Welcome back, or welcome the first time, to Emmanuel University.
As the new academic year begins, I want to pause and say how grateful I am—for this community and for the opportunity we all share. What a gift it is to be here together. What a gift it is to call this place home.
Our theme is more than a slogan. It’s an invitation, a direction, a hope.
Emmanuel University: Where We Meet God Together
That phrase carries deep meaning. Emmanuel means “God with us.” And together—students, faculty, staff, coaches, mentors, and friends—we seek to experience the reality of God’s presence in every area of our lives.
We meet God in the classroom—through open minds, curious hearts, and the pursuit of truth. Whether you’re solving equations, writing essays, or exploring the complexities of history and science, God is present in the process of learning. He is not distant from our academic growth; He is in the middle of it, shaping us to think deeply, to speak wisely, and to live faithfully.
We meet God in our sports—on the fields, the courts, the track, and the training room. In the sweat, the discipline, the wins and the losses, God teaches us about perseverance, humility, teamwork, and worship. Athletics at Emmanuel are more than competition; they are a stage for character, a place where we live out faith in action.
We meet God in Chapel services—when we gather to worship, to listen, to respond. These moments are sacred pauses in the rhythm of our busy weeks. We open Scripture together. We pray together. We sing together. And God meets us there, shaping our hearts and transforming our lives.
We meet God in relationships—in our dorms, our cafeteria, our classrooms, our conversations. Friendships are not just for fun. They are opportunities to reflect Christ to one another, to offer grace, to speak truth, and to grow in love.
Each year, we seek to live our theme in three ways: Faith. Learning. Living.
• Faith that is vibrant and personal, yet strengthened in community.
• Learning that is rigorous and Spirit-led, developing our minds and our hearts.
• Living that is intentional, compassionate, and grounded in Jesus.
Community is not a buzzword here. It is our culture. And as we live life together at Emmanuel University, we discover the beauty of caring for one another and of being transformed—together—into the likeness of Christ.
As your Campus Pastor and Director of Spiritual Life, I consider it one of the greatest honors of my life to walk this journey with you. I pray this year will be filled with divine encounters, with growth and grace, and with a deep awareness of the God who is with us.
Let’s lean in. Let’s show up. Let’s seek Him in all things.
Let’s meet God—together.
Welcome home,
Chris Maxwell
Campus Pastor & Director of Spiritual Life
Emmanuel University
Beautiful! I pray that you all have an amazing year. Thank you for your investment in the Church.
Love this, Pastor Chris.
“Community is not a buzzword, it’s a culture”. That statement hits home, Pastor Chris. That is what Emmanuel is, and it is what makes Emmanuel so unique.
I love the way you highlight that our encounters with God can happen in all sorts of places. This viewpoint encourages us to view God as someone who walks alongside us and influencing our experiences and helping us grow both personally and spiritually.
It seems so surreal to me that I am officially an Emmanuel University student. Your words truly reflect all of the amazing invitations I have received through the years to join this family. The staff, students, and classes are already living up to the school’s slogan: Where We Meet God Together. I’m excited to see what God has in store for all of us in this new season togethter!
“Faith that is vibrant and personal, yet strengthened by community.” This quote really spoke to me in how I felt my relationship with Jesus was over this past summer. I asked Him to reveal himself to me, and through wholeheartedly seeking Him, He did. It was in my personal walk but, through a strong community of believers every Thursday night was where I really felt that “strengthening” you mention. This past summer, God gave me a new perspective on how faith was created to be lived out with and through community and the quote I mentioned explains it perfectly.
How often, it seems that those with good intentions struggle to make an impact. This has been the case for many scenarios in my life and many others, whether that be relational or spiritual, but here is our chance:
“A place where we meet God together.”
This is a phrase in which, if acted out faithfully, people with good intentions can make a serious impact. We cannot dwell with God in the Spirit alone, which is why we needed Jesus’ help to gain intimacy with the Holy Spirit. Likewise, without the help of each other, we cannot live out our lives on this side of heaven faithfully or in Honor of God.
It takes everyone, from every place, to live out our true lives in Christ. Without hands, feet, or eyes the Body of Christ would be disjointed, and therefore rendered useless.
This is why your post is so important… just like it requires every part of the body to work properly, it takes the continual acknowledgement of God to carry the Cross daily. Thank you for this post and please have a blessed day!
Sincerely,
Nick R.
Amen!! I love the three focuses we doing this year. Faith, Learning, and living. Faith is a big when it comes to a relationship with God. Without Faith there is nothing.
I am so glad to be a part of this University. As an online student sometimes it is hard to connect and you feel all alone, just you and your computer. It’s important to remember that God can meet you anywhere, even in your living room on your couch. The three focuses of faith, learning, and living is a summary of where I am in this season of life! I cant wait to meet God here with you all and see what this season takes us.
I really enjoyed reading this! It is a very great way to remind us that Emmanuel is more than just a school we attend but it is a sacred space where we can worsip and learn at the same time. I am super excited to grow in this chapter of life and meet God in every moment, and to pursue truth and transformation together throughout this semester.
“Where We Meet God Together”, I love how our theme highlights that faith is not confined to a specific place or time, but it is experienced in classrooms, sports, chapel services, and relationships. It encourages a holistic approach to faith, integrating it into daily activities and interactions. It really does foster a sense of community and shared purpose, reminding each and every one of us that they are not alone in their spiritual journey.
Thank you for taking the time and sharing this post.
God Bless