Westmont Magazine Remaining Faithful to the Call: Academic Excellence with Christ Holding Preeminence

by Kim B. W. Denu, Provost

In 1923, writer and minister Thomas Chisholm penned a poem, inspired by Lamentations 3:22-23. It recounted God’s FAITHFULNESS to Chisholm despite his protracted health challenges, truncated education and persistent financial hardships. Moved to share his ode with others, he sent his poem to his friend, composer William Runyan. This collaboration led to the hymn “Great is Thy FAITHFULNESS.” Popularized through radio programs sponsored by the Moody Bible Institute and featured at Billy Graham crusades, the song later became Westmont’s official college hymn.

Although new to the Westmont family, I marvel at God’s FAITHFULNESS to the college, allowing it to survive and to thrive “through many dangers, toils and snares.” These challenges include the college’s bold beginnings at the end of the Great Depression, its progress during World War II, its survival of various fires and floods, and, most recently, its tenacity and fortitude to remain open during a global pandemic. In addition to appreciating the stories of God’s FAITHFULNESS in sustaining Westmont during its 85 years, I’ve been struck by the FAITHFULNESS of those who embraced God’s call to both start and continue the college’s mission.

Founder Ruth Kerr stands out as the most notable of those counted as FAITHFUL in Westmont’s enduring legacy. A widow and mother of six heeded the call to establish a Bible college while she ran a bustling business. Believing in the importance of educating men and women in God’s word and for Christian service, she contributed resources that sustained the college and ultimately created a foundation for an impressive Christian liberal arts education.

Today with more than 1,200 students, a plethora of majors, both professional and off-campus programs, and an impressive selection of opportunities for global study, I can unequivocally say that Ruth Kerr’s vision has flourished and produced bountiful fruit for the kingdom. She stayed true to her call and passed the baton to us. As provost, I steward the charge to remain FAITHFUL to the legacy of academic excellence while fostering a milieu in which Christ holds preeminence.

As I look over our campus, I’m humbled by the fact that I share this charge with others. Alongside our president and leadership, our faculty stand at the helm of this great legacy. Our Westmont professors not only represent some of the best intellectual minds anywhere in the world, but also have hearts that love God and others and hands ready to serve. Both disciples and scholars, they model for our students what it means to be FAITHFUL to the call of Christ both in and beyond the classroom. Within this Christian liberal arts authentic community, deep learning and FAITHFUL discipleship occur.

While we don’t know the future, we know who holds the future. God has been faithful, and by his grace, Westmont will remain FAITHFUL to its call to provide academic excellence in a place where Christ holds preeminence.