THE SPEECH

Good morning, Dr. Cook, esteemed faculty, and my fellow students. As we share a glimpse of the vision we have for Biola, please realize that this is not the full picture, but the condensed version edited for the sake of time.

We would like each and every one of you to RECAPTURE with us. As our vision reads, we hope to RECAPTURE among the Biola student body the vision of being a forward-thinking global center for Christian thought and action. In other words, we want each one of you to join us in our pursuit of making a lasting impact in our culture. We want to RECAPTURE what our culture has told us is impossible – all for the sake of bringing the truth of the gospel to the center of local and global attention. Each one of you is integral in this process.

The vision of RECAPTURE has been around in various forms since last summer, as we were neighbors in summer housing. Last fall, in conversations with our peers, our residents, and with each other, the vision began to come into focus. One day I came to my good friend Bradley with the idea to run, knowing that he and I were committed to leading others to impacting the world for Christ. A long conversation at Denny’s, followed by much prayer and council, has led us to this point. I’d like to invite my friend, my brother, and my running mate, Bradley Clarke.



Thank you, Alex. I’d like to reiterate that the vision of RECAPTURE is truly the lifeblood of this campaign. Everything that we propose springs from a desire to have maximum impact for the cause of Christ.

As RAs this last year, Alex and I served in the trenches, living both the good and the unfavorable moments with our residents, listening to their concerns and sympathizing with their struggles. One of the major issues that we believe must be addressed is the contract. If our residents are to live by this document, it cannot be a 56-page burden. We would collaborate with Residence Life and the University to simplify the contract, advocating the creation of a one page document which would highlight all the factors that make Biola distinct and inspire residents to take ownership of their choice to submit to Biola’s standards.

Communication is a central issue for every candidate this cycle, and rightly so, as it is one of the three main items in the AS President’s job description. Our plan is simple and straightforward: Alex and I will have weekly podcasts, internet radio broadcasts which detail everything from highlights of the Senate to our collaboration with the new administration. We will create the Associated Students Public Access Network, making the complete and entire goings on of each and every meeting public for all of Biola to observe. We will create online interactive polls in which students can directly voice their opinion to their senators and to us. We will maintain our blog that we already operate with the most current of information. All of these will be assembled in one website, easily accessible by each and every student at Biola, therefore bringing AS communication fully into the 21st century and empowering students by allowing the free flow of information. In short, the student body will know what AS is doing.

RECAPTURE is about putting the learning each student has acquired at Biola into practice, empowering students to impact their world directly for the cause of Christ. To that end we have a two-step plan: Through AS we will hold forums to increase unity among the different vocations represented here, locking arms in ministry, learning from each other in how to reach our culture and becoming a generation that rises up to the challenges which lie ahead. Alex and I will work with clubs and organizations on campus such as SMU to provide students with opportunities for vocational mission.

RECAPTURE is an enormous vision—this is very intentional. The church has long suffered a lack of vision that has led us to our current place of fragmentation and cultural irrelevancy. Alex and I are aware that the fullness of RECAPTURE may not be realized in one year. We are, however, capitalizing on our unique position at the centennial of the University and the simultaneous change of administration to lay the groundwork for a paradigm shift that will alter the global landscape in years to come. At the same time, we will lead the Associated Students organization toward greater collaboration between all of its services, clubs and organizations on campus. We have just explained our specific goals to increase communication at Biola. We will voice the concerns of students to the administration over services, facilities, and overall quality of education immediately as soon as we take office.

When I transferred here, I was aware that every student, including myself, was being prepared to change the world for the cause of Christ. However, I do not find myself alone in saying that through years in the classroom I had lost some of that passion I had when I arrived. Alex and I both thoroughly and truly believe that we must RECAPTURE the vision to be a forward-thinking, global center for Christian thought and action if Biola is to continue to exist for any reason other than self-sustention.

Therefore, I humbly ask you to join with Alex and I by supporting RECAPTURE as you go to the polls today. Thank you for your time and may God increase Biola and each one of you through this election process and in the coming year.