February 8, 2008

Dear Friends,

Happy Spring Semester from Ferrum College! During these early days of the Lenten season, as we prepare for Easter, I would like to share with you reflections from our campus and recount our story of faith & action, hope & promise.

My husband Conrad and I accompanied Rev. Wes Astin, Dean of the Chapel, to the Holy Land during January. We were joined on this historic trip by several Ferrum students, United Methodist Women and other friends of the College. We were all profoundly moved as we visited Biblical sites, talked to Christian church and educational leaders, and connected on a personal level with Palestinians, Jews, and Muslims. What a learning experience it was as our collective world view expanded and our spiritual lives and faith deepened! The students, in particular, said this journey changed their lives forever. The trip exemplified much of what Ferrum stands for:

• Our focus on mind, body and spirit which translates to excellence in academics, involvement in athletics and wellness, and exposure to faith formation and ethical problem solving.
• Our development of character, integrity and empathy.
• Our preparation of students for career, life, and service through our motto, “Not Self, But Others.”

We are encouraged by steady increases in enrollment, our outstanding faculty and staff, our wonderful Board members and our dear friends. We are extremely grateful for the opportunities our students have in the classroom and in the world, realizing that these come with sacrifice and costs, borne in large part by all of you. Your support for scholarships, endowments, academic internships and church relations is critical. As a college, a country, and as individuals, we continue to face financial challenges. We are, therefore, deeply thankful for your unwavering support. In the coming years, more than ever, we will need your prayers, your care, and your commitment to changing lives and preparing leaders for our future. We are convinced that Ferrum can help turn the “me generation” of students into the “we generation” of leaders in the College, church, community and the world.

We wish you health, happiness and joyful hearts. As you move through your Lenten meditations toward a joyous Easter celebration, we hope you will join in our collective journey on the road to wholeness, wellness, and the new “we” family of faith & action, hope & promise.

Sincerely yours,

Jennifer L. Braaten
President

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