Office of the President Archives - Sattler College

Presidential Newsletter #20

Finny Kuruvilla — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:36:37 +0000

Dearest Sattler Stakeholders, I’m eager to share to share Presidential Newsletter #20. Onward to power, love, and sound minds/discipline (2 Tim 1:7). Lunch & Learn with Timothy Belk We were grateful to host Timothy Belk of Boston Trinity Academy for a recent Lunch & Learn. He holds a Master’s degree in Art History from the University of St. Andrew’s. His visit was a meaningful opportunity for students to learn about forces impacting faith and worldview through a feast of beautiful and stimulating art. Our “Therefore Go” Conference and Serving the Global Poor There is still time to sign up for “Therefore Go” which is coming up for this Friday, March 20. Therefore Go will be a day of learning about how to serve the global poor. Featured speakers include our own Dr. Jesse Scheumann and Dr. George Kalantzis of Wheaton College. (As a side note, Dr. Kalantzis’ book Caesar and the Lamb is my first recommendation on the early church’s views of violence and the military.) Dr. Kalantzis also serves as a Senior Fellow with the International Association for Refugees (IAFR) in the past decade. With so much poverty and suffering because of war in the last few years, this is an especially timely conference. Sign up here. The Berean Challenge: a Bible Knowledge Competition for High School Students At high schools across the country, students compete in sporting events like basketball, baseball, or volleyball. Yet knowledge of the Scriptures continues to degrade partly because our culture fails to prize the study and application of the Bible. At Sattler, we are passionate about God’s word and want to foster a culture of students devoting their highest and best efforts toward the word of God. We invite high school students and their families to come to Sattler this Saturday, March 21 from 2-4 pm for the Berean Challenge. The winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize and second place $500. This is a three round format with lots of audience engagement so it should be an edifying time for all. Sign up here. Point 75 and Spring Break Our recent Point 75 gathering provided another welcome opportunity for student-focused connection and campus life together before the start of Spring Break. The majors competed against each other on quizzes that they designed. The History majors won! This was a very enjoyable, laughter-filled evening. Board Meeting At our Board meeting on February 28, we were encouraged by the continued work being done across the college in areas of academics, administration, fundraising, and long-term planning. I want to give particular thanks to Dr. Edwin Imasuen for his excellent presentation and for the steady and important work he continues to do in support of Sattler’s accreditation and institutional effectiveness efforts. We remain grateful for the Board’s ongoing guidance and support as we continue building for the future. Making Biblical Greek Come Alive We recently posted a student-produced video performance in biblical Greek entitled “The Cup of Wrath.” At Sattler, students learn Greek through a primarily communicative method, and after just one semester they are already able to understand, narrate, and dramatize stories in the language. In their second semester, students record weekly videos drawn from their coursework, an engaging way to combine rigor, creativity, and embodied learning as they grow in confidence with the biblical text. Check out this video to see just how much they’ve learned in a relatively short time! Question of the Month To compete in the contest, answer this question without the use of AI, Google, or other forms of “cheating.” (In other words, you should know the answer.) Click here to submit your answer for a chance to win! This month’s prize is a Sattler mug. If multiple people get it right, we will select one of those winners for the prize. Universities have been often associated with the propagation of movements. An example would be the University of Wittenburg and the Protestant Reformation. Which university is most associated with the rise of the Arminian movement? Answer to the Previous Month’s Question Paul of Samosata was the ante-Nicene church leader most associated with teaching adoptionism, the idea that Jesus was not God, but merely endowed at his baptism with special power from God. Paul’s pupil Lucian would go on to heavily influence Arius who famously taught that Jesus was created. Arius’ view on Jesus’ nature was the most important topic of debate at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. Sharable Thought Anne Frank once wrote, “Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.” Her famous diary that she wrote in Amsterdam while hiding from Nazis contains much wisdom on how to find joy in the midst of crisis and suffering. Similarly, while a prisoner, the apostle Paul could write, “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Phil 4:8). My encouragement for you is to fight for joy, no matter how bleak your circumstances may be. Prayer Requests and Praises Prayer for peace in the Middle East and around the world Gratitude that the faculty member’s cousin who was hospitalized for over two months and was on life support has recovered and is now at home. Support Sattler Refer a student: Did you know that most Sattler students applied because someone referred them? Here’s how you can help. If you know someone that would be a good fit for Sattler, refer them or help them start an application! As a token of appreciation, we’ll mail you an exclusive Sattler College pennant flag. Give: Help make Sattler College available to more students by supporting our Entrustment fund. Visit: Come see the Sattler community in action. Feedback: Do you have ideas to make this newsletter better? Let me know by sending an email to info@sattler.edu. Subscribe to Sattler Newsletters Loading…

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Presidential Newsletter #19

Finny Kuruvilla — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 14:24:00 +0000

Dearest Sattler Stakeholders, I’m eager to share to share Presidential Newsletter #1. Onward to power, love, and sound minds/discipline (2 Tim 1:7). Return to Spring Semester After a restful winter break, our students and faculty have returned to campus for the spring semester. Classrooms are once again full, and we are grateful to resume the shared work of learning, discipleship, and formation together. Snow Storm in Boston Boston experienced its first major snowstorm of the year recently, with over two feet of snow falling across the city, placing it among the ten largest storms on record. For two days, classes moved online as the storm passed through. What struck me most was not the severity of the storm, but the life of our community during it. Students studied together, played board games, made donuts, and cared for one another as the city slowed down around them. Moments like these remind me that the Sattler dorms are far more than housing. They are places where students live, learn, and grow together through both ordinary days and unexpected disruptions. I am grateful for God’s protection and for the resilience and joy of our students. Berean Challenge I would like to invite you to join us on March 21 from 2:00–4:00 PM for Sattler College’s inaugural Berean Challenge, a Bible knowledge competition hosted on our campus. This event is open exclusively to high school students and is designed to be both lively and rigorous, welcoming those who come well-prepared as well as those who simply rely on what they already know. The winner of the competition will receive a $1,000 cash prize. My hope for the Berean Challenge is that it would encourage careful study of God’s Word while also fostering fellowship and healthy competition. Even if you are not participating, you are warmly invited to attend, cheer on the students, and enjoy the afternoon together. Participation is limited to 70 contestants. Sign up here. Therefore Go Conference: Good News to the Poor I would also like to invite you to join us March 20–21 for our annual Therefore Go Conference. This gathering is an important opportunity for our community to reflect on what it means to live out the call of the Gospel in faithfulness and love. This year’s theme, “Good News to the Poor,” will challenge us to think carefully about Christian responsibility, mercy, and mission. We are excited to announce Dr. George Kalantzis of Wheaton College as one of our keynote speakers, and I am confident his teaching will be both encouraging and sharpening. Sign up here. Early American History Event in July I’m eager to share that Discover Boston, our annual summer event for high school students, is happening again, with a new focus on learning American history on-location in Boston. Over several days, students will explore the people, ideas, and events that shaped the founding of the United States by studying them in the very places they occurred. Together, we will walk the Freedom Trail, examine key moments of the American Revolution, and reflect on the religious and moral vision of early settlers who spoke of Boston as a “city on a hill.” Students will learn about figures such as Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin, and George Whitefield, and consider how faith, preaching, and public life intersected in early America. Participants will stay together in our Sattler dorms in Boston’s historic Back Bay neighborhood, with room and board included. Click here for more details or to register. New Video We recently released a new video titled “Sattler College: A College that Equips You to Live a Fruitful Christian Life.” In it, I share the heart and vision of Sattler through our Learn, Do, Teach model and explain how we seek to equip students not only to understand the truth, but to live it and teach it. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch and share it with others who may be interested in our mission. Question of the Month To compete in the contest, answer this question without the use of AI, Google, or other forms of “cheating.” (In other words, you should know the answer.) Click here to submit your answer for a chance to win! This month’s prize is a copy of my book King Jesus Claims His Church. If multiple people get it right, we will select one of those winners for the prize. Which ante-Nicene church leader is most associated with teaching adoptionism, the idea that Jesus was not God, but merely endowed at his baptism with special power from God? Answer to the Previous Month’s Question Eutyches is the individual most prominently associated with the Monophysite position on Christology that was rejected at Chalcedon. The presbyter of Constantinople, Eutyches taught a Christology wherein Jesus was not fully human. Sharable Thought [On weighty debates in the history of the church.] “The theological questions really at issue have no significance except on a certain level, a high level, of the spiritual life; they could have been fruitfully debated only between mature and saintly disputants in close privacy and at boundless leisure. Under those conditions formulae might possibly have been found which did justice to the…assertions without compromising other elements of the Christian faith. In fact, however, these questions were raised at a moment when they immediately became embittered and entangled with a whole complex of matters theologically irrelevant, and therefore attracted the fatal attention both of government and the mob. When once this had happened, Europe’s chance to come through unscathed was lost. It was as if men were set to conduct a metaphysical argument at a fair, in competition or (worse still) forced collaboration with the cheapjacks or the round-abouts, under the eyes of an armed and vigilant police force who frequently changed sides.” – C.S. Lewis, Poetry and Prose in the Sixteenth Century Prayer Requests A friend of a faculty member who has breast cancer. Support Sattler Refer a student: Did you know that most Sattler students applied because someone referred them? Here’s how you can help. If you know someone that would […]

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Presidential Newsletter #18

Finny Kuruvilla — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 08:35:00 +0000

Dearest Sattler Stakeholders, I’m eager to share to share Presidential Newsletter #18. Onward to power, love, and sound minds/discipline (2 Tim 1:7). Finals Sattler students wrapped up the fall semester on December 12. The Sattler Community is currently on winter break, with many of us reflecting on the goodness of God over the past year and anticipating what he will do in the New Year! Homeschool Conference I am excited to announce that the READ (Relationship, Excellence, and Discipleship) Homeschool Conference is scheduled for January 9-10, 2026 on the Sattler College campus. Speakers include Matthew Milioni, Catherine Zoller, my wife Laura Kuruvilla, and myself. This year’s theme is how to have loving and effective discipline in the home. Discipline is the forum by which we win or lose our children’s hearts–this starts at a young age and extends into the teenage years. This conference will be very practical with an emphasis on how to make lasting, wise changes to improve your parenting and win your children’s hearts into the faith. It should be an excellent and foundational conference not just for homeschoolers but for parents in general. We still have a few spots left, so feel free to register if you are interested! Learn more here. Invitation to Partner As we enter a new calendar year, we invite you to consider making a gift. Your generosity helps ensure that our students continue to grow in confidence, devotion, and faith—and to bring light to the people and places where it is needed most. If this email has crossed with the timing of your recent gift, please accept our sincere thanks. Your support means more than we can express, and we are deeply grateful for your partnership in Sattler’s mission. New Homepage We’ve been working hard in recent months to update our website homepage to more accurately reflect the Sattler experience—“A College that Equips You to Live a Fruitful Christian Life.” We’re excited that the page is now live! Check it out here, and be sure to explore the “Learn, Do, Teach” framework that a Sattler education is built on. Scholarship Announcements For this coming school year, Sattler College is thrilled to announce a range of competitive scholarships and fellowships, including several that have never been offered before. For example, we are offering two global scholarships designed for students pursuing the biblical languages in Greece or Jerusalem. We are offering an “Excellence in Biomedicine Award” that supports students preparing for advanced scientific and medical training through a funded summer research experience. Details for all of our scholarships can be found on our website here. Ohio Alumni Event We hosted our second regional alumni gathering on January 3 in central Ohio. Dr. Jesse Scheumann and his family joined alumni there, with Dr. Scheumann sharing a presentation on his recent insights from Isaiah 36–39. The evening provided a meaningful opportunity for alumni, including several who traveled a considerable distance, to reconnect and enjoy time together. Question of the Month To compete in the contest, answer this question without the use of AI, Google, or other forms of “cheating.” (In other words, you should know the answer.) Click here to submit your answer for a chance to win! This month’s prize is a copy of my book King Jesus Claims His Church. If multiple people get it right, we will select one of those winners for the prize. Who is most prominently associated with the Monophysite position on Christology that was rejected at Chalcedon? Answer to the Previous Month’s Question John Draper and Andrew White popularized the Conflict Thesis, a 19th-century idea that science and religion are basically hostile with each other and engaged in perpetual warfare, with religion constantly hindering scientific progress. This is one of the most important forces contributing to the decline of Christianity. For an introduction to this important topic, here is an introductory video entitled “The Two Men who Invented the Science versus Faith Conflict.” Sharable Thought “Discipline puts to the test what we most deeply believe. Is Christ’s love longer, wider, higher, and deeper than our children’s (and our) misbehavior? Is God’s mercy present in our ugly conflicts, ultimately drawing our hearts back together—and to Him? Does God’s Word truly bring valuable protective wisdom that gets us back on track after we sin? Is the Holy Spirit’s power more than sufficient to keep us growing in faith and character even when we struggle? Simply stated, corrective discipline is a wonderful opportunity either to reinforce or to tear down our efforts to train kids to know, love, and follow Jesus. If we ourselves are Jesus-followers and want to pass on our faith, but we err foundationally in how we discipline them, they will likely conclude that the elemental spiritual principles of our faith don’t meaningfully reach into real life. Discipline that’s effective in discipleship will flow from a parent’s heart of humility, forgiveness, wisdom, love, and vision for a child’s life. It must make sense to the child to win his or her respect. We can know that discipline has connected with our child’s heart when he or she is developing a desire to know and love Jesus and to walk in the grace of obedience.” Jim & Lynne Jackson Prayer Requests For God’s Spirit to convert the many spiritual lessons that students gained during the semester into real action. A faculty member’s cousin who suddenly fell ill and is now on life support. Support Sattler Refer a student: Did you know that most Sattler students applied because someone referred them? Here’s how you can help. If you know someone that would be a good fit for Sattler, refer them or help them start an application! As a token of appreciation, we’ll mail you an exclusive Sattler College pennant flag. Give: Help make Sattler College available to more students by supporting our Entrustment fund. Visit: Come see the Sattler community in action. Feedback: Do you have ideas to make this newsletter better? Let me know by sending an email to info@sattler.edu. Subscribe to Sattler Newsletters Loading…

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Presidential Newsletter #17

Finny Kuruvilla — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 18:27:00 +0000

Dearest Sattler Stakeholders, I’m eager to share to share Presidential Newsletter #17. Onward to power, love, and sound minds/discipline (2 Tim 1:7). ETS & Sattler Events Many Sattler students, staff, and faculty attended the 2025 Evangelical Theological Society meetings in Boston last week. ETS gathers scholars to discuss biblical interpretation, theology, church history, and more. It’s a valuable environment for sharpening critical thinking, hearing major debates, and meeting authors whose work shapes the church. Sattler students and staff participated in a number of events around Boston during the week, including a hymn sing with Keith and Kristyn Getty at Tremont Temple and the public debate between Mike Licona and Bart Ehrman on Gospel authorship, where Sattler hosted an information table. Because ETS was local this year, many of the speakers were also able to visit our campus and share their work with our community. Talks on the Sattler campus included the following: Dr. Gregg Davidson: Science, the Bible, and Noah’s Flood Dr. Davidson showed how genre and literary design in Genesis shape wise interpretation of the creation and flood accounts. He then compared what different scientific models would expect to find in Earth’s geology and encouraged students to evaluate the evidence with clarity and care. Dr. Jason DeRouchie: Old Testament Promises & the Christian Dr. DeRouchie showed how God’s promises fuel both holiness and hope, giving strength against anxiety, temptation, and suffering. He then explained how Christians can faithfully apply Old Testament promises today through their fulfillment in Christ. Dr. Robert Plummer & Dr. Benjamin Merkle: Maintaining Your Greek Drs. Plummer and Merkle urged students to see Greek as a gift for opening the New Testament with greater clarity and delight. They showed how even modest skill in the language sharpens interpretation, deepens devotion, and builds lifelong habits of faithful study. Dr. Thomas J. Millay: A Discussion on Kierkegaard’s Critique of Christian Nationalism (talk hosted by a student club) Dr. Millay explained how Fear and Trembling presents Abraham’s faith as a refusal to conform to the social ethics of his nation. He then showed how this challenges Christian nationalism by calling believers to follow Christ in humble, costly discipleship rather than national self-assertion. Dr. Michael Bird: My Life as a “Gospelizer” Dr. Bird shared how Christ reshaped his life and why he now calls himself a “gospelizer,” someone formed by the good news. He showed how Jesus’ kingdom message and Paul’s gospel unite into one story and encouraged students to read Scripture deeply through Biblical languages and historical context. Dr. DeRouchie’s talk is linked below. The rest will appear on our YouTube channel in the coming weeks, so keep an out for those. Grad School Acceptance I would like to extend a hearty congratulations to Austin Ressler (Class of 2025) for his acceptance into medical school. Austin has been serving in Ukraine to help bring badly needed medical care and supplies to those who are suffering. I am very proud of his sacrificial service and look forward to watching how God will use him as a physician. Morale Day November 4 was Morale Day at Sattler, a time each semester when we pause from academics to focus on rest, service, and community. Students served at Toah Nipi, a Christian retreat center, and at L’Arche, a home for adults with intellectual disabilities, helping with wood splitting, raking, cleaning, and other hands-on projects. That same day, Sattler faculty and staff gathered for conversations around what makes an ideal Sattler team, strengthening our unity and shared mission. Alumni Event We hosted our first regional alumni event on October 30 in southern Pennsylvania. Dr. Hans Leaman joined our alumni there and offered insights from the migration research he recently presented in Rome, with particular attention to how Christians, including Anabaptists, have shaped thought and policy on migration in the decades since World War II. Question of the Month To compete in the contest, answer this question without the use of AI, Google, or other forms of “cheating.” (In other words, you should know the answer.) Click here to submit your answer for a chance to win! This month’s prize is a copy of my book King Jesus Claims His Church. If multiple people get it right, we will select one of those winners for the prize. Did you know that almost everyone in Columbus’ day believed that the earth was round? Columbus’ fear was not falling off a flat earth but rather running out of supplies over the large expanse of sea that he had to traverse. But later writers propagated the idea that Columbus was a brave voyager who defied the ignorance of most people (including those in the church) who believed that the earth was flat. In the 1800s, secular writers promoted the idea that Christianity was hostile to the progress of science. This so-called “conflict thesis” exists today and is often mindlessly repeated. Which two authors in the 1800s were the primary proponents of the conflict thesis? Answer to the Previous Month’s Question Thomas Aquinas’s most famous apologetic work was the Summa Contra Gentiles, which was specifically written as a manual for missionaries ministering to non-Christians, particularly the Muslims and Jews of the medieval period. Its goal was to provide rational arguments for the Christian faith using philosophical reasoning and natural theology that would be accessible to a wide audience, without relying solely on divine revelation or Christian scripture, which the “Gentiles” would not accept as authoritative. Sharable Thought With some international students, my wife and I did a group study of President Lincoln’s Thanksgiving address. The leader of the study pointed out that after Union General George Meade defeated Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s forces at the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln was furious that Meade did not pursue Lee’s retreating forces. Lincoln knew that the war could have been summarily finished if Meade had not let Lee go. He wrote an angry letter to Meade chiding him for needlessly prolonging the war at the cost of many lives. However, Lincoln never sent the letter. Lincoln apparently used the practice of writing “hot letters” to vent his emotions. But […]

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Presidential Newsletter #16

Finny Kuruvilla — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 18:47:00 +0000

Dearest Sattler Stakeholders, I’m eager to share to share Presidential Newsletter #16. Onward to power, love, and sound minds/discipline (2 Tim 1:7). Sattler Talks This month, we had the privilege of having our first two Sattler Talks of the year. We were honored to welcome Randy Alcorn, who spoke on the new heavens and the new earth, as well as Dr. Warren Kinghorn of Duke University, who spoke on a holistic perspective of mental health. If you missed these talks, both of their recordings are linked below. Fall Break & Point 25 Students recently enjoyed a much-needed fall break. Some traveled home, while others took the time for rest and renewal in Boston. This pause in the semester gave space for reflection and helped students return refreshed and ready to engage in the second half of the term. We celebrated being a quarter way through our school year with our annual Point 25 event last week. Entrustment Giveback Hour This semester we launched a weekly Entrustment Giveback Hour to embody the spirit of “entrustment” at Sattler. Some weeks the focus is outward-facing, as students serve the Boston community in tangible ways through partnerships with local ministries. Other weeks the focus turns inward, advancing Sattler’s mission by helping share our story with prospective students. Together, these rhythms remind us that entrustment means both giving ourselves in Kingdom service and investing in the future of Sattler so that others may experience the same Christ-centered education. Sattler Runners The Sattler community does hard things together both inside and outside the college. This fall, a group of students and alumni trained and ran a marathon and half marathon together! This informal group ranged from two alumni from Sattler’s inaugural class (’22) to a current sophomore (’28) with almost every class represented in between. Runners traveled from NC, OH, MD, PA, KS, and Boston to New York to run together and celebrate their hard work. A Sattler board member even came along to support his daughter who was running the race! For 13 of the 20 runners, this was their first official long race; most had only completed 5k or similar distance before beginning training. We’re incredibly proud of how the Sattler community works together to conquer big goals with power, love, and sound minds! Lunch & Learn Events This semester’s Lunch & Learn series so far has featured a rich variety of speakers: Send Relief shared about their ministry work in Boston and opportunities for students to serve through ESL initiatives; Dr. Thomas Santa Maria explored the place of the body in Christian life; Mr. David Anderson offered practical strategies for approaching college-level reading; Rick Mast of Lighthouse Donut, Coffee, & Dessert Co. spoke on urban ministry through his church’s café; and Keeshon Washington spoke on the work being done by Chazak Rescue. These gatherings have combined thoughtful insights with fellowship over lunch, helping students connect faith, learning, and service. NACCAP Membership Sattler College is now an official member of NACCAP (the North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals). This network connects us with other Christian colleges and universities across North America, strengthening our ability to collaborate and extend our reach to mission-fit students. Ten-Year Accreditation In October, Drs. Edwin Imasuen (our Chief Academic Officer) and Finny Kuruvilla were in California for an important meeting of TRACS, the organization that accredits Sattler College. We are pleased to announce that Sattler has received a 10-year reaffirmation of its national accreditation. Here is our official statement by TRACS: Sattler College is a member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) [15935 Forest Road, Forest, VA 24551; Telephone: (434) 525-9539; e-mail: info@tracs.org], having been awarded Reaffirmation of Accreditation (I) as a Category II institution by the TRACS Accreditation Commission on October 21, 2025. This status is effective as of January 1, 2026, and is good through December 31, 2035. TRACS is recognized by the United States Department of Education (ED), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE). Question of the Month To compete in the contest, answer this question without the use of AI, Google, or other forms of “cheating.” (In other words, you should know the answer.) Click here to submit your answer for a chance to win! This month’s prize is a Sattler mug. If multiple people get it right, we will select one of those winners for the prize. “Which of Thomas Aquinas’ works is widely recognized as the best display of his apologetics?” Answer to the Previous Month’s Question The Act of Uniformity of 1662 was passed under King Charles II after the Restoration, and it is often described as the death knell of the Puritan movement because it marked the final break between Puritans and the Church of England. This act required every minister in the Church of England to use the revised Book of Common Prayer in public worship and to be ordained by a bishop. Anyone who refused to comply by St. Bartholomew’s Day in August 1662 lost their position. Around 2,000 Puritan ministers chose conscience over conformity and were forced out of the established church in what became known as the Great Ejection. From this time on, puritans could no longer hope to reform the church from within. Instead, they became Dissenters, practicing their faith outside the official church. In this way, the Act of Uniformity brought an end to Puritanism as an internal reforming force and turned it into a separate tradition. Sharable Thought (and two invitations!) Meetings can be powerful–even world changing. The Council of Nicaea is an example of how influential meetings can be. This year is the 1700 year anniversary of the Council of Nicaea that met in 325 AD. (Yes, Anabaptism also celebrated an important anniversary this year–its 500 year birthday.) Meetings are places of debate and engagement on important theological issues. Today, probably the most important meetings in the Christian academic world are the back-to-back events of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) and the Society for Biblical Literature (SBL). […]

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Presidential Newsletter #15

Finny Kuruvilla — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 15:03:28 +0000

Dearest Sattler Stakeholders, I’m eager to share to share Presidential Newsletter #15. Onward to power, love, and sound minds/discipline (2 Tim 1:7). New Students I am excited to announce the Class of 2029—seventeen mission-fit young men and women from across the globe who are eager to embrace the Sattler vision of academic excellence and relational discipleship. Please join us in praying for them as they step into the rigorous environment at Sattler. Pray that God would sustain them and equip them to build up His church. Click here to read more about the Class of 2029. Toah Nipi As in years past, our new students began their journey together at the annual New Student Retreat at Toah Nipi in southern New Hampshire. Over three days, they bonded through meals, worship, and shared experiences, including the arduous hike up Mount Monadnock. We were also grateful to have many of our staff and faculty join them for this formative time. New Dorms An exciting development for both current and future students is our move to a larger dormitory at 237–239 Beacon Street. Beacon Street is one of Boston’s most iconic avenues, running past the Public Garden and the Boston Common before climbing Beacon Hill beside the Massachusetts State House. To live in historic Back Bay is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and an experience our students will carry with them for years to come. This new space represents a significant step forward in student life. It provides three common areas instead of one, a dedicated cafeteria, and proper bike storage. Rooms are smaller overall, allowing for fewer students per room, and we are especially pleased that the new facility also makes it possible for married students and their families to live in the dorms if they wish. We are deeply grateful for this provision and look forward to the positive impact it will have on our community in the years ahead. New Staff and Faculty Sattler College has made several recent hires, and I am delighted to introduce them to you. On the staff side, we welcome Steve Buxton as our new Facilities Manager and AnnKatherine Hartzog as an Admissions Counselor. Both have already begun making valuable contributions to our campus. On the faculty side, with Dr. Hans Leaman on sabbatical this year, we are pleased to have Dr. Thomas Santa Maria joining us in his place. Dr. Santa Maria comes to us from Yale and brings deep expertise in history, especially the history of renaissance and early modern Europe. In addition, we are privileged to have a number of adjunct professors teaching this fall: Jamie Owens, David Sayers, Dr. Maureen Lee, Dr. Susan Freeman, John Maudlin, Dr. Yasanka Chalasani, Harrison Miller, Jay Murphy, and Dr. Nathan Zook. Convocation On August 25, 2025, Sattler College held its fifth annual convocation, formally opening the academic year at 8:38 a.m. The ceremony featured a faculty address from Dr. Jesse Scheumann, who exhorted students to embrace learning as an opportunity to grow in wisdom and worship, not simply as a path to good grades. Co-Director of Student Life Kristi Mast and Student Council President Uriah O’Terry also offered encouraging words to the community. In my own presidential address, I reminded us all that true diligence flows not from striving for achievement, but from worship and the secure rest we find in Christ. Question of the Month To compete in the contest, answer this question without the use of AI, Google, or other forms of “cheating.” (In other words, you should know the answer.) Click here to submit your answer for a chance to win! This month’s prize is a Sattler mug. If multiple people get it right, we will select one of those winners for the prize. “What bill was the death knell for the Puritan movement?” Answer to the Previous Month’s Question John R. Mott was a Christian evangelist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946. He led the YMCA and the Student Volunteer Movement (associated with the well-known missionary CT Studd). The Nobel Prize Committee wrote about Mott: “In the summer of 1886, Mott represented Cornell University’s Y.M.C.A. at the first international, interdenominational student Christian conference ever held. At that conference, which gathered 251 men from eighty-nine colleges and universities, one hundred men – including Mott – pledged themselves to work in foreign missions. From this, two years later, sprang the Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions… [Mott] crossed the Atlantic over one hundred times and the Pacific fourteen times, averaging thirty-four days on the ocean per year for fifty years.” He would also found the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) which would go on to have as members people like Jürgen Moltmann, Dietrich Bonhöffer, and Lesslie Newbigin. Online, you can read for free Mott’s book: Strategic Points in the World’s Conquest: The Universities and Colleges as Related to the Progress of Christianity (1897). Fun fact: Mott and a colleague were offered free passage on the Titanic. He declined the offer in favor of a more humble ship. When he heard of the Titanic’s sinking, he is reported to have said, “The Good Lord must have more work for us to do.” Sharable Thought “I think many of those people who refuse to give time to the Bible are suffering from a spiritual disease. And I’m going to tell you what the spiritual disease is. I call it spiritual laziness. And I call it that because it’s only in that area that those people are lazy. They can hold down a job, they can be a housewife, they can keep a spotless kitchen, they can cook wonderful meals, they can earn a good living in some honorable profession, they can be industrious in everything except one thing which is reading of the Bible. I suppose there are many of you here tonight. You would sit an hour in front of a television set and think nothing of it. But if you were to give an hour to studying the Bible you would think it a tremendous […]

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Presidential Newsletter #14

Finny Kuruvilla — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 17:16:23 +0000

Dearest Sattler Stakeholders, I’m eager to share to share Presidential Newsletter #14. Onward to power, love, and sound minds/discipline (2 Tim 1:7). Summer Happenings at Sattler Summers at Sattler College are intentionally quiet. Faculty and staff are encouraged to use this season for rest, ministry, and professional development, preparing to return refreshed and equipped for another year of rigorous academics and relational discipleship. Many are working remotely during at least part of the summer, pursuing growth in a variety of ways. One recent exception to this quiet on campus was Discover Boston, our annual summer camp for teens ages 14-18. From July 9-11, Discover Boston provided participants the opportunity to explore iconic landmarks, ride the harbor ferry, visit world-class museums, and experience life in one of America’s most historic and dynamic cities. We are grateful to the staff who were on campus to make it all possible! Click here to see a few more photos of Discover Boston 2025. Capstone Presentations by Recent Grads Every four-year student at Sattler College completes a capstone project as the culmination of their academic journey. The Class of 2025 delivered some fascinating projects, each a unique contribution shaped by several years of study and formation. Over the next few weeks, we’ll continue to release videos of their final presentations on our YouTube Capstone Presentations playlist, so keep an eye out for those. Freshmen Trip to Greece Coming Up I had the privilege to travel to Greece (and Turkey) over the past few weeks on an exploratory trip for an exciting new initiative in our Sattler program. All the freshmen who complete their first year of Greek classes will be eligible to join us on a trip to Greece to see biblical sites while using some of the Greek they learned (we will include enough Modern Greek with their Koine Greek studies to make this possible). Language learning truly opens up new worlds! For those interested in the cross-cultural and urban experience that Sattler provides, applications will open on August 1. Above are a few photos of the trip. Top left: Where Paul and Silas are thought to have been imprisoned. Top right: The river where Paul baptized Lydia. Bottom left: Ancient Corinth with its acropolis. Bottom right: The old city of Thessalonica. Question of the Month To compete in the contest, answer this question without the use of AI, Google, or other forms of “cheating.” (In other words, you should know the answer.) Click here to submit your answer for a chance to win! This month’s prize is a Sattler fleece. If multiple people get it right, we will select one of those winners for the prize. “Who led the Student Volunteer Movement (a Christian organization mobilizing college students for missionary work) for 30 years and went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize?” Sharable Thought So many people try to comprehend God, but in so doing, lose their wonder. Adam Mabry said it well, “Incomprehension is a prerequisite of passionate praise. When your favorite sports star pulls off an amazing play and you don’t know how they did it, you shout about it. When a musician executes a virtuoso line, you don’t comprehend it, yet you greatly enjoy it. We praise and worship that which induces wonder. God’s ways are higher than mine… Comprehension is not a pre-requisite for wonder. So, in any circumstance, worship him passionately. His goodness is never in doubt, only our ability to comprehend his good plans.” Let us therefore worship God in humility and wonder. Prayer Requests Pray for our incoming students as they prepare to move to Boston in a few weeks and begin a new chapter in their lives. Pray for our faculty and staff as they prepare for the fall semester. Support Sattler Refer a student: Did you know that most Sattler students applied because someone referred them? Here’s how you can help. If you know someone that would be a good fit for Sattler, refer them or help them start an application! As a token of appreciation, we’ll mail you an exclusive Sattler College pennant flag. Give: Help make Sattler College available to more students by supporting our Entrustment fund. Visit: While there isn’t a lot happening on campus during the summer, you can still arrange a campus tour and get to know us. Feel free to reach out to let us know you’re coming, so we can show you around. Feedback: Do you have ideas to make this newsletter better? Let me know by sending an email to info@sattler.edu. Subscribe to Sattler Newsletters Loading…

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Presidential Newsletter #13

Finny Kuruvilla — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 21:55:13 +0000

Dearest Sattler Stakeholders, I’m eager to share to share Presidential Newsletter #13. Onward to power, love, and sound minds/discipline (2 Tim 1:7). Leadership Transition It is with gratitude and deep honor that I introduce myself as the incoming interim president of Sattler College. I’ve had the privilege of walking with Sattler from its earliest days, and I’m humbled to now serve the mission in this new capacity. I’m especially grateful to Zack Johnson for his faithful leadership over the past eight years. From being our very first employee to recruiting our first students to serving as a mentor for many students, his devotion has shaped the DNA of this institution. More recently, he developed the Entrustment program and made Sattler an international institution. There can be no doubt that his contributions have been profound. While he will no longer be president, Brother Zack has joined the Board of Trustees and will continue teaching. Click here to read a message from the Board of Trustees about the presidential transition. A Tribute to Zack Johnson by Finny Kuruvilla I remember well first meeting Brother Zack when he was an officer in the US Air Force, while he was studying at Harvard University. After taking a Koine Greek class I was teaching followed by apologetics sessions, we would have long discussions over lunch about the Bible’s teachings about nonviolence. In those conversations, I saw a man who was committed to the kingdom and would trust God no matter what. I had the privilege of serving as a witness in his trial as a conscientious objector. He made that decision despite the consequence of having to incur hundreds of thousands of debt. I still remember where I was when he called me telling me that he was being released from the military debt-free! I had the even greater honor of knowing his late mother, who was rightly very proud of her only son. His mother Peggy gave our family a beautiful call to worship which sits on our fireplace mantle. I was even there when he met his future wife who became a student at Sattler! Sattler was a demolition site of concrete and wires and in walked a young lady who looked like an angel. The rest is history: two sons and one daughter later. Zack loves his family deeply. He has a gift of connecting with people and leading out with vision. He has brought many people into his family over the years, and he made Sattler into a family that I hope continues for many years to come. Thank you Brother Zack for pouring your heart into this endeavor and shaping so many lives. Sattler has been the journey of a lifetime–I am so thankful to have traveled the road thus far with such a faithful brother as Zack. May God bless you in all your future plans and endeavors, my dear brother Zack! Commencement A few weeks ago, we celebrated the graduation of Sattler’s fourth class. With this cohort, we’ve now sent 60 four-year graduates and 32 certificate students into the world. Join me in prayer that they would faithfully carry out the mission of proclaiming and living out the Kingdom of God wherever they go. Our commencement speaker, Dr. Carlos Eire (Yale University), reminded us that “true learning never ends” and challenged our graduates to “betray their age in order to serve it faithfully.” Those words were a powerful call to countercultural, Christ-centered witness, one that resonates with Sattler’s mission as we seek to cultivate that very kind of faithful presence in the world. Discover Boston July 9-11, 2025 — Join us for Discover Boston, Sattler College’s 2nd annual summer camp for teens ages 14-18! Explore iconic landmarks, ride the harbor ferry, visit world-class museums, and experience life in one of America’s most historic and vibrant cities. Registration is currently full, but you are welcome to join the waitlist. Click here for more information. Question of the Month To compete in the contest, answer this question without the use of AI or other forms of “cheating.” Click here to submit your answer for a chance to win! This month’s prize is a lunch with the new president at a special location. If multiple people get it right, we will select one of those winners for the prize. “Which college president got into legal trouble because he changed his views from infant baptism to believer’s baptism?” Sharable Thought The concept of God’s choosing a people (election) has been difficult for some people to stomach. It can seem exclusivistic and even stoke pride. But why did God choose (elect) Abraham? To be a blessing to all the nations! From the beginning, God’s election has been bound to the mission of blessing the nations with the truth and love of God. But Israel (and all too often the church) have forgotten this mandate. Michael Goheen writes, “It was difficult for Israel to keep the universal horizon of their mission clear. An exclusivistic nationalism constantly corrupted their understanding of election and covenant, as the book of Jonah shows. And so God gives psalms to Israel to constantly nourish their mission. Their songs in worship reminded them that they were a “so-that people,” a people blessed so that they might be a channel of blessing to the nations. May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us— so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.… May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him. (Ps 67:1–3, 7, italics added) Christians have been elected (chosen) to be a “so-that” people. Do you view yourself as having been chosen so that you can win the nations to the joy of the Lord? If we forget that “so-that” mandate, we […]

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Presidential Newsletter #12

Zack Johnson — Thu, 01 May 2025 22:04:47 +0000

Dearest Sattler Stakeholders, I am thrilled to share Presidential Newsletter #12. Onward to power, love, and sound minds/discipline (2 Tim 1:7). Leadership Transition In December, I shared with the Sattler community that this would be my final academic year as president. This will therefore be my last presidential newsletter of this tenure (try not to shed too many tears). Serving Sattler has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to witness God’s work through the mission of Our Sattler. I am confident that Sattler’s future is bright. A board-led presidential search committee has been gathering input from across the community and will announce the next president shortly. As for me, I look forward to investing more intentionally in my young family and extended family, both domestically and abroad. I will be joining several family business ventures while also pursuing my passion for peacemaking and reconciliation, seeking to deepen my understanding and practice of this vital work. My hope is to bring what I learn back to enrich Sattler’s ongoing commitment to being a community shaped by Christ’s call to be peacemakers. I plan for my connection to Sattler to remain strong. I anticipate joining the Board of Trustees and would be honored to continue teaching if needed. My passion for Sattler’s mission—and my fanatical institutional pride!—isn’t going anywhere. Thank you for your prayers and support during this time of transition. I trust that God will faithfully guide Sattler into its next chapter. Here are some pictures of some new office decor courtesy of a lovely crew of “Sattlerites”: Boston Highlights If you’re looking for a place to rub shoulders with movers and shakers, Boston is a great place to be—you never know who you might bump into next! Pictured on the left below is a picture of Jacob Wiebe (Sattler ’25) with Nobel Prize winner Gary Ruvkun. Gary Ruvkun and Victor Ambros won the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology for their discovery of microRNAs. More about their discovery here. MicroRNAs play a crucial role in regulating gene expression. Pictured on the right below is a picture of Kimberly Dueck (Sattler ’25) with Dr. Jim O’Connell from Boston Healthcare for the Homeless. Only 16 Days Until Our Fourth Annual Commencement! May 17, 2025 — This special event will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our graduating class and to recognize their accomplishments. Join us for a day of joy and inspiration as we commemorate this significant milestone in the lives of our graduates. Our commencement speaker will be Dr. Carlos Eire. Below is a picture from last year’s commencement. We hold our commencement in Converse Hall at Tremont Baptist Temple. If it is any enticement, speeches have been given at the same spot by Frederick Douglass, Charles Sumner, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Dickens, Dwight Moody, and Billy Graham (only the latter two would have spoken from the exact same stage, due to fires in the 1870s and 1890s). Sattler Choir Program A regular highlight in the Sattler Community is the Sattler Choir Program. The spring prgogram this year is this Saturday, May 3, at 7:30 pm, at Ruggles Baptist Church in Boston. If you’re in town this weekend, you won’t want to miss it! More details here. End of Year Happenings Today marked the final day of classes for the semester, ushering in the study period and signaling that the close of the academic year is just around the corner. Recently, we celebrated the transition of student leadership at Sattler College. In a joyful moment of community, the outgoing Student Council welcomed the newly elected members on stage, passing the torch with prayer, encouragement, and a spirit of unity. See the photos of this handoff below. Discover Boston July 9-11, 2025 — Join us for Discover Boston, Sattler College’s 2nd annual summer camp for teens ages 14–18! Explore iconic landmarks, ride the harbor ferry, visit world-class museums, and experience life in one of America’s most historic and vibrant cities. Registration is already full, but you are welcome to sign up for the wait list. Below is a photo of the historic Omni Parker House, with Park Street Church and the Boston Common in the background. Discover Boston participants (as well as Sattler students, of course!) can expect to be surrounded by iconic landmarks like these throughout their time in the city. Quote Bank Challenge Did you know one of our alumni created a Sattler Quote Bank? It’s filled with memorable moments from our staff, faculty, students, and alumni. Each month, we’ll award Sattler merchandise to the first three people who correctly guess the origin of a featured quote! This Month’s Quote: “Zeb, you may have your Masters in Procrastination, but I have my PHD!” Send an email with your answer to president@sattler.edu for a chance to win. Sharable Thought In her article “It is Not Good to Read (Only) Alone”, Nadya Williams reminds us, “Reading alone might not seem so earth-shattering or problematic to you, but perhaps it should—specifically if that is the only kind of reading people ever do.” We have lots of reading and lots of “not alone” time at Sattler. Board Meeting & Prayer Requests Our next board meeting will be May 16, just before our 4th commencement. Please pray for a successful presidential transition! Pray for our seniors as they wrap up their studies and capstone projects. Best Christian Workplaces Last year, Sattler participated in a workplace survey conducted by Best Christian Workplaces, and we’re thrilled (and a bit relieved!) to have officially retained our status as a Certified Best Christian Workplace, with an 83% response rate from staff and faculty. Goodbyes As we approach the end of the academic year, I want to take a moment to acknowledge some meaningful goodbyes within our faculty and staff community. Thank you to Mr. Jose Diaz (1 year at Sattler), Mr. Dylan Heidrich (2 years), and Mr. Harrison Miller (5 years) for their faithful service to Sattler. We are deeply grateful for their contributions and wish them and their families the very best in their next chapter. There […]

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Presidential Newsletter #11

Zack Johnson — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 20:31:08 +0000

Dearest Sattler Stakeholders, I am thrilled to share Presidential Newsletter #11. Onward to power, love, and sound minds/discipline (2 Tim 1:7). Celebrations and Prayer We’ve had a few students reporting exciting news and answers to prayer requests. In particular, one international student got a work visa approved, and two others were connected with “world class” internship opportunities this summer—one in the Boston area and the other in Baltimore. Pray for our students as they approach finals season. There is always a lot of knowledge to recall and put to use. (See photo below of students meticulously preparing for finals.) Commencement May 17, 2025 — This special event will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our graduating class and to recognize their accomplishments. Join us for a day of joy and inspiration as we commemorate this significant milestone in the lives of our graduates. Our commencement speaker will be Dr. Carlos Eire. Below is a picture from last year’s commencement. We hold our commencement in Converse Hall at Tremont Baptist Temple. If it is any enticement, speeches have been given at the same spot by Frederick Douglass, Charles Sumner, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Dickens, Dwight Moody, and Billy Graham (only the latter two would have spoken from the exact same stage, due to fires in the 1870s and 1890s). Therefore Go Our community took a day off from academics and hosted Therefore Go: Ambassadors for Christ, centering around 2 Corinthians 5 and the theme of being ambassadors of reconciliation. To my knowledge, we logged the most guest speakers in a single day at the college. It was probably too packed into a short time period, but it was an inspiring day nonetheless! Be on the lookout for the same event next spring. Here are the recording for the two keynote talks: Dr. William McCoy – “Ambassadors of Reconciliation” Mr. Dwight Nisly – “Incarnational Ambassadors” It’s been illuminating to watch the “Therefore Go” event grow and evolve over the years. Here’s a photo from the 2023 gathering, titled Therefore Go: Christians and Cities. Sattler Choir Program A regular highlight in the Sattler Community is the Sattler Choir Program. If you’re in town, you won’t want to miss it. This spring, their program will be on May 3, at 7:30 pm, at Ruggles Baptist Church in Boston. Check back on our events page for more details to come. Discover Boston July 9-11, 2025 — Join us for Discover Boston, Sattler College’s 2nd annual summer camp for teens ages 14–18! Explore iconic landmarks, ride the harbor ferry, visit world-class museums, and experience life in one of America’s most historic and vibrant cities. Spots are limited and already quickly being taken. Below is one of our students on Acorn Street in Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood where our campus is located. It is often called the “most photographed street in America” due to its charming cobblestone path and historic brick row houses. Board Meetings & Accreditation Update We hosted an Evaluation Team from TRACS on March 4–7, 2025, for our Reaffirmation of Accreditation. We will appear before the commission in October in Anaheim, CA, for the next step in the reaffirmation process. Our next board meeting will be May 16, just before our 4th commencement. Spring Break Our students and faculty enjoyed a well-deserved week-long spring break during the middle of this month. A few highlights included visiting a fellow student’s church, traveling to NYC, biking long distances, relaxing by the coast, and enjoying the beauty of Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. Quote Bank Challenge Did you know one of our alumni created a Sattler Quote Bank? It’s filled with memorable moments from our staff, faculty, students, and alumni. Each month, we’ll award Sattler merchandise to the first three people who correctly guess the origin of a featured quote! This Month’s Quote: “My skepticism of novelty overrides my love of Boston.” Send an email with your answer to president@sattler.edu for a chance to win. Upcoming Events Well-meaning accountability groups can become a substitute for true friendship. In Why Christian Men Need Friendship, Not Just “Accountability”, Samuel James writes, “The age of the accountability group has been weighed and found wanting. It’s past time for something better.” This article points to a need Sattler seeks to meet through intentional, Christ-centered relational discipleship (for both men and women). Corrections and “Mea Culpas” In the last newsletter: I said fifth instead of fourth annual commencement. Sorry. In the solidarity and mourning bullet, I sent an AI-generated summary of an article instead of an edited final summary, which had many problems and was factually incorrect. Very sorry. The article is still worth reading. Support Sattler Refer — Your referrals are invaluable—most of our students first hear about Sattler through personal recommendations. If you know someone who would thrive here, refer them or, better yet, benevolently nudge them to start an application! As a token of appreciation, we’ll mail you an exclusive Sattler College pennant flag—because institutional pride is best displayed with flair. Give — Investing in students committed to kingdom service. Visit — Come see the Sattler community in action. Your feedback is welcome and valued! Feel free to reach out to me by responding to this email with any thoughts on making these newsletters more meaningful and engaging. Yours for Christ, Zack JohnsonPresident Zack JohnsonPresident Subscribe to Sattler Newsletters Loading…

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