Jim and Carol Wunder III

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There is a simple logic as to why Faculty Commons captures Carol and me.  To a degree it is summed up in what Abraham Lincoln said: “What is taught in the schools of this generation will determine what society will be in the next.” 

Few will argue that the values, beliefs and behaviors of our culture is “downstream”from academia.  Tomorrow exists today in the halls of learning. 

That, however, is only part of the picture. Our Lord captures a more subtle and profound aspect of the learning process in Luke 6:40: “A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be LIKE his teacher.” 

Lincoln says we will be like the content we’ve been taught.

Jesus says we will be like the one who teaches it. 

Lincoln focuses on subject matter; Jesus on relationship. The deliverer trumps the subject delivered.  We become like our teacher. 

Equipping faculty and grad students to be Christ followers in every dimension of their lives becomes paramount.  They need it; their students need it; the “downstream culture” needs it. 

Carol first heard the gospel through a history professor at Slippery Rock. Though she didn’t respond at that time, it laid a “believability” foundation for her.  After coming to Christ she heard a Christian prof speak. Though understanding little, she left knowing Christianity was for“people who think.” 

After I came to Christ at Penn State I met two profs and their families at a local church. I had no idea one could be “intelligent” and a Christ follower.  In my field the majority of the profs regularly denigrated Christ and all who followed Him.  These profs and their families showed me what it meant to be a Christ follower.  Their lives helped to form me. Through them I learned that one of the best places to show Christ is in my home, in the context of family life. 

We want to do the same.  Reach and equip faculty and grad students to reflect Christ in their world.  

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