Excitement exuded from Biola’s campus over the final two weeks of August as more than 1,200 new undergraduate students arrived for the start of the school year — just a fraction of the approximately 5,800 students who will study this fall at Biola. Along with approximately 500 new graduate students, the Class of 2014 will be the largest incoming undergraduate class to study at Biola, which was recently named one of the country’s 28 “up and coming” national universities by U.S. News & World Report.

Biola President Barry H. Corey joined the move-in task force unloading cars filled with dorm essential on Aug. 20 when students arrived. Along with other members of the President’s Administrative Council,  he helped move students into the residence halls, joining student leaders from Associated Students, Student Orientation Services (SOS), Residence Life, Student Ministries and the Student Missionary Union.

Later, at an official welcome celebration, Corey verbalized the support he and the Biola community have for the new students.

“In the next few years you will become adults who will take on the responsibility, the mantle, for making an impact for the good in our world for the cause of Christ,” he said. “Students, the future is in your hands, the world is counting on you and we want to help you in that journey to make a difference.”

The academic semester officially got underway on Aug. 25 with convocation in Chase Gymnasium, which introduced Biola’s theme for 2010-2011: "Zealously Going Where God Leads." With great fervor, Corey welcomed Biola students and faculty to another year — some their first and others their last.

Corey discussed Romans 12:11 and Proverbs 19:2, encouraging the Biola community to have "the zeal to live a life of resolved Christlike obedience and the knowledge to understand and articulate the truth and Lordship of Christ over all."

Corey described how zeal is a deep burning to take some risks and live obediently for Christ, noting that this sometimes involves being lonely or going against the grain.

“If you are going to be discontent squandering your time and just getting by, then you need a dose of that deep, Spirit-fueled zeal that will not only take you deeper in Christ, [but] will compel you to serve,” he said. “Invest you time nurturing your God-given gifts and sharpening your mind and taking advantage of the abundant opportunities for growth at Biola.”

Written by Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Coordinator. Jenna can be reached at (562) 777-4061 or through email at jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu.