Biola Professor brings first Holocaust Awareness Week to campus

By Abbey Bennett April 16, 2011

Professor Judith Rood, with the help of her Jewish/Christian/Muslim relations class, has implemented the first Holocaust Awareness Week at Biola. | Kelsey Heng/THE CHIMES

Professor Judith Rood has implemented Biola’s first Holocaust Awareness Week, with the help of one of her classes. Every third semester, Rood teaches a Jewish/Christian/Muslim relations class.

This semester’s class is particularly special, because they have played a large role in planning and executing the Awareness Week. In Rood’s eyes, this has been a long time coming.

Rood motivated by personal Holocaust story

As a professing Christian of Jewish descent, Rood has a personal Holocaust story.

“My great-grandparents perished there [at Theresienstadt concentration camp],” Rood said. This rich personal history has driven Rood to study the ancestry of Jewish Christians today.

“Biola has a tremendous commitment to Jewish studies,” Rood said. “[However] there has never been a Holocaust commemoration.”

She began her career at Biola eight years ago, after receiving her Ph.D. in modern Middle Eastern history from the University of Chicago. She received her master’s in Arab studies from Georgetown University and her bachelor’s at New College of Florida. After completing undergraduate and graduate work at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Rood following personal calling

Rood has not come to Southern California to live a comfortable life, but to dedicate her life to serve this community to which she has been called.

“God is using me to teach this generation,” Rood said. “I am here for such a time as this, like Esther.”

She has dreams of creating a complete curriculum based on an integration project to serve the community, and has worked toward more and more integration of diversity as a faculty member.

Event continues multicultural conversation

In this season, Biola is in the midst of a great conversation about diversity and multiculturalism.

“Jews and Gentiles must be present,” Rood said.

In the spring of 2010, Rood took a semester-long sabbatical.

“I went to Bethlehem for about a month, lived and traveled around with an editor of a major Christian magazine,” Rood said. “I then went to the University of Portland.”

This sabbatical served as a catalyst for Rood’s career not only as a professor at Biola, but as a learned scholar who seeks to further her research and publish her own writings. Rood's new book to address Christian Muslim relations

Rood is not afraid of controversial topics and will not leave them lying under the surface of this community any longer.

Rood has begun working on her book titled, “Loving God and Neighbor Together: A Christian Response to A Common Word Between Us and You.” It is about Christians and Muslims living peaceably together.

“This is a working manuscript,” Rood said as she described the book she hopes to get published soon.

After the Sept. 11 attacks, the relationship between Christians and Muslims has become a sensitive topic in many circles, but Rood has a passion to get to the heart of the issues at hand and seek reconciliation where it may be found.

Living as Christians in a multi-faith world

There is a conversation in Christian circles about what it looks like to live in a multi-faith world. Christianity Today’s article entitled “Proselytizing in a Multi-Faith World: Why mutual respect and tolerance require us to witness for Christ” by Ed Stetzer is one of the best summaries, according to Rood.

Stetzer addresses the controversial terms “interfaith” and “multi-faith,” and gives much-needed definition to both.

“Many of those involved in interfaith dialogue approach it as if there are no fundamental distinctions or differences between [their religions],” Stetzer wrote.

“By way of contrast, in a multi-faith world, we recognize that we are not worshipping the same God or gods, nor are we pursuing the same goals.”

The article goes on to say that even in the midst of different beliefs, respect and the willingness to live together with those who hold different views will prevent constant conflict.

(Web address: http://chimes.biola.edu/content/article/2011/apr/16/biola-university-holocaust- awareness/)

Judith Hill wears her faith, sings for God and people

By Abbey Bennett March 30, 2011

Elegance dominated Crowell Lansing Hall the evening of Thursday, March 24. “Be Inspired” was the theme of the week, in honor of National Women’s History Month.

People of all ages from Biola and the surrounding community gathered to enjoy a quality jazz concert featuring alumna Judith Hill.

Biola Vocal Jazz directed by Shawna Stewart, and the Jazz Quintet directed by Rique Pantoja, accompanied Hill for a showcase of songs, ranging from “You are My Sunshine” to Ray Charles’ “Georgia” to several of Hill’s original songs.

Hill began music career at Biola Hill studied with John Browning of Biola’s Conservatory of Music, and graduated in 2005 with a degree in music composition, which served as a catalyst for this now world-renowned composer and artist.

Hill found her motivation while studying at Biola. “Being here really set my foundation, both spiritually and musically,” Hill said. “I made really great friends while I was here too.”

Being back on this familiar campus, Hill recounted several feelings and memories. “It feels nostalgic,” she said. “It’s very refreshing to be back.”

Performance a benefit for Japan

The performance also served as a benefit concert to raise funds for Japan through Christian Relief Assistance Support and Hope, largely inspired by Hill’s Japanese heritage.

Hill wrote the song titled, “For My Sister,” with Japanese pop star Ai. Both share the commonality of a bi-racial background, and wrote the song together as a “representation of their sisterhood,” said Jenna Bartlo, Biola media relations coordinator.

Hill performed the song Thursday evening in light of the tragedy in Japan, saying that her thoughts and prayers were with the people there.

“I sing this in honor of Japan and of Ai,” Hill said.

A verse of the song says, "When you need a helpin' hand, I'll be there for my sister... and it doesn't matter where you are. You can never be too far. I'll be there for my sister."

“We had over 400 people there,” Bartlo said, “and raised over $1,000 for [CRASH].”

Hill experiences life on the road

Upon graduating from and leaving Biola, Hill began touring with French pop star Michel Polnareff.

“It lasted about a year,” Hill said. “I built a network and met a lot of people.” It was through this network that Hill said she was eventually hired by Michael Jackson and began preparing for his “This Is It” tour.

“We had really intense rehearsals because we had so much to do,” Hill said. “[Michael] was so kind, kind of shy and goofy at times, but a joy to work with.”

Due to Jackson’s death on June 25, 2009, the tour was cancelled.

Hill connected with Michael Jackson

Hill is featured in the “This Is It” movie documenting Jackson’s life, which was released on October 28, 2009.

During Jackson’s memorial service, Hill sang the lead in the song “Heal the World.” This is when the world first created a buzz about Hill.

It is estimated that over one billion people all over the world viewed the memorial service, according to various news sources. Biola posted the story about Hill’s tie to the university, and it instantly became Biola’s number one news story that year, according to manager of university events, Victoria Smith.

Remaining rooted in faith

In the midst of the fortune and fame, Hill’s roots are deep in the Lord.

“Everywhere you go, you wear your faith,” Hill said. “When you have the Holy Spirit, when you have that core, it doesn’t falter.”

No matter what major, what classes you’re in or what you’re studying, Hill encourages Biola:

“Soak it up. It’s what shapes you...Soak up the serenity, those peaceful places on campus,” Hill said.

“Once you leave, you have to be a lot more intentional.”

(Web Address: http://chimes.biola.edu/content/article/2011/mar/30/judith-hill-benefit-concert/)

Sanders authors readable book on the Trinity

By Abbey Bennett September 30, 2010

Fred Sanders, associate professor at Torrey Honors Institute, speaks on his topic of specialty, Trinitarian Theology, at the release event for his new book, "Deep Things of God: The Trinity Changes Everything." The event was hosted by the apologetics department on Sept. 27.

Calvary chapel was full of students and faculty from both graduate and undergraduate programs Monday night for the launching of Fred Sander's book "Deep Things of God: The Trinity Changes Everything." The Apologetics department, which hosted the event, will also be hosting the book release of Tim Muehlhoff’s “Authentic Communication” on Sept. 30.

Fred Sanders, an associate professor at the Torrey Honors Institute, said at the event that his prayer is for the doctrine of the Trinity to be a means of grace by which people experience deeper communion with the living God.

“I will work on this all my life,” said Sanders, who did his doctorate dissertation on the Trinity.

A book on the Trinity for the "ordinary Christian"

The process of writing this book began about four years ago. Crossway was chosen as the publisher after many other offers were made to Sanders.

“They are highly trusted and actively serving the church,” he said.

Sanders’ book was written to be readable for an audience of ordinary Christians. “The main idea here is not to say what’s missing, but to take the things we focus on as evangelicals and connect the dots,” said Sanders.

Sanders’ desire is to remind evangelicals of what they know – the essentials – or what Biola’s founding fathers would call the “fundamentals.” In addition to this book, Sanders also writes daily on the blog, “The Scriptorium.”

A recent blog entry explored how many are confused over the terminology of Jesus being in one’s heart. Studying the Scriptures however, actually proves this statement to be Biblically sound, and “Trinitarian gold all the way along the path.”

Early reactions to the book

For Sanders, it always comes back to the Trinity; and colleagues Erik Thoennes and Rob Price attest to this.

“He is a deep and serious theologian, and he has figured out how to talk to us,” said Thoennes, “It has been a long time since I have been so excited about a book. I am enthused about this book.”

“[Sanders] does not want to make us metaphysicians, but wants us to understand the gospel better,” said Price. “He wants us to understand God better. [The book] is really remarkable.”

This book is already being used as a textbook in Price’s Talbot classes, and has the potential to change and shape many students, as it has already begun to do. Price shared examples of students reading it for personal devotions, and some desire to translate it into their native language.

Sander's hopes for the book

“This will go places I will never go,” said Sanders on Monday night. However, it will also go where he is currently. The ideas and revelations in this book, with the power of the Almighty, Trinitarian God, will transform students’ thinking right here at Biola.

“Come home to the Trinity,” said Sanders. “Look around right here and see the Trinity. [May it] bring your Bible back to life again.”

“I think your generation is looking for a really big God, a big gospel, and a big life,” said Thoennes. “The subtitle gets after it: the Trinity changes everything. It’s why everything is the way it is.”

“We should expect to find in the gospel more than we imagined,” said Price. “Perhaps the most important thing we find is that we get God. Salvation is not just fixing life, but bigger than any of this is that we get God.”

(Web Address: http://chimes.biola.edu/content/article/2010/sep/30/sanders-authors-book/)