News
An Easter Message from President Porterfield
Dear Roberts and Northeastern Campus Community,
He has given us new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead….1 Peter 1:3
What an amazing gift we’ve had with this year’s early arrival of spring! I am so thankful to be enjoying more time outside without my coat on!
The Spring season is truly astonishing - especially this year. The winter and the pandemic have been difficult and heavy, so spring feels like an entirely new day, the start of a new year.
This past week I was in the garden helping our daughter and son-in-law clean out the old and making way for the new, seeing first-hand the deep change that takes place each Spring. The change to longer daylight hours, the bright flowers and leaves pushing open, the warm sunshine on our face - these seem different than just a natural progression; more like a miraculous breakthrough that transforms the world with new and different energy, a fresh breath of clean air, and a rebirth.
The season also is a vivid reminder of the breakthrough events of our Christian faith - the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His self-giving sacrifice on the cross when he died for our sins was the utmost act of love. But his death was not the end. On the third day, when the sun rose, when all earth and heaven rejoiced, a new day began. That was the ultimate pivot - from darkness to light, from defeat to victory, from death to life.
Even as the beauty and the new life of the spring season rejuvenate me with joy and give me a renewed sense of purpose in our work at Roberts and Northeastern, I am aware that this is just a fraction of the power of the resurrection hope - the living hope - we have as children of the Living Lord. Because he lives, we also can live in him. There is no darkness, no heaviness or weariness, no sadness that can compare to that life. All things are made new. All things are possible.
As we reflect and celebrate the weeks before and after Easter Sunday, my hope is that you will experience both the awakening of spring and the true hope and peace of a risen Savior.
With Prayer and Optimism,
President Deana L. Porterfield