The academic year follows a different rhythm than the traditional calendar. Rather than beginning in January, ours begins in the fall — a season of fresh starts, renewed commitments, and new opportunities. Just as many churches celebrate a fall kickoff, Talbot School of Theology begins this season by warmly welcoming students back to the Talbot Seminary community.

We are especially excited to welcome those joining us for the first time, including the many new students at Talbot Seminary Phoenix. As we build upon the decades-long legacy of Phoenix Seminary, we are deeply grateful for its history, traditions, faculty, alumni and ministry impact. We are excited about this new chapter and pleased to welcome new faculty, staff and students into the growing Talbot Seminary family.

At our main campus in La Mirada, in Los Angeles County, approximately 800 graduate and seminary students regularly take courses on campus. We are delighted to welcome them back, along with students studying across our two main seminary campuses in Los Angeles County and Phoenix, our extension centers in New York City and Kyiv, and our growing network of Talbot Embedded locations.

Our international community remains an important part of who we are. We ask the Talbot family to continue praying for our fellow students and partners in Ukraine. Recently, for the first time, our partner campus in Kyiv sustained damage. Thankfully, no lives were lost, though windows were broken and repairs are needed. We are grateful for their faithfulness and resilience amid extraordinarily difficult circumstances.

I also recently had the privilege of visiting our New York City campus at the Charles L. Feinberg Center for Messianic Jewish Studies. Located in a Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn, the center is doing remarkable work in partnership with Chosen People Ministries. I was deeply impressed by its ministry, academic excellence and strong reputation in the surrounding community.

Talbot’s reach also continues to grow through Talbot Embedded. Programs have already launched in San Diego and Seattle, with Las Vegas and Honolulu expected to follow. We are exploring additional locations as we seek new ways to bring excellent theological education closer to students already serving in ministry.

And, for those studying locally, we hope to see you at Talbot Chapel on Tuesdays. We are planning several opportunities this fall to gather, worship, learn and encourage one another as a seminary community.

Moving Forward Through Struggle

Some in our community know that I have recently experienced a significant health challenge. I am continuing physical therapy and am grateful to be on the road to recovery. I expect to use a walker for a while and then a cane, but I am thankful for the steady progress I am already seeing.

At Talbot convocation on September 1, I plan to speak about the mission of God amid struggle and share more about what this experience has been teaching me. God’s mission does not stop when our plans are interrupted or our circumstances become difficult. He continues to work through our weakness and limitations, often reminding us that his purposes never depended upon ideal circumstances in the first place.

Completing the Journey Together

One of my greatest joys has been seeing the continued growth of Talbot Seminary. Growth matters not simply because the numbers are encouraging, but because every number represents a person preparing to serve Christ and his church.

I am deeply thankful for the hundreds of students who have already been traveling this road with us. And we want to help every one of them finish well — to complete the course, cross the finish line, and ultimately graduate.

But our purpose is not simply to help students earn degrees. We want to prepare them for what comes next: a lifetime of faithful ministry, leadership, scholarship and service to Christ and his church.

So we will walk this road together until the day comes when we offer a “gospel goodbye” — saying farewell to them as students while beginning an enduring relationship with them as alumni and partners in the gospel.

Whether you study in Los Angeles County, Phoenix, New York City, Kyiv, online, or through one of our growing Talbot Embedded locations, you are part of the Talbot Seminary family.

Welcome to a new academic year.

We are grateful to be on this journey together — and excited about where God will lead us next.