Joab's Blog

KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT S.P.U.

November 12th, 2010

TRANSFORMATION THROUGH CREATIVE MISSION

October 13, 2010. Seattle Pacific University in Washington, U.S.A., pulsated with activities on its Day of Common Learning. Over 2500 students, faculty and the staff filled the Royal Brougham to hear me speak on Global Transformation.

SPEAKING AT SEATTLE PACIFIC UNIVERSITY

Before I delivered the Keynote address, President Philip Eaton informed the audience of the purpose of the day and briefly rewound the history of the school. Vice President Les Steele offered prayer and introduced me to the audience.

A COLD DAY BUT A HOT MESSAGE

I loved the ambience. The roof over me was as high as the sky. The floor was neatly kept. The surrounding was beautiful: green and tranquil. There were no red spots of betel-nut or tobacco spits anywhere. Beside the sitting area, there was plenty of space for people to move about and socialize. Thanks to the large-size LCD screen so the people sitting in the back rows did not have to strain their eyes to capture a vision of the people on the dais. The only thing I did not like perhaps was the cold temperature maintained in the auditorium to keep everybody cool and happy.

MY WOOLEN CLOTHES HELPED LITTLE

I wore a suit and thick woolen socks to keep me warm. But I was still shivering while most people in the audience

sported a summer T-shirt with jeans. How could I tell anyone that I came from a hot country and an area where the lowest temperature on a coldest winter day is in the 80s?

The meeting was to start at 10:00 A.M. But there was none in the auditorium till 9:45 a.m. except for the team of organizers. The people in charge of the media had already taken their position. Just a few minutes to go, people started moving in the direction of Royal Brougham like a mighty body of waters. The whole place was full by the time the president walked up to the podium to welcome the audience on the dot at 10.

DISCIPLINE OF HIGH ORDER

That was a discipline of highest order. The thousands of vibrant people who engaged in lively conversation and laughter had to be suddenly brought to a pin drop silence. It took only seconds. It does not come by in a day or a year. It has taken years of learning at home, school, work place and everywhere at different levels of life.

When at school, I had learnt of Mahatma Gandhi being very punctual. But we in India are still more event-conscious than time-conscious. I would have liked to see the teacher who taught me the story of Gandhiji practice the same discipline and my community to honor the gift of time.

It was a real joy for me to address a highly disciplined, punctual and attentive audience at SPU. These were people of great mind who had a purpose and a theme for their community to engage the culture and change the world. Though I was from a different culture and the first Indian to speak at such events of SPU, I found my words very well accepted and echoes through the corridors of learning.

My address for the day was entitled “Transformation through Creative Missions” based on Revelation 21:3-5. It was intended to offer a vision of life transformed by the power of Christ and to challenge the SPU community to be an agent of transformation locally and globally. I thought I nearly succeeded when I heard a ‘Wow” from the president himself.

WOW FROM THE PRESIDENT!

“Wow, what a great time we had with you on the campus,” said President Eaton. “Your speeches were just wonderful—Spirit-filled, thoughtful, provocative, and so kind. You have made an impact on our campus.”

In a separate mail, said the Vice President Les Steele: “The honor was ours to have you here. The conversations are still percolating across the campus with a number of areas discussing ways to work with you. The school of education wants to discuss literacy education with you, nursing school wants to discuss short term team visits and this list goes on. You clearly brought a “word from the Lord” that touched our hearts and minds.”

I am grateful to God for this opportunity. The president, the Vice Presidents and the faculty deserve great appreciation. Prior to the Day of Common Learning, SPU organized a luncheon with the Christian Leaders of the area on October 12. I had the honor of speaking to them on “Global Christianity.

The faculty and the staff of SPU too had a luncheon with me after I spoke on the Day of Common Learning. I saw more of their interest to know about God’s move in other parts of the world. It was a question-answer session.

I AM GRATEFUL FRIENDS!

I am also grateful to my friends Matt & Melanie Whitehead, Mark & Mary Ann Abbot and David & Shelly Goodnight, Cliff & Diane Otis and Dave & Bev Smitters for their kind hospitality and help during my stay in Seattle.

Here are some pictures of the event.

The following link has more information about the Day of Common Learning:

http://www.thefalcononline.com/article.php?id=7242

Yours Because of Calvary,

Joab Lohara.