In this video, Dr. Finny Kuruvilla, Sattler College’s Founder, presents an excellent summary of Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19).

It is March 12, 2020. The past two days at Sattler College in Boston have been surreal as we planned a response to Covid-19. The administration believes that Covid-19 has serious implications in worst-case scenarios. We are moving with many others to help contain the virus. We strongly encourage our community to follow public health recommendations emphasizing detection, treatment, and quarantine. We will act decisively and hope for a defeat of this virus. We pray that new incidences of the disease fade while new souls are won for Christ.

Here are some thoughts on planning your next minutes, days, and years.

Minutes: Evangelize and practice good hygiene. Never treat an encounter with a soul as accidental, these are opportunities to share the gospel of peace with unbelievers.

Wash hands frequently, sneeze and cough correctly, don’t touch your face, and replace handshakes (or holy kisses) with elbow bumps.

Days: Evangelize and practice social distancing for one to two weeks. Although large public gatherings are not recommended, invest in your long standing relationships to win souls.

On March 11, Dean Taylor, President, announced that our student body will be departing for spring break after classes on March 13 and Sattler’s Campus will indefinitely be closed to students. Our classes will be moving online starting March 23, and the administration will reevaluate whether to call students back to Boston. President Taylor said, “I know this is difficult for all of us. As the President, as much as I dislike this kind of thing, I’m encouraged about how this is shaping us to become even more nimble as a college. We believe God when He says in Romans, ‘We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose’ (Rom 8:28).  In the midst of this crisis, the Lord is shaping us and preparing us for something great.”

Michael Miller, academic Dean, reminded students that “we are expecting great things from you” and shared a quote from Paddy Cosgrave: “In 1665, Cambridge University closed because of the plague. Isaac Newton decided to work from home. He discovered calculus & the laws of motion. Just saying.” We pray our students will keep their momentum and our faculty will keep pushing them to train for a lifetime of impact for Jesus and his Kingdom.

Years: Evangelize and hack at the root cause (follow Biblical principles). Never stop chasing souls, this is a lifetime endeavor as a Christian.

What do HIV, Mad Cow, Influenza, MERS, SARS, Coronavirus, and Salmonella have in common? If you don’t know, I highly recommend watching Dr. Finny Kuruvilla’s excellent presentation about Covid-19 on March 12, 2020. A departure from Biblical principles is lurking behind the death tolls.

Please pray for our community in the midst of change and don’t forget about the opportunities for evangelism in front of you.

Yours for the King,

Zack Johnson, Dean of Students