for the rest of your life,’” Light said.
Across his 40 years at Liberty, he said he has witnessed the Spirit of the Lord do wonders on Liberty Mountain, from a school that struggled financially in the 1990s to a prominent Christian university known for its world-class academics and facilities.
“When I look back at my (40 years), I see the work of God and the faith of (Liberty founder) Dr. Jerry Falwell. He was so faithful, and he always said Liberty is God’s school. You can see God’s hand on this school. I get along really well with my colleagues because we all share the same standards, and we are all Christians. It is a special place to be.”
Like many other professors at Liberty, Light makes a point to collect students’ prayer requests during class. Whenever a student visits his office, Light hands them a copy of Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost for His Highest,” a favorite book of his and Falwell’s. Over the years, the Lights have sought out opportunities to welcome and mentor international students from Taiwan and China, inviting them to church and opening their home.
Light said he has no plans to retire soon from teaching, and his reason is simple: “God keeps telling me to stay here and keep teaching. As long as He keeps saying that, I’ll stay.”
