President Bull welcomes students to Concordia
Dr. Bernard Bull
This story is featured in the August print edition of the Sower newspaper.
To new students, welcome to Concordia! To returning students, welcome back to your home away from home!
It is my hope and prayer that God will grant you a rich and meaningful year, one of new and deepening friendships; one full of inspiring moments of learning and formation; one where we live, learn, love, and grow together as a Christ-centered community; and one full of a joy that transcends circumstances.
Our theme verse this year comes to us from Psalm 16:11: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” In this passage we are reminded that God is our source of joy. This is a joy that transcends the worries, fears, challenges, and uncertainties of any one moment. “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)
As seen throughout the New Testament, God’s love in Christ is for you. As such, in Christ there is a joy that transcends circumstances, a peace that passes understanding, and a love that is so wide, long and deep that we can spend all of eternity exploring it. That is the God who is with you now and each day of this year. That is the God who invites you to come to Him regularly in prayer with all your requests. That is the God who invites you to regularly read and study His Word alone and with others. That is the God whom we gather to worship and hear from daily in chapel. That is also the God whom you are invited to talk about and share with those around you. Since our formation in 1894, the vision has been for us to be a learning community where we all point one another to “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” That remains the vision. It is also an invitation for each of us to hear and share this Good News with others.
God offers us no guarantees of an easy year. There will be challenging moments. Yet, He does promise to never leave or forsake you. He invites you to come to him when you are weary and burdened, and He will give you rest. He promises to be with you now and to the very end of the age. He has granted you classmates, professors, coaches and others who joyfully embrace the opportunity to pray for you, support and encourage you, and to walk through this year together.
So, basking in God’s love in Christ and trusting in His promises, and grateful to be on this journey together, my prayer is that your year be full of joy.
