Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.  Isaiah 26:12

As I complete my fifth year as dean of the Crowell School of Business, it is natural to review and update our strategic plan, take stock of the new concentrations, on-campus and online degree offerings, and growth in student enrollments. On a more personal level, I think of the students transformed by our faculty and by God’s work in their lives here at Crowell.  I also think of new faculty hired and thriving, and new friends of the School we’ve made these past five years.

I’m thankful for the support of the Provost, President, and Board of Trustees who continue to guide and support our School. We’ve established a top performing leadership team at the Crowell School with Associate Dean Dr. David Bourgeois, Assistant Dean Beth Starr, Chair of MBA & Master of Management Programs Dr. Lari Mobley, and Professor Phil Woodward leading the Accounting Programs. New initiatives, such as the Startup Competition, the Biola Entrepreneurship Society, and our partnership with the Praxis Academy, have taken off through the able work of Dr. Bob Harp, Director of Strategic Initiatives.  As student enrollments have grown, so has our faculty and staff, and I am excited to say that Paul Sohn, author of Second Quarter Calling, will be joining our staff on July 1. Paul will bring his expertise to the areas of calling, career, and corporate connections as he helps us sharpen the Crowell School road map for business career success. We’re excited also that two new faculty members will be joining the School this fall.

The Crowell School of Business now hosts the annual Redemptive Business Forum, bringing together business leaders, pastors, and academics to consider and mutually discuss important Faith@Work topics. And, we are co-hosts of the LA Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast along with the Union Rescue Mission. This past year, Dr. Corey was our keynote speaker.

As I was reflecting on all we’ve done these past five years, and all yet to be done, Biola alum and good friend Bill Drake directed me to Isaiah 26:12. Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.

What is the relationship between our accomplishments and our peace of mind?

The idea that anxiety and worry come with responsibility and leadership is hardly new. The apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippian church spoke from hard-earned experience when he wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” 

Leaders are no strangers to sleepless nights, anxious scenario spinning, and peace-less days. A focus on the demands of the job, aspirations of perfection and hopes for greater accomplishments steal peace from our lives.  Where can we find peace among the demands? Who can give us peace?

Isaiah 26:12 reminds us that only God can establish peace for us. All other peace is fleeting. Further, all that we think we have accomplished, He has done for us. 

I have to remind myself that peace does not come with doing more, as much as we at the Crowell School of Business love a good sense of accomplishment. Peace comes with recognizing what God has done in us, through us, and for us. We are not alone in our leadership, our followership, and our work.  He is with us, and it is He who has accomplished “our accomplishments”.

So, as we complete my fifth year at the Crowell School of Business, and we build on past accomplishments, we rejoice at all that God has done for us.

Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.  Isaiah 26:12