a letter from dr. giese

Dear Friends,

Eighty eight years ago (March 1931) the president of Columbia University, Dr. Nicholas Butler, delivered a challenging observation in a Charter Day speech at the University of California.

“The vast population of this earth, and indeed nations themselves, may readily be divided into three groups. There are the few who make things happen, the many more who watch things happen, and the overwhelming majority who have no notion of what happens. Every human being is born into this third and largest group; it is for himself, his environment and his education to determine whether he shall rise to the second group or even to the first.”

I agree with Dr. Butler that each of us is born to the “third group.” But I disagree that rising to the first group is a result of ourselves, our environment, or our education. It is God’s grace alone that allows us the freedom and provides the enablement to create, innovate, and initiate.

It is my great privilege to serve the Lord as part of a team of leaders that are creative innovators and initiators. As you will read in this issue of Direction, despite the significant challenges facing Christian ministries and especially Christian Colleges, we are deeply grateful and very excited about what God is doing at Oak Hills. And we are deeply grateful for your prayer and financial partnership that God uses to advance His work through the four ministries of Oak Hills: Oak Hills Christian College, Oak Hills Center for Indian Ministries, Camp Oak Hills, and Oak Hills Church Ministries. Thank you!

Dr. Martin Giese

Oak Hills President