130 Years of Wisdom, Faith, and Service
Excerpts from President Womack’s Address at the 130th Convocation Chapel, August 26, 2025
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. – Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
We celebrate our coming together as a learning community and the new life of this iconic building that has stood resolutely for all but the first 13 of our 130 years as a university. As we celebrate this building today, my mind can’t help but think of all those who studied here, on this very ground, over such a long time.
I think of the early graduates of this institution; students from all over the world who studied here in this old building from our earliest days. Graduates who served in church leadership across the burgeoning western United States who founded some 100 churches by the year 1920, some 390 by 1970, and between 500 and 600 over our 130 years. I think of the hundreds of missionaries launched from right here across the globe.
Through the years, generations of business leaders, public servants, K-12 educators, college and seminary professors and administrators, mental health professionals, doctors and nurses were educated right here – dating as far back as the days when we founded and ran Pacific Christian Hospital that became Sacred Heart/Peace Health right next door.
These and so many more serve as witnesses to the transformational educational experience that has existed on this campus – this very ground – for now 13 decades. As I think about this, I can’t help but wander to the scripture recorded in Hebrews 12 where we are encouraged by such a great crowd of onlookers, to throw off what hinders and entangles, so as to run with determination the race in front of us, focused on Jesus who ran the race perfectly on our behalf for a joy that cost him the cross and bought for us the ultimate victory.
They, like the thousands who studied here, show us that God was with them. They remind us that He is with us, strengthening, building up, and employing us for His work and empowering us to stand for His glory. Just as He did with them, while cautioning them not to take lightly the call they’ve received to journey with God by faith and imploring them to choose a new way of living; a new life of faith in Christ Jesus.
So, how do we run this race? How do we look back on the grand history and cloud of witnesses that comprise the past of this learning community and point to a future that continues their fine work to bear good fruit today and tomorrow?
First, we are told to lay aside every weight. If we are to run a good race, we can’t do so with leg weights on. Anything that would slow our walk with Christ should be cast off before we start the race.
Second, we see that God fills us with the Holy Spirit to go somewhere. Do something. Bear fruit. Be His hands and His feet. Faith is meant to be on the move: let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
My dad used to tell me, “We’ve all been signed up for the race. Now run it, and run it well!” He was referring to a favorite verse of his found in I Corinthians 9: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”
How do we do that that? Run our race in a manner that ensures we will win. Run so that when we have finished the race we will be qualified for the prize. We follow the one who has gone before us; the one that has already run the race, traveled the path perfectly, and bids us follow Him.
We look to Jesus because He’s been there and knows what we are going through. He knows what it feels like to be under great weight, but enduring the cross and despising it’s shame, He ran the race and won. Conquering death and sin on our behalf, He received the prize – the seat at the right hand of the Father.
Students, allow me to encourage you to RUN this year. Be encouraged by all those who ran this race before you. Run free of the distractions and sins that slow you down. Chase after Jesus and run with purpose and focus. Run this year, in faith to the holy witness of heaven, with the intent to win!
Today we celebrate the new life breathed into this historical building. We harken back to October 18th, 1908 when students, faculty, and friends of this University gathered to celebrate the opening of this grand old building. It has been given new life and an addition that does more than modernize the structure for generations to come. It symbolizes the heart of the institution and the values at the core of our mission.
On that day, those gathered here sang the grand old hymn we just sang: “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name.” Today, and for a host of tomorrows, we shout out our praise with the ringing of these bells. We rededicate this building to the mission of Christ-centered higher education and raise His cross as a beacon to our commitment to the faithful exercise of that mission in the lives of students.