Advent Guide 2014Palm Beach Atlantic University

Inexpressible

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2014 Advent Devotional Guide

The Advent Devotional Guide is a tradition here at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Dr. Perry Hildreth, a highly regarded former professor of philosophy at the University, began the tradition many years ago on his own initiative. It was so well

received that the Advent Devotional Guide has outlasted Dr. Hildreth’s time at PBA.

The guide is a reminder, to quote the familiar phrase, to “keep Christ in Christmas.” It is also a statement of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s commitment to remain a “Christ-first” university in the midst of an increasingly secular world. Not only is PBA known for its rigorous academics and outstanding, scholarly faculty, but the school is known for its spiritually nurturing environment and service-oriented culture. Just as Jesus, whose birth we celebrate during this Advent season, came not to be served but to serve others, so PBA seeks to develop servant leaders for our homes, communities, nation and world.

Each year, President William M. B. Fleming, Jr. determines a theme for the University. This year he chose the theme “Inexpressible Joy,” finding the biblical basis for the theme in 1 Peter 1:8.

Inexpressible joy has become a part of the campus ethos during the year and is the theme of this year’s Advent Devotional Guide. Most of the devotionals, which have been written by faculty, students, staff and alums, are reflections of personal memories of joy in past celebrations of Christmas. The writers hope their recollections will help make your celebration of Christmas this year a season of inexpressible joy.

You can share the guide with your friends by pointing to the online version: www.pba.edu/Advent-Guide-2014.

I want to acknowledge Autumn Raab, publications coordinator, and John Sizemore, director of publications, for the monumental work they have done to make the 2014 Advent Devotional Guide possible. I also thank every contributor who wrote a devotional.

So from all of us at Palm Beach Atlantic University to you, have a blessed Christmas and may God fill your life with inexpressible joy as you receive His greatest gift, Jesus the Christ, during this Advent season.

Dr. Ken MahanesSpecial Assistant to the President

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Sunday, November 30Joy in Small Beginnings

It’s easy to disregard small beginnings in a culture where bigger is always better. Yet was it magnificent for the long-awaited Messiah, the Savior of the world, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to come to earth as a baby? No, but the angels sang for joy. Was it majestic for our salvation to be bought with our Lord’s blood, spattered over a wooden cross like that of a common criminal? No, but He endured it “for the joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2).

College seems like a series of small beginnings to me. We lay foundations, but struggle to see what the finished product will look like. I like to be reminded of the tiny cluster of Jewish captives who returned to Jerusalem after 50 years in Babylon in order to rebuild the Lord’s temple. Decades of toil, confrontation and persecution were before them, yet they joyfully “gathered together as one man” to lay the first stones of the temple’s foundation (Ezra 3:1).

Ezra 3:11-13 describes the Israelites’ commemoration of this event: “And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, ‘For He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.’ And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.”

Do we so exude joy that it can be “heard far away” — like the angels’ celestial song reached the shepherds’ earthly ears? Does our celebration find its voice in the adoration of our Lord, or only in the change of our situation? Do we weigh the merit of our lives on the scale of earthly grandness or of heavenly glory?

Rather than celebrating the Lord’s fulfillment of His promise to gather Israel home and rebuild what had been destroyed, the old men wept, comparing their plain and unfinished foundation to the spectacular and finished memory of Solomon’s temple. Many treated God incarnate with the same contempt and disappointment; they expected someone “grander.” But we can be like the shepherds who unashamedly worshipped a baby in a cave, because they believed the word of God.

May we never be disheartened at small beginnings, but shout for joy that the Lord is at work and trust Him to bring all to a glorious conclusion!

Olivia Anderson ’14 English

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Monday, December 1Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee o Israel.

Every autumn I find myself longing to return to my hometown in the Appalachian mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania to experience the beauty of the fall season. The seasons vividly showcase the circle of life and remind us of our human mortality. As such, it isn’t surprising that the church organized its liturgical calendar alongside these changes. As nature demonstrates the reality of birth, death and new life, the church points us to the Gospel and its message of redemption through Jesus Christ.

The liturgical season of Advent commences four Sundays before Christmas. From the Latin adventus, the word means “coming.” Here, the church encourages us to prepare for the long-awaited coming of Christ. Today many churches see Advent exclusively as a preparation for Christ’s birth. It is not unusual to sing carols and decorate the sanctuary well before Christmas Day. In its original form, Advent was a time for Christian converts to prepare for baptism. During the Middle Ages, however, Advent was a penitential season with fasting and prayer in preparation for Christ’s Second Coming. The liturgical charge to prepare ourselves for Christ’s coming — whether as the Only Begotten or the Son of Man — is deeply rooted in the people of Israel’s longing for a Messiah to save them from the darkness of oppression and captivity.

Hundreds of years of church history and tradition have passed down meaningful Advent customs to current worship practices — Advent calendars and wreaths among the most well-known. My favorite, however, is the musical recitation of the O Antiphons. From Dec. 17 through Dec. 23, each antiphon was to be sung at daily vespers before and after the Magnificat (Song of Mary). They are called the O Antiphons because each one begins with the interjection “O” followed by a petition to Christ, addressing Him by an attribute found in Scripture: O Wisdom, O Lord, O Root of Jesse, O Key of David, O Dayspring, O King of Nations, and O God With Us. Remarkably, the initial Latin letters of each attribute form a reverse acrostic which spells Eros cras, or “I will be there tomorrow.” In this way the longing of each petition for Emmanuel is emblematically fulfilled through the construction of the text itself.

In the 12th century, an unknown author loosely paraphrased the seven antiphons into a text later translated to English. Today we sing it as the well-known Advent hymn: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” Ironically, the melody, coming from a 15th century Franciscan funeral march, foreshadows the earthly fate of the Christ child. Still, the refrain reminds us of the joy that is to come to those held captive.

Father in Heaven, this Advent, make us mindful that without your light, we are doomed to walk in darkness; without your ransom, we are but captives; and without your atoning death, we would never know true life. In the name of Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us. Amen.

Dr. Bryon Grohman Associate Professor of Voice

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Tuesday, December 2Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Luke 2:8-12

Boy, I do love Christmas. My grandparents raised me and I was spoiled rotten on Christmas. Presents piled high and Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” on the hi-fi, giant feasts, roast beast, and playing the angel in the church nativity scene. Fear was not an emotion for Christmas. (Except the one time the choir loft was too hot and I passed out - that angel flew!)

However, on Easter of 2003, I discovered that I would deliver my second child in December. And while an angel did not appear to tell me about it, I was AFRAID. This was not good news. I sobbed into my hymnal that morning. Our first child was 2 years old and he looked up at me with concern. Finnigan was a miracle baby. Following an extremely difficult pregnancy, our son overcame numerous, serious challenges to his health. He had a stroke at birth. He recovered fully and I believed I had used up enough miracles for several lifetimes. The doctors were very clear: no more babies. I was so sad. I had always wanted two kids but figured God had another plan for me.

The months passed. All of the difficulties of the first pregnancy came roaring back. My doctors shook their heads in wonder at my foolishness when my charts revealed that this wasn’t my first time at the rodeo. I had to see the doctor nearly every week. After the trauma of the first birth, the second was to be a cesarean section, scheduled Dec. 9. I was very afraid.

On the evening of Dec. 7 I sat down to read my Bible. I opened it to a random page and there was The Magnificat, Mary’s Song of Praise. I read: “for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation,” Luke 1:46-55. I cried and prayed and prayed and cried.

On Dec. 8 I went into labor. My mother drove me to the hospital. My husband would meet us there. I walked alone to the surgery room. A sense of perfect peace carried me there, as if I were floating. I opened the doors and the strangest scene opened before me. The doctor and nurses were all seated, chatting and laughing. Bing Crosby singing “White Christmas” played over the speakers. They greeted me as if I were a late and much anticipated guest at a party. Everything was so ... calm. For the first time in nine months I was not afraid. Not even a little bit. Our second son, Oliver, arrived: 8 pounds, 15 ounces and 22 inches of inexpressible joy. What an amazing Christmas gift to receive from a God who never runs out of miracles.

Jennifer Anthony Archives Assistant Warren Library

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Wednesday, December 3On a recent trip to Northern California with Palm Beach Atlantic’s women’s soccer team, I was reminded of the glory, power, beauty and splendor of God’s creation.

I gazed at the mighty redwoods reaching hundreds of feet into the air with diameters nearing 20 feet and was in complete awe with the thought that these trees have been around since Christ walked the earth.

Upon returning to Florida I decided to take an early-morning trip to Palm Beach and watch the sunrise. The Atlantic Ocean was crashing against the shoreline that morning and as the sun rose over the horizon it almost felt like God was proclaiming, “I AM!” I quickly became overwhelmed with a feeling of delight, happiness and JOY.

Every day we witness God’s majesty in some way, shape or form. It can be a sunrise, helping a student understand a problem or coming home at night to a wonderful family. We may not have the opportunity to share Christ’s love with our words on a daily basis, but when we take joy in the simple aspects of our day and let that feeling overtake our attitude, we reflect a Christ-like attitude to all of those we come in contact with.

Being able to find joy in the everyday parts of our lives takes practice, but this Christmas season I challenge us all to make it a priority. Jesus has brought joy into each of our lives and with one of the biggest holidays of the year celebrating His birth, we have an avenue to reach more people than any other time of year.

With a joyful attitude we can accomplish Christ’s calling when He commanded, “love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” ( John 13:34-35).

Share His love with your JOY this Christmas season.

Kyler Ludlow Sports Information Director

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Thursday, December 4The joy of the Lord is my strength Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV)

Joy is my mantra; it is critical to my life and is my “staying power.” My believing, my trusting and my hoping in Him are the “joy of the Lord” to me. Christmas in my household hasn’t always been joyous. Although my parents came from Christian homes, life’s circumstances over the years prevented them from bringing us up in the Lord. My grandmother was a woman of prayer. I still remember very vividly my grandmother ringing her little bell calling us to prayer. She prayed very diligently for her children’s family. My family on my mother’s side is Yoruba, a West African tribe who enthusiastically embraced the gospel when English missionaries preached it to them in the 1800s. As a result, the missionaries referred to this group of people as the “sunrise within the tropics.” The missionary influence led my great-granduncle (a canon in the Anglican church) to build numerous churches in the area were he lived. It is this legacy, which is the hope that can be found in Jesus Christ, that was passed on to my mother.

“Keresimesi odun de o!” simply means Christmas is here in Yoruba. My mother has instilled in us this godly tradition from her parents: we sing praise songs, pray and talk about what the Lord has done for us throughout the year. My mother always shares stories (over and over again) of her upbringing, of her father fighting in two world wars, her mother singing in the church choir, her reciting scripture, winning many accolades at church ... . Throughout the years we as a family have continued to meet and participate in our little tradition. This tradition has brought each of us to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord! In God’s presence there is the fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11, NKJV). Thank God for the inexpressible joy that is Jesus Christ!

Dr. Adwoa O. Nornoo Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

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Friday, December 5My Perfect Christmas

For some, the idea of the perfect Christmas is represented by the exchange of gifts, the decorations and the festive events. And, of course, all of these elements can contribute to a memorable holiday. For me, I have recalled one special yuletide for nearly six decades.

Church was always central to my family’s Christmases, and going to the Christmas Eve service was among our most treasured traditions. We attended a wonderful historic Episcopal church, which had been founded in 1650. Built in the cruciform style out of local bricks, the church has an interior formed by high intersecting white arches trimmed with hand-worked moldings. The altar draped with embroidered linen and set with golden appointments and seasonal greenery was impressive, as were the candles, which burned throughout in sconces festooned with holly. Below the elevated pulpit, the Advent wreath was aglow with all its candles.

For us youngsters, this late evening service was a time of excitement and anticipation. Everyone was dressed in his or her finest outfit, and we all knew to be on our best behavior. Parents and grandparents were all dressed up as well, and none of the ladies was without a hat. My sister was a toddler, but the late hour had put her in a blissful slumber and allayed my mother’s fears that she might “act up” in church. Quiet conversations ceased when the acolytes lit the altar candles. As the first chords of the processional hymn were struck, our minister led the choir toward the front of the church, walking in the shadow of a huge bronze crucifix held high by the acolyte who had been honored to carry it that night. Every time I saw this procession, I was reminded that both Thomas Jefferson and George Washington had trodden that same aisle when they were young men.

We heard a wonderful sermon that night about the great gift that we had received at our Savior’s coming, a gift of love for all creation that was, and continues to be, unparalleled in all of human history. This was the gift that He wanted us to share selflessly with others. The preparation for communion that Christmas Eve was mesmerizing as the elements were blessed and then distributed. We children waited in the pews while the adults partook, but we knew that someday we would do the same, just like the “big people.”

I remember standing by my mother with my siblings and my grandparents as the choir began to sing the closing hymn, “Silent Night.” Just then I looked through a window into the cloudless night and saw that it had begun to snow. My brothers and I had wanted a white Christmas so badly (a rare occurrence in our part of Virginia), and there were these enormous snowflakes drifting down to Earth at the choir’s last refrain. I will always carry with me the memory of that sight and the message of peace and love for all that we heard that night.

Carl Donner Assistant Professor of English and Writing

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Saturday, December 6Christmas presents. Wrapped and bagged and begging for us to guess what is inside the festive packaging. I will forever cherish memories of the sheer joy that my grandfather always had watching us grandchildren discover and open those irresistible presents under the tree. They are a symbol of all the joy we feel at this time of year. Maybe. Most of us love to get presents, especially young children. We dedicate significant time and resources to coordinated papers and ribbons and all sorts of package decorations. Trimmings and trinkets with which to wrap a gift have become almost more considerable than any actual gift.

If we are honest, most of us have even experienced a let-down of sorts when opening a gift, having allowed ourselves to be excited by the anticipation of all that fancy trimming and skillful wrapping, only to discover an ordinary item within, or worse, something we just know the giver picked up as an impulse buy with little or no real forethought. The gift doesn’t feel real. How often we are disappointed! Materialism “fatigue”? Easy access to too much “stuff ”? Or perhaps this kind of present never really fills our hearts. We all like to think that when people give us presents, they have chosen something with us specifically in mind; that they have carefully considered our individuality and selected something unique that has special meaning. And when this doesn’t happen, we feel strangely disillusioned.

When God decided it was time to give us His Son, He didn’t waste time with color-coordinated wrapping paper or deciding whether to use Mylar ribbon or paper shreds. True, He decorated the sky with a brilliant celestial beacon and orchestrated a chorus of angels singing music that would reach to the depths of the human soul. But barely a barn would have to suffice for the presentation. He certainly gave us a unique and unmatchable gift; all of the joy He could possibly give to us was in Jesus. A real gift. No disappointment or disillusion there!

As Christmas approaches this year, I am reminded to find that unbounded, childlike, “inexpressible joy” in unwrapping the gift of Jesus, knowing that He is our present, 365 days a year, chosen especially for each one of us, with special meaning, no matching paper or ribbons necessary.

Ann Cadaret Associate Professor of Theatre

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Sunday, December 7Lately we’ve been worshipping

With Syrians, wailing in a divine liturgy

of blood-red desert blossoms and crowns of thorns

hovering above ancient icons of large-eyed mystics,

mostly martyrs who have seen it all.

Their silent lips, while we pray, seem to cry to the Lord with us

because those who know the holy land are long acquainted

with the wounds of saints, the history of sin, a culture

of loss. And so the weeping icons and parishioners

wailing in a desert language

know Inexpressible Joy in the shape of a cross.

David M. Athey Associate Professor of English

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Monday, December 8Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. Isaiah 60:1

Anyone who knows me well knows that I wait eagerly for the first signs of Florida winter. Usually, I loathe waiting for anything. But there is something almost cathartic in this particular waiting. Perhaps it is the endurance of sweltering heat, or the perseverance through makeup-melting and hair-flattening humidity, or the suffering through long, long days. And respite from all that would be enough to anticipate. But that’s not what I wait for. What I wait for is the light, the afternoon light. The whole sky glows in playful cotton candy hues. Shadows dance around the yard earlier, coaxed, I imagine, by the cool air. I tumble onto the grass head-to-head with my son and gaze in wonder at the sights. I’m speechless. What a beautiful world! What a glorious creation! What a brilliant Creator!

Yet, what a broken world. My heart in that moment is completely unpacked. I see pieces that have taken a beating and fragments still sharp and rough. I see locks. I see pathways through darkness. I see reflections of the imperfect. Broken parts. I see tears falling down the innocent faces of the oppressed. I see pain in the eyes of oppressors. Broken parts I recognize. I see keys. Am I enough? And then it happens. What I’ve been waiting for. The light changes. Light changes everything. Arise, shine, for your light has come!

It is in the imperfect, in the broken, that I see most clearly what Jesus has accomplished for me. I see what I could never accomplish for myself: the redemption and reconciliation of my soul. It is in the imperfect and the broken that I find the reason that I live. My heart perceives unhindered the Father’s desire that I live to reconcile others to Him. That I would be a repairer of breaches and broken places. That my heart would ever be unpacked before him. That I continually walk before Him in a brokenness that declares my desperate need for Jesus. All I am is enough for Him. He makes the broken whole. He turns mourning into gladness. He sets the captives free. Everlasting joy will be theirs! And I’m a part of this. I am speechless.

From the first announcement of His birth to a world broken and waiting for His arrival, to the word He speaks to my heart in this moment, Jesus is everlasting light and inexpressible joy. The light of the world and of my cotton candy winter skies. The joy of nations and of the simple moments that leave me speechless.

Audrey Schofield Registrar

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Tuesday, December 9Eternal Joy Luke 2:8-12

Good news is definitely most welcomed in a changing world. Inexpressible joy was experienced by shepherds when the angel announced the birth of the promised Redeemer as prophesied in the Bible. An angel sent from God heralded, “I evangelize to you great joy” for all people — a permanent joy — one that cannot be taken from you.

This great joy was not so great to King Herod and his courtiers, as it was to those looking for the promised Messiah. Like shepherds in this true narrative, Christians continue to rejoice about the birth, work and future promise of the “coming again” of Jesus Christ. Joyfully we tell the message of redemption to a world searching for peace — and peace with God. The good tidings of GREAT JOY were and still are offered to all with the promise that all of creation will one day no longer experience wars, tears and physical discomforts. We shall worship God in the beauty of His holiness.

Let us follow the example of the shepherds: they went, they saw and they gave witness to the incarnation, telling of the inexpressible joy they experienced. Christians have many great opportunities to shepherd (evangelize) others to worship God. A songwriter noted:

Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word.

Tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard,

Tell how the angels in chorus sang as they welcomed His birth,

Glory to God in the highest, peace and good tidings to earth.

(Attributed to Fanny Crosby: 1820 – 1915)

Dr. Charles E. Lester Professor of Communication

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Wednesday, December 10That gift of joy is made the possession of God’s children. That joy is not found under the Christmas tree. That joy is not found in a new dress or a new bike. That joy is not found in being the most popular guy in the class. That joy is found only by the love of God when we bow down before Him with sincere sorrow at the foot of the cross. When we see the Son of God who has died for our sins, only then can the child of God experience joy, lasting joy, real joy, the joy of a forgiven sinner.

It is very important that the joy of Christ be in us. In Nehemiah 8:10 we read, “The joy of the LORD is your strength.” When we are low and despairing and weak and fall into temptations, it is so often because we are not living in the joy of the Lord. When joy is full, we are strong against evil, we bear up under the burdens and temptations seem to lose their power. But when that joy of the Lord is gone, we lose spiritual strength, and we lose our power against sin.

The shepherds were always travelling to find a place for their sheep to graze. God wanted to honor them, so He revealed to them His son’s birth by the angel who appeared to them saying, “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”

God had chosen the worshipping magi on behalf of the gentiles. They came from far countries to search and worship the birth of the king of the Jews. They arrived in Jerusalem where the baby Jesus Christ was and offered their gifts.

Therefore, the earthly world came to the manger to the Lord Jesus in two groups: the shepherds and the magi. The third group, which was from the heavenly world, was represented by the multitude of singing angels.

Today modern man faces many challenges, because Satan uses all the power of his weapons of darkness to keep man in fear, terror, misery and defilement in order to keep him living in darkness and away from God.

Let us come out to receive the true light. Let us come out and leave out egos to enjoy the light of sacrifice and giving. Let us come out and repent, leaving our sins, so we may enjoy the light of a pure and holy life. Let us come out, leaving behind the ignorance and lust of the world, so we may enjoy the light of the true Wisdom.

Christ is born; let us glorify Him in our lives, in our bodies and in our spirits, which all belong to God.

Dina Ragheb Office Representative, Registrar’s Office

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Thursday, December 11There is nothing more breathtaking than peering into a star-filled sky on a cloudless night. Some of my fondest memories as a child were nights spent in the backyard, lying on my back, gazing into a star-filled sky. To the shepherds of old this sight had no doubt become a commonplace occurrence. However, God was about to break through the commonplace with the most significant announcement since He spoke creation into existence. “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy.” Why the shepherds? Why did God choose one of the most isolated groups of people to proclaim His message? The shepherds had an observant eye constantly watching for predators who would bring harm to their flocks. They were also gazers who observed the passage of seasons and constellations in the night sky. Their livelihood depended on their watchful nature. God chose to make His proclamation to people who lived an uncomplicated life. While many of their contemporaries were caught up in debate over the coming of the Messiah, the shepherds waited and watched. When the angel appeared to them with the message of Christ’s birth, they were fearful and speechless. They made no attempt to explain the phenomenon but instead were caught up in the majesty of the heavenly host as they glorified God and remained speechless throughout the declaration. It was not until after the heavenly hosts departed that they agreed to go to Bethlehem to “see the thing which has come to pass.”

What a lesson can be learned from the shepherds of old. They were not so caught up in the experience of the proclamation that they neglected to seek out the Christ-child, the object of the proclamation. The Advent season brings so many challenges with activities, shopping, gatherings, etc. that it is easy to get caught up in the event and miss the object of the event. We often hear the words “Christ is the reason for the season,” but are we truly watching and waiting? This Advent season, let us take time to gaze into the vast greatness of God’s creation and be awestruck by the proclamation of the messenger of God: the Savior is born! Let us join with the shepherds as we make our way back to our Bethlehem to see the Christ-child. We too, like the shepherds, will experience the inexpressible joy of Christmas!

Don Piper Associate Professor of Cinema-Television

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Friday, December 12Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Let’s set this scene. An angel — a being so awe-inspiring that nearly every mention of angels in the Bible inspires fear in those to whom they appear — shows up in a field filled with shepherds and sheep. At that time, shepherding was not exactly a dignified profession: shepherds were considered members of the lowest classes of society. Yet they were the first ones to receive this incredible and joyous message that was for “all people” — not just kings or Pharisees or rabbis, but all people, including the people tending smelly sheep in the dead of night. God gave the shepherds the privilege of hearing the message of the Savior before anyone else. Why did He choose the shepherds to receive this joy? Why not someone of position who could get the message to the far corners of the empire through his power and wealth? Why not a great orator who could spread the message with eloquence? Yet this choice reflects the very nature of the Christ. Jesus was born in a stable to the wife of a small-town carpenter — the humblest of circumstances.

Many of us think of Christmas as a time to do good for the less fortunate. We serve in soup kitchens or participate in food drives or Operation Christmas Child. Growing up in a Christian home, I did all of those things and more during the Christmas season. Did I do them with joy? Maybe. But often those deeds only solidified in my mind the differences between me and the homeless, or me and the poor. But that is contradictory to what the joy of the gospel is really about.

The joy of Christ’s coming was the same joy the shepherds experienced that night: the joy of barriers being broken. Jesus came to save sinners and to humble the mighty. Through our weaknesses, poverty and brokenness, the joy of the gospel shines brightest. Of course that message of inexpressible joy came first to lowly, poor, unimportant shepherds! Who better to reflect the very reason that Jesus came?

Hannah Menendez ’16 English

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Saturday, December 13But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Luke 2:10 (NIV)

Prophets foretold His coming into the world. Gabriel revealed it to His earthly parents. John the Baptist leaped for joy in his mother’s womb when he heard the voice of Mary the mother of Jesus. However, when the heavenly hosts joined the angel as he brought the good news to the shepherds on the day of the birth of our Lord, it kindled an inexpressible joy in the shepherds’ hearts! This joy centered on the newborn baby, who is the Messiah, the Savior of humanity. His coming brings hope where despair rules; it brings freedom where captivity to sin exists; it brings peace where confusion and chaos reign; it brings liberty where slavery is rampant; and it brings unity where division exists. This inexpressible joy abounds to us today through its roots anchored in the indescribable love that the Lord himself has for His creation. May the love that took Him to the cross and guarantees eternal life to every true believer fill our hearts with inexpressible and glorious joy this Advent season and every day.

Dr. Kenneth Pembamoto Associate Professor of Computer Science

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Sunday, December 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! Luke 2:14

Friends will attest that I am a Christmas carol enthusiast. Back in my college days, I drove my roommates crazy since I saw October as a sign that “Christmas was at hand,” thus giving me license to break out the yuletide tunes.

Fast forward to late November. I love walking around public places — malls, the grocery stores, Starbucks — hearing songs like “O Holy Night” blaring on the speakers. It gets me asking, what’s special about Christmas carols that changes the atmosphere? Some call it “the magic of Christmas.” I call it heaven colliding with Earth. It’s not holiday background noise. What’s being declared is actually having a profound impact on our surroundings.

Consider what praise does. Praise creates a resting place for the King of Glory. In Psalm 22:3, we see that God inhabits the praises of His people. Praise is a weapon of warfare. In 2 Chronicles 20:21, singers actually lead the army of Judah into battle and secure victory.

Praise breaks open prison doors. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas respond to their imprisonment by singing hymns to God. The result? An earthquake busts open the cell doors, sets the captives free and makes Kingdom come a “here and now” reality for the prisoners and jailer.

Praise is not music, excitement or song. It is a dynamic catalyst for bringing one world into collision with another. Christmas carols are anthems of praise. Thus, as we give “glory to God in the highest,” something begins to happen “on earth.”

The angels declared a powerful chorus that impacted two worlds. This reveals a template for how praise operates: As glory ascends, peace descends. Here is my question this Christmas season: Are we caroling with expectancy? Let’s reject the Christmas carol routine. We sing carols out of tradition. We sing carols because they warmly remind us of Christmases long past. But do we sing them hungry for the King of Heaven to make our songs a resting place for His presence today?

Do we sing “in His name all oppression shall cease,” believing that King Jesus is moving in our midst, delivering captives? Do we prophesy, “Let earth receive her King!” expectant that nations would be drawn to the Desire of All Nations? Do we thankfully remember “Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day to save us all from Satan’s power?”

Inexpressible joy comes as our Christmas carols shift from being yuletide traditions to becoming thrones of praise for the King of Glory to rest upon. Where Jesus is enthroned, darkness must flee. Where He is enthroned, atmospheres change. Where He is enthroned He brings life, peace and joy. Where He is enthroned, heaven collides with Earth.

Let’s lift our voices, expectant that our praise invites Emmanuel to come and dwell in our midst!

Larry Sparks ’05

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Monday, December 15Joy in the Face of Adversity

The joy that we experience through the Christmas season is a wonderful opportunity to experience the Lord. With the birth of our Savior, how could you not be joyful? God loves this celebration of His son’s birth, but this joyfulness in Him should last year-round, not just in the designated holiday time. So often it is easy to feel joy during times when life is going well, but not when we are challenged with hardships.

I do not wish to cheapen this special time of the year, but remind you that joy in our Father can be found infinitely, in both the times of happiness and in the face of adversity. Last Christmas for me was marked with both happiness and hardship. I was to be married on the 28th, after Christmas. As the countdown to the big day brought on excitement, I felt joy beyond imagina-tion. Not only was I going to marry the man God had for me, but it was also Christmas time!

Those warm feelings only lasted until my dog was hit by a car, just weeks before the wedding. Nessie was hit and flung onto concrete, leaving her with a dislocated hip, broken tail bone and severe road rash. We were told that her hip would require very expensive surgery, and her wounds were so deep that she was at risk for a bone infection (which takes a long time to heal and extensive use of antibiotics.) Her prognosis was not good, and the veterinarians were not hopeful. As time passed, we spent thousands of dollars we did not have, and worse, Nessie began to fear us. She hated when we changed her bandages or force-fed her medication. It was heart-breaking. Christmas and the wedding came and went, as did my joy that could not withstand this trial.

It was not until I found joy in the Father, and faith in His use of Nessie’s accident, that I could rest in His peace. In this world we will always have tribulation.1 Though it may seem unnatural, we should respond with overflowing joy,2 because God selectively chooses trials to strengthen the plan He has for our lives.3-5 You could think of each trial as a wake-up call from God, who uses adversity to draw us near to him.6 Therefore rejoice and find joy in your hardship, as each trial has eternal implications.

I challenge you to let the inexpressible joy you are experiencing during this Christmas season set the tone for the rest of your year. Cling to His word and let it strengthen you, so that when you are faced with a challenge, you will find infinite joy and God’s blessing through it.

References: 1John 16:33; 22 Corinthians 7:4; 3Jeremiah 29:11; 4James 1:2-4; 5Psalm 119:67; 6Psalm 119:50

Julienne Pauly ’15 Pharmacy

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Tuesday, December 16Journalism in the United States has a public relations problem that extends back to the First Century where Luke 19:3 reports that Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus “and could not for the press.”

Today the typical charge against the press is that bad news overshadows good news, which is one reason so many college students love the catchphrase of Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth; he often begins each episode of “Futurama” with “Good News,” and usually segues into some disturbing developments.

Yet most newspapers and news webs include an abundance of good news about community events, sports, forecasts for balmy weather and much more. While that news can be considered not bad, even good, it will never rival the all-time Good News found in Luke 2: 8-12.

In this familiar passage, the Advent angel comforts motley shepherds with warm-up good news: Don’t be afraid, and then the main event, great news. “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord,” reports the NIV in verse 11.

If that news weren’t enough, the angel, live on the scene, is joined by the entire reporting team, the heavenly host to praise God.

They sing, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

In the news industry, that kind of report is called advocacy reporting, where one side is favored over all the other sides. In this case, the Good News transcends the normative ethic of journalists who are rigorously trained to be detached and neutral. However, if the information can be seen and heard first-hand, the reporter becomes a primary witness who does her duty to provide accurate facts.

But as reporter, the angel is telling the Good News and participating in the story à la the Gonzo journalism school of the 1960s where writers routinely weighed in with participation and support on political issues including the Civil Rights Movement. Journalists who practice this technique are expected to interpret the news for the good of all.

The Good News of the Advent angel trumps all other news; Jesus is coming. If Prof. Farnsworth were on hand that day, he too, would shout, “Good News, everyone” and the company would join in the most delightful of shared experiences, inexpressible joy.

You, too, can be a journalist and report the Good News, adding, “This just in. Jesus is coming again.”

Dr. Michael Ray Smith Professor of Journalism

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Wednesday, December 17Some of my first memorable moments of joy were getting my first (not new) car, getting engaged to my high school sweetheart, college graduation, finally saying “I do” and the births of my children. And then, how memorable is the day I accepted Christ to be a standing part of my life as my Savior.

Christmas is my pinnacle holiday of joy. Christmas is the season of giving and spending time with loved ones. You yearn for Christmas and start counting the days even before Thanksgiving arrives. You buy presents and wrap them in glitzy wrapping paper topped with iridescent bows too pretty to rip apart. You enjoy the kind of feast you fast for a week before, saving room for “thirds.” You hear constant playbacks of Bing Crosby’s version of “White Christmas,” and of course, you open presents autographed by “Santa,” finally proving you were indeed on the nice list.

It is all too easy to forget behind this festive holiday ordained with symbols, brand names and wrapping paper, the original joy that our God packaged for us so long ago. You see when I read the story of Christmas, I am reminded of the humble nature in which our Savior forever changed our being. Luke 2:7 reads, “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Of all the places for the King to be born, it was far from the Ritz-Carlton. He chose a barn. Instead of royal apparel covered with jewels, He was simply covered in strips of cloth. There was no dinner; no traditional Christmas tree hung with baby’s first Christmas ornaments. It was simply a celebration of God’s love to us. The original gift of Christmas was not intended to be another colorful day lavished with things and selfish joy. Instead, it calls on us to reflect on the actual act of a Father’s love by giving His only Son so sinners would somehow have this promise of everlasting life. Paul articulates this present well in Romans 8:3, “The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.”

This season, as we prepare to give and receive, let us be reminded of the act of our Father’s giving, the original gift of the birth of our Savior, and the most humble spirit in which this gift was presented. Not only does this joy we received leave a lasting impression on us, but think of the selfless, inexpressible and overwhelming joy that our Father must have felt when he delivered the ultimate Christmas present.

Dr. Krisy Thornby Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice

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Thursday, December 18This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. I John 4:10-12

It is my favorite time of the year, as I am sure it is for most people. Thanksgiving has come and gone and it has yet to snow here in Florida. I guess that is what you get when you grow up in the Sunshine State. Since my childhood, Christmas has always been about spending time with the family.

When Christmas comes around, I take the time to count the gifts that I have been blessed with during the passing year. There is one gift that I keep getting year after year. No, it’s not socks. It’s the gift of family.

My mother asked me recently, “With everything you have done in your life, what has God done to get you where you are today?” Thanks, Mom, for the deep question! Through all of the successes and failures, I keep coming back to a loving family that has been there to support me. That is something that money, obviously, cannot buy.

Through the years, it has been with the love my family has shown me that I am able to love others regardless of any wrongdoings. Even when I had done my family wrong, they were the first to have their arms open ready to comfort me in my time of need. It is in their affectionate love that I find joy.

I pray that you are able to take the time to bathe in the love of family. It may not be your biological family, but a family of people who have been there for you during your journey. If you have no idea who your family is, answer the question my mother asked me. When I think about where I am today, it was people that loved me enough to see me become more than what I was yesterday.

It is true that no one has ever seen God, but if we look hard enough we can see Him in the faces of the people who truly love us.

Nathan Chau Coordinator of Workship

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Friday, December 19“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

I often find God’s holy presence in many ways:

the magnificence of a multi-colored rainbow,

the peaceful solitude of a moonlit night

or even in the stillness of my soul.

Yet as Advent nears,

I sit.

I watch.

I wait.

Prepare Ye the way of Our Lord!

God’s Profound Love overflows as I celebrate the birth of our precious newborn King.

Sweet Baby Jesus

My heart is filled with wonderment and awe.

Inexpressible Joy!

Dr. Kathleen Klein Professor of Dance

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Saturday, December 20The story of Ebenezer Scrooge has been a Christmas tradition in our family for years. Every year without fail, we make sure to watch our favorite movie adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” a 1951 film starring a grimacing Alastair Sim.

Of all the people in London, Scrooge, the protagonist, is the most joyless. After the death of his sister and the loss of a fiancé, Scrooge hardens and grows embittered toward the world, dedicating his life to the pursuit of business, hoarding over time a ballooning pile of shrewdly collected wealth. Still, with all of his money, Scrooge lives in misery; he excludes himself from any friendship or happiness to pursue this “golden idol.”

On a certain Christmas Eve, however, Scrooge’s personal, makeshift universe is uniquely threatened. Jacob Marley, his longtime business partner and only friend who had died years ago, suddenly appears as a ghost in Scrooge’s bedroom. The woebegone Marley prophesies the arrival of three spirits who will reveal to Scrooge the way to hope — the only way to avoid the same fate as his. This “good” news, of course, horrifies the miser, who fears a fate like Marley’s, but shrinks even more from the prospect of visits from more ghosts. And they are terrifying. Scrooge is whirled by the spirits through a painful tour of scenes from past, present and future holidays, ultimately ending at the very foot of his future grave.

The visions not only rouse a horror in Scrooge, but also a vast remorse. Arriving back in his bedroom, he weeps for the life that he could have lived — for a future that seems now all too impossible. He is beyond hope, facing only darkness and misery. Yet, his repentance is not unheard. Awaking on a bright Christmas morning, Scrooge finds himself alive — he has been given a second chance. Suddenly, his world is new; everything takes on a radiance and beauty he has never seen before. And his happiness knows no bounds. He realizes that he has loads of money, more money than he could ever possibly need. With this revelation, he begins to give it away. What once was an idol to himself becomes a blessing for all those around him.

As I get older, the scene where Scrooge wakes up to find himself alive — and given the chance to truly live — becomes more and more special to me. Mainly because I experienced it. Like Scrooge, I was afraid of life, and built up sham barriers to the truth. But like the shepherds at Jesus’ birth, I needed to be told not to be afraid — that this unexplainable event, these terrifying spirits, were actually declaring our redemption. “Do not be afraid,” they told us; they were bringing “Good news of great joy.”

We, like Ebenezer Scrooge, are not beyond hope. The birth of Jesus, the miracle of redemption, calls us away from our “golden idols” or whatever false idea we worship. Instead of turning in fear, we can run to the glad tidings of His love and find in Him inexpressible joy.

Tom Lubben ’17 Music and English

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Sunday, December 21And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.…” Luke 2:9-10

I love the fact that almost every time angels show up to bring God’s message to people, they begin by saying, “Don’t be afraid!” I believe that’s because the messengers of God that move in and out of His very presence are fearsome, great beings. I believe God told them to tell the people not to be afraid as an expression of the Father’s heart for them.

God is always aware of things that frighten us. He is a good daddy and He knows how to care for His children. I am truly glad that is true. Right now I have two people close to my heart who are nearing the end of their time on this earth. One has been fighting cancer for 10 years here in Florida. The other’s aged body and mind in Louisiana cannot support life much longer. Hospice is providing care for both of them.

I am very sad about our losing the ability to be with them and walk through life with them any longer. But what I know is this: like my mother’s passing three years ago, these two have longed to be in the presence of their King Jesus for many years. They have lived to honor God, impacted many people for the Kingdom and poured out their lives as God called them to do. They long to see the glory of the Lord for themselves and are not afraid. They know by experience Psalm 16:11 (ESV) “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

There are many families that will experience empty places at their celebrations for the first time this Christmas. Still others ache with places long empty and all with hearts still in need of healing. May the presence of Abba Father — the good daddy — fill the emptiness with the knowledge that He knows us, cares for us, and bore the absence of His Son at His side so that we could become part of His forever family. He understands the loss of one dearly loved. He knew the end from before the beginning and He still sent Emmanuel because He loves us. The joy of the resurrection began in a manger on Christmas. Remember Jesus is still Emmanuel — God with us, always. Don’t be afraid. You are never alone. Joy to the world!

Paula Mantrozos Secretary to the Dean, School of Music and Fine Arts

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Monday, December 22Here’s an admission: I don’t particularly like the feeling of being afraid. I don’t think anyone does. The sense of fear and apprehension keeps us from experiencing some of life’s best opportunities. In a beautiful narrative of scripture, an awesome presence of a being, an angel from the Lord, allays the fears of these simple shepherds: “Do not be afraid.” The news the angel brought them was important enough that they not be immobilized by what they saw, for this proclamation would change the entire world.

At one time in our lives, you and I have all experienced a fear that kept us from receiving something of intrinsically more value or spiritual increase or financial gain. Fear has kept many of us from eating right and exercising (more value), or from sharing our faith with others (spiritual increase) or from applying for that new position (financial gain) at work. The beginning of the angel’s salutation to these shepherds is “don’t fear.” What comes after this is the greatest announcement ever made to humanity; this is news that will bless all of humanity! The announcement is God’s gift to the world: His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

Has anyone close to you ever said, “we need to talk,” and you had a feeling that the content or the subject matter would be sobering, pressing, probing and even painful to discuss? But (hopefully) at the end of the conversation, the relationship would be in a better place because of it. The shepherds who kept their flock by night did not have the luxury of familiarity or closeness. They were socially estranged by many, looked down upon for their occupation and its hazards, and not valued as significant individuals. But here was this mighty angel in the midst of them, and their entire surroundings were changed by the glory of God. The glory of God shined all around them and the angel gave the good news. This news was so glorious that it caused a praise to erupt in the heavens!

I’ve come to believe that fear can keep us from experiencing the “best” of God. God so loved the world that He gave us His “best” (His only begotten Son).

These shepherds after having seen Jesus lying in a manager, returned home glorifying and praising God. I believe they had what I Peter 1:8 talks about: unspeakable joy! Not only is it unspeakable, but it is full of glory. The world certainly doesn’t understand our joy; and many times it’s because they haven’t seen our Christ. We must be sure to let Him live through us so that every man, woman, boy and girl can experience this inexpressible joy for themselves.

... don’t be afraid.

William Shelton Pharmacy Technology Specialist

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Tuesday, December 23‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Actually, I was stirring, as I had just found out a few hours earlier that I was pregnant with my third child. Imagine that: on Christmas Eve, I received one of the most joyful gifts from God, news of a child growing in my womb! Of course, I had some apprehensions. Raising two children was hard enough; how could I handle three small children? But God has commanded us to not worry about anything. The Bible says “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). I always thought that God does not give us more than we can handle. However, I started to realize that maybe God does give us more than we think we can handle in order for us to rely more on Him for help. “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8). It is a lesson in faithfulness. In order to be free of worry and experience the joy that God desired for my life, I knew that I had to trust in God completely. God would take care of us.

I started to think about Mary, the mother of our Savior. What emotions must have gone through her head when she found out that she was pregnant as a virgin who was engaged to be married? She and Joseph both modeled complete faithfulness in God’s plan for them, and they trusted that God would take care of them. And He did take care of them! By casting out the worry, they were able to experience the joy that God had planned for them. That night, on Christmas Eve, God assured me that He was in control. I felt a sense of peace, and my heart was filled with joy. As I celebrated the birth of my Savior, I also celebrated the new life growing in me — the little miracle that would soon bless us with an immeasurable amount of joy. We have to realize that we cannot do this alone, but with God, anything is possible! A loving God, who sent His son as a sacrifice for our sins, so that we may live — what greater joy than that?

Dr. Sanaz Dovell Assistant Professor of Chemistry

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Wednesday, December 24Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Galatians 4:4-7 (KJV)

My wife Lisa and I longed to have children, but after several years of marriage, we began to wonder if we ever would experience such a blessing. One morning, however, Lisa realized that she felt oddly and decided to take a pregnancy test, acting on a bit of leftover half-hope.

It was positive.

After nine years of marriage, we were finally expecting. Soon, we found that we were expecting twins! Amazingly, my grandmother had been a twin and before she passed away, she told us that she hoped we would be blessed with twins. She was right!

Our due date was April 23, Shakespeare’s birthday (Lisa and I are English professors, so this was awesome). Heading into Easter weekend that year, though, our obstetrician told us it was time, so on Good Friday, Ethan Edison and Emily Elisabeth were born. Each baby weighed almost six pounds and came into a hospital filled with relatives who rejoiced to welcome them. Almost 17 years later, we still love to think back to that special time and we are humbled by the joy that we continue to feel so deeply.

The fact that the birth happened on an Easter weekend was particularly meaningful to me. I made my public profession of faith on an Easter weekend when I was 8 years old, Lisa and I were married on Easter weekend, and now we became parents on that highest of all Christian holiday weekends.

Oh, we longed to have children! When we found out that we were pregnant, we longed to meet those children face-to-face! My grandmother even “prophesied” about their birth!

On Christmas Eve, the same feelings should fill our minds. As much as we longed to see our babies on that Easter weekend, the entire universe longed for the arrival of the Christ Child on the first Christmas! The ancients had prophesied. The angels sang. The world was about to change, and tidings of great joy — inexpressible joy — were proclaimed: the rescue of the poor and the oppressed, the rescue of desperate lives and the rescue of souls from an eternity of separation from their Creator.

What joy fills our hearts when we ponder the love of God towards us, when at the right time, Christ came into the world. Tonight we pray once again, “Come thou long expected Jesus!” Christmas morning is on the way!

Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. Provost & Chief Academic Officer

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Thursday, December 25On this inexpressibly joyous and glorious Christmas morning, I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Yes, “though we have not seen Him, we love Him; and even though we have not seen Him now, we still believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for we are receiving the end result of our faith, the salvation of our souls.” 1 Peter 1:8

We also see in the first chapter of John that each and every day is a gift from God. At Palm Beach Atlantic University we are experiencing a season of abundance and sense the presence of the Holy Spirit over our campus. We celebrate and give thanks for the many blessings, strong relationships and wonderful works being accomplished in our beautiful setting.

With the rising of the sun over the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, each new day is overflowing with hope, excitement and a contagious joy.

We feel something special happening on our campus, and I invite you to be a part of these exciting and record-shattering times at PBA.

As the great hymn, “How Great Thou Art” declares, when we are reborn in Christ, “what joy shall fill our hearts and we shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!”

Let us celebrate on this new Christmas morning, how great Thou art.

Joyfully,

William M. B. Fleming, Jr.President

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West Palm Beach Academic Programs• 48 undergraduate majors• Evening undergraduate degree programs in ministry, organizational management and

psychology (on campus and online) • Graduate and professional degree programs in business administration, counseling

(specializations in addiction counseling; marriage, couples and family counseling; mental health counseling, school guidance counseling and counseling generalist [non licensure]), divinity, leadership (on campus and online), nursing practice and pharmacy

• Degrees offered: A.A., B.A., BGS, B.S., B.Mus., BSN, D.N.P., M.S., M.B.A., M.Div., Pharm.D., Pharm.D./M.B.A.

Orlando Academic Programs• Evening undergraduate degree programs in ministry, organizational management and

psychology (on campus and online) • Master’s degree programs in counseling (specialization in marriage, couple and family

counseling; mental health counseling and school guidance counseling) and leadership

Wellington Academic Programs• Evening undergraduate degree programs in ministry (on campus and online) and

organizational management (on campus and online) • Master’s degree program in leadership

Faculty• Undergraduate student-faculty ratio: 13 to 1• Average undergraduate class size: 18 • 89% of undergraduate classes have fewer than 30 students• 80% of full-time teaching faculty hold the highest degree in their field

Financial Data• Undergraduate annual tuition: $25,974• 98% of all degree-seeking students receive some form of financial aid or 99% of all

undergraduate day students• $90 million operating budget• $73.6 million endowment• $345 million local economic impact

PBA at a Glance

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Enrollment - Fall 2014• Total 3,865• 2,170 traditional day (West Palm Beach)• 423 evening adult (West Palm Beach, Wellington, Orlando and online)• 534 master’s (West Palm Beach, Wellington and Orlando)• 310 professional in pharmacy• 428 dual-enrolled students• 1,213 residential students• 14,000+ alumni

Activities• Member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II,

Sunshine State Conference (provisional), National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA)

• 70+ student music, theatre and dance performances annually• Student newspaper (The Beacon) • Opportunities for involvement and leadership in 60+ social, professional and religious

clubs and organizations

Accreditation StatementPalm Beach Atlantic University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and the professional doctorate degrees: doctor of pharmacy and doctor of nursing practice. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, telephone (404) 679-4500, or www.sacscoc.org for questions about the accreditation of Palm Beach Atlantic University. Persons wishing to review documents related to the accreditation of Palm Beach Atlantic University should contact the Office of Accreditation and Assessment at (561) 803-2053.

Workship: A Tradition of Service Since 1968Workship is a distinctive community service program that responds to human needs with Christ-like action in the community and the world. Through community service, students can discern their vocation and develop a life-long habit of servant leadership. To date, Palm Beach Atlantic students have volunteered more than 2.8 million hours.

To make a gift to Palm Beach Atlantic University, visit www.pba.edu/givingA copy of the official registration and financial information of Palm Beach Atlantic University, INC., CH19836, may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free within the state (800-435-7352). Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the state.

P.O. Box 24708West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4708

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