Our school recently introduced our new mission statement:
“Our Mission is to inspire students and families to know, love and follow Christ through an aspirational education, founded on biblical principles and nurtured by a passionate and dedicated college community.”
Yes, it’s a lot of words and a few big ideas. It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue but the underlying vision is what counts. Here is a personal reflection from College Chaplain, Matt Pampeyan, of what these words mean for us as we live them out day-to-day as a school community.
We could have ended the mission statement after “aspirational education,” but added precision brings clarity and unity. Words matter, because ideas are what we cling to when we need directional guidance.
The statement specifically grounds our education in biblical principles. We deliberately chose the word principles over terms like rules, doctrines, or expectations. While doctrines and commands are vital, a principle represents a thought-out, living conviction put into practical human action.
Growing up, I was homeschooled—a fact that usually makes people say, “Ah, now your quirks make complete sense!” Because my mother was a former teacher and my father’s job required frequent travel, homeschooling fit our dynamic.
One side effect was that on quiet afternoons, I often watched reruns of The Late Show with David Letterman. His famous “Top 10 Lists” were usually ridiculous, but in that spirit, here is a practical “Top 7” list of biblical principles in action (since 7 is a solid biblical number…and 3 less than 10 so 3 less to remember…also “top” is probably the wrong word because there are so many useful principals in Bible!):
- First Priorities: Put God first in every choice, thought, and action, making your relationship with Him the central axis of your life (Matthew 22:37–38).
- Active Empathy: Treat every person you meet with the same care, dignity, and respect you desire for yourself (Matthew 22:39).
- Resting in Grace: Accept that your true worth and peace are gifts received, not achievements earned through endless, exhausting striving (Ephesians 2:8–9).
- Quick Reconciliation: Release grudges quickly, choosing mercy over resentment to break cycles of bitterness (Colossians 3:13).
- Servant Leadership: Measure personal success by how effectively you lift up, support, and serve those around you (Philippians 2:3–4).
- Unwavering Integrity: Let your word be completely trustworthy so that your actions always match your character (Colossians 3:9–10).
- Open-Handed Generosity: View your time, talent, and financial resources as tools to manage wisely and share freely (2 Corinthians 9:7).
When our educational environment puts these active principles into practice, we create a firm foundation where students can genuinely thrive.
NEXT TIME: NURTURED by a Passionate & Dedicated Community — Living Out the Call