November 27, 2015
Dear Friends,
As Thanksgiving comes to a close and Christmas approaches, it’s easy to get nostalgic. For me, family and church traditions stacked up year after year until, over time, the deep meaning of Christmas took hold—and carried me even farther back to the first Christmas.
That powerful message 2000 years ago is as real today as it was in the manger of Bethlehem. The gift of God’s son makes a difference – then, now and forever.
As you and I celebrate the intersection of Christmas past and Christmas to come, I’m also reminded of the rich, faith tradition at this University. Visionary leaders such as Eugene Sanderson who declared that [NCU] students “. . .shall acquire proficiency, at once scholarly and practical, for immediate service in all departments of Christian work”, intersect with the faculty and staff today, 120 years later.
I think of our past which includes the founding of Pacific Christian Hospital next door, which of course through time, became Sacred Heart Medical Center. I’m thrilled to be at that intersection today as we experience now, decades later, the completion of our first semester of the RN to BSN program which came about through a partnership with PeaceHealth – Sacred Heart and NCU faculty. Once again, we are preparing nurses for service as they care for the sick and hurting.
Whether educating and equipping nurses, pastors, counselors, teachers, or entrepreneurs, NCU has and continues to prepare men and women to build on our tradition of faith and service; to share Christ’s love and His promise of eternity.
Will you stand with us at this intersection of time with a gift of $50, $100, $500 or more? Your generosity has a real and immediate impact – today in the lives of our students and tomorrow in the lives of those they serve, lead and inspire. Your financial support provides an education where Wisdom is inspired by Faith, bearing fruit in lives of Service.
Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas.
Joseph D. Womack, Ed.D.
President