42 SEPTEMBER 2025 Good News • South Florida Edition CHRISTIAN COLLEGE GUIDE 2025 Sailors know that when the wind changes, one does not curse the weather but adjusts the sails — not to resist the change, but to harness it. At Evangel University, the wind is shifting, and I believe it is the Spirit of God breathing fresh vision into our community. We sail in a time when the seas are restless and the currents complex. Competing voices — more numerous and more persuasive than ever — seek to chart the course for the hearts and minds of the next generation. Yet, as Søren Kierkegaard once wrote, “The task must be to bring the truth into actuality.” That is the work of Evangel: to remain anchored to our mission of educating and equipping Spirit-empowered leaders for the Church and the world, while navigating skillfully through the squalls and storms of our age. The past year has brought both headwinds and favorable breezes. We have expanded academic programs, deepened strategic partnerships and invested in facilities that reflect our enduring commitment to excellence. But these are merely the vessel’s timbers and rigging. The true voyage is carried forward by people: students encountering Christ in transformative ways; faculty shaping lives with both intellectual rigor and spiritual authority; alumni bearing the Good News into classrooms, companies, and cultures across the globe. We dare not allow our ship to drift into a maintenance harbor. The horizon demands a generation of leaders who embody conviction with compassion, truth with grace and innovation with integrity. Such leaders are not produced by accident; they are formed through intentional community, Spirit-led education, and shared sacrifice. In the year ahead, we will adjust our sails with precision — aligning resources, refining programs and strengthening the culture of Evangel — so that the wind now filling our canvas will propel us toward the future God has prepared. The seas may not always be calm, but our course is set, our crew united, and our Captain faithful. I invite you to stand with us in this journey. Send your student to EU. Invest in this mission. Pray for our campus community. And when you hear of a life transformed, know that you have helped steer that soul toward its divine calling. Together, we will not merely survive the changing winds—we will harness them to carry Evangel into its next great chapter. Dr. Mike Rakes is the President of Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. He is a turnaround architect known for blending theological depth with bold executive leadership. With terminal degrees in both theology and business, he has raised over $100 million in philanthropic investment, led institutional renewals, and coached leaders to navigate complexity with clarity and conviction When the Wind Shifts Dr. Mike Rakes President, Evangel University The Clock Tower on campus at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri
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