As you may have heard, this will be my final report to you as president of Northwest University. After 18 years in the job, I remain very excited about the future of the university and its role in preparing Christian leaders for the churches and other institutions of our region and for the world, but I believe the time has come for a change. In August I will retire from university presidency and return to Great Commission ministry in another field.
My latest book, The Sixth Great Awakening and the Coming Renewal of the American Church, lays out a vision for gospel advance in America (and around the world) that only highlights the importance of our ministry at Northwest University. While Generation Z remains the least religious generation America has seen in the past 200-plus years, we also see greater fervency of faith among many members of this age cohort. A similar phenomenon exists in the book market: While Gen Z reads less than any previous generation, we also saw record book sales nationwide last year on the strength of Gen Z book buyers. The ones who do read, read a lot! The same is true with respect to their approach to Jesus. Less Gen Z members love Jesus, but the ones who do follow Him do so with all their might! Christians everywhere celebrated this phenomenon in the Ohio State and Notre Dame football teams that battled for the NCAA National Championship this year—sold-out young people excited about Jesus.
Northwest University only attracts students like that: young Christians who have decided to follow Jesus with all their hearts. They are a sufficient platform for tomorrow’s churches to thrive on!
As pastors and Christian leaders dedicated to preparing our churches for the Next Great Awakening, there is no better investment of our time and resources than to send our students to our regional Assemblies of God college, where they will receive the spiritual formation and theological depth and practical training they will need to reach and disciple the nation and the world.
