I'm writing to you today from a place of grateful reflection.

Many of you have journeyed with me over the years as I’ve been a pastor, President of the seminary, and now Chancellor. We've seen a lot of change together over those years, and we've also seen a lot of growth.

There was a time when Phoenix Seminary was known only by a small number of people here in the Phoenix area. There was a time when our reach was fairly small. A time when “Scholarship with a Shephard’s Heart” was just an idea. Now, we have faculty that are known for their research and theological knowledge that are helping shape and develop many young leaders. Now, we have graduates around the world bringing the gospel to people who have never heard. Scholarship with a Shepherd’s Heart is now a reality. When I consider this journey, and what God has done, I am overwhelmed.

The past couple years of my service at Phoenix Seminary have revolved around passing the baton of leadership to someone who can take what has been built here and make it great. Thinking about what it means to pass that baton well has been something both myself and many leaders of the seminary have spent countless hours on. There is always a worry when you make a big transition that you’re going to hand the baton to someone who doesn't care as much as you do. We’ve spent the last year painstakingly considering who the right person was to take the lead.