Letters to the Editor

The recent issue of Response magazine [Winter 2009] prompted me to contact you. What a provocative and thoughtful issue that was. The work SPU is doing on reconciliation is relevant, fresh, and forward-thinking — exactly what our world needs, just what we hope for from higher education, and exactly what faith-based institutions of higher learning are uniquely positioned to provide. How inspiring to see the way SPU is taking the lead in making the gospel relevant today.

DeLona Lang Bell
Board Member, Independent Colleges of Washington;
President, CMBell Company Inc.,
College Place, Washington

John Perkins spoke at a chapel when I was at SPU in the late 1970s, so I enjoyed the whole winter Response theme. It made me think about what I am doing for the “cause” of reconciliation in my little hometown and in the world.

Karla Todd Phillips ’78
Brewster, Washington

I want to thank you for such a rich and global perspective on reconciliation. To have further resources as cited in the various articles is extremely helpful for incorporating this into our teaching, scholarship, and lives.

Karen Strand Winslow
Director of the Free Methodist Center,
Azusa Pacific University,
Azusa, California

Your latest issue of Response on reconciliation is excellent. … Thank you so much for all you are doing to shape a Christ-centered world view of peace and reconciliation.

Mark VanSkiver
Boise, Idaho

I want to compliment you and your staff on what I believe is the finest single edition of the journal I have seen in my time as an SPU faculty member. It was not only substantive, but created a very exciting portrayal of the theme of reconciliation and all we are about at SPU.

Kathleen Braden
Professor of Geography, Seattle Pacific
University

A Grace-Filled Life

“Let Justice Roll Down Some More” [Response, Winter 2009] was a fantastic article regarding John Perkins’ journey of being refined by the fire of God to become the disciple he is called to be and to share the good news. Without a doubt, God has a way of showing each individual what the power of forgiveness and love can do. Wonderful!

I would certainly like a copy of his book [Let Justice Roll Down]. This would be a great book for my family to read and discuss. Thank you!

Jackie Castro LeSage ’87
Puyallup, Washington

Thank you for sending me the complimentary copy of John Perkins’ autobiography, Let Justice Roll Down. I am reading it with great fascination about his amazing, and grace-filled, life! As I reflect on my own life, to date, I find myself thinking about the principles of justice and reconciliation often. In my profession, real estate, I am often faced with having to make moral judgments. Being a committed Christian, it’s always a matter of deciding to go in the direction God wants me to go in, regardless of what I think the easiest, and sometimes more selfish, route would be …

I look forward to allowing Let Justice Roll Down to change me in profound ways.

Elly Cyr Parent of Current Student,
Arlington, Washington

After reading the book Let Justice Roll Down, I cried inwardly because of the injustice, and because of the grace so operative in John Perkins’ life, the grace of God. Thank you so much for this book. Having read it once, I must return to the powerful, reconciling words again. Some of the most gripping sentences are on page 158: “They were like savages — like some horror out of the night. And I can’t forget their faces, so twisted with hate. … When I saw what hate had done to them, I couldn’t hate back. I could only pity them. I didn’t ever want hate to do to me what it had already done to those men.”

John Perkins, in varied situations, was an example of God’s grace, and also enabled people in various organizations he founded to be examples of the same grace. Thank you for Response. It speaks to issues in our time.

Floyd L. Cooper
University Park, Iowa

Thank you for your offer of a free copy of Let Justice Roll Down. My mother, Leona Ward ’42, is a 93-year-old resident of Evergreen Nursing and Rehab Center here in Olympia and is an avid reader. She and my father, Russell Ward ’42, both attended SPU, as did I. Mom devours Response as soon as it arrives and always looks forward to seeing what books you talk about.

SPU’s outreach to the community is priceless, and we keep that ministry in our daily prayers. Thank you for your faithfulness.

Alleyne Ward Bruch ’67
Olympia, Washington

I really enjoy the Response magazine so much! I especially enjoyed the article on John Perkins, “Let Justice Roll Down Some More.” When our son was at SPU, he had the opportunity to work at Mendenhall Ministries [founded by John Perkins] in Mississippi for a short-term mission trip, and it was a real eye-opener for him. It is a remarkable ministry. I would appreciate a copy of this book to read along with SPU. Thank you!

Millie Rhoadarmer
Moses Lake, Washington

Oops!

I appreciated reading Eugene Peterson’s contribution on “The Question of Unity” in the Winter 2009 Response, where he was listed as a member of the class of ’48. I know that the Great Class of 1948 would be proud to have had Gene as a member of their class. However, if you re-examine the records, I think you’ll find that he was actually a member of the class of 1954. During that year, he was also ASSPC president, a regular contributor to The Falcon, a member of the Falcon mile relay team that placed second nationally, and was named to Who’s Who.

We remember him as an outstanding, exemplary Christian, leader, athlete, scholar and friend — but not a member of the Class of ’48.

Bill Hart ’56
Vashon, Washington

Editor’s note: Bill Hart is absolutely right, and we apologize to Eugene Peterson and to our readers. Not only did we mistakenly identify Peterson’s graduation year as 1948, but in the process we also “added six years to his life,” as he good-naturedly told one of our staff members.

Interesting for Anyone

Response continues to be an excellent expression of “engaging the culture, changing the world.” And I would add that each new edition competes with my New York Review of Books or Billy Collins’ latest book of poetry in my eagerness to read it.

Hal Mischke CC ’60
Gig Harbor, Washington

My wife and I recently received our copy of Response magazine. It was a delight to get because it’s interesting to read stories from our favorite school. Our daughter was a freshman this past year, and we thank God she chose SPU because we are pleased at the direction the school offers her.

An individual can make a difference in the world. This belief must be heard continually, or we will feel overwhelmed. This belief and the power of Jesus Christ can overcome the challenges we face today. We are confident that the administration and faculty of SPU will inspire the hearts and minds of our children in this direction.

Mike and Vicki Resendez
Parent of Current Student
Mission Viejo, California

As an SPU alum living away from the Northwest, I can’t tell you how important it is to receive Response. It is a truly wonderful publication and an incredible way to spread the mission and vision of Seattle Pacific. SPU is a one-of-a-kind community, and I’m always inspired by what my peers are accomplishing around the world. As cheesy as it might sometimes seem to the students, the SPU community is truly engaging the culture and changing the world.

Kendra Thompson-Dyck ’06
Tucson, Arizona

We just received the latest edition of Response in the mail. It is consistently a thoughtful and engaging publication. You and the SPU community should be rightly pleased with the magazine. It is a reminder for us as to why we are so grateful that our daughter is at SPU.

Kyle Royer
Parent of Current Student, Vice President of Finance and Administration,
Council for Christian Colleges and Universities,
Washington, D.C.

Thank you for regularly sending me a copy of the SPU magazine, Response. I get a lot of those kinds of publications, and I actually look at a few of them. Response stands out among them as one of the best. It is hip, urban, intellectual, concerned, ethical. It certainly gets the job done as an alumni magazine, but it’s the kind of item that stands on its own as truly interesting for anyone. Kudos for producing a truly worthy organ for a great institution.

Joseph L. Castleberry
President, Northwest University,
Kirkland, Washington