A Visit from a Pepperdine University Dean
Dr. Charles Hall, Dean of International Studies at Pepperdine University (California, USA), visited our campus from January 15-18.
Meetings took place with both the leaders and students of SPbCU, which allowed him to get to know us. This was his first visit to Russia and he indicated that he was pleasantly surprised by the hospitality and cordiality here.
During his time in St Petersburg, Dr. Hall saw a play at the Marinskii Theater and visited the State Hermitage Museum, the Church on the Spilt Blood, Dostoevsky Museum, and other notable places in the city.
In a general university meeting on January 16th, Dr. Hall spoke about the necessity of "crossing boundaries." For him, this trip to Russia was both figuratively and concretely such a crossing of boundaries: visible, physical ones and invisible, internally hidden but spiritually and psychologically perceptible ones.
He spoke about Jesus' example in his meeting with a Samaritan woman at a well. Jesus quickly crossed several borders by speaking with a woman whose sex, ethnic background and moral qualities rendered her a persona non grata in his society. But the Lord doesn't recognize such boundaries; he saw her in an absolutely different light.
The motto of Pepperdine University's International Program is "Crossing Boundaries - Changing Lives," following Jesus' example. For this reason in every way possible the university encourages student trips to countries far from America so that they can become acquainted with other cultures and other religious traditions. This enables them to learn how to establish dialogs with ordinary people, to be open to everyone while maintaining their own Christianity.
At the present time, Pepperdine University has programs in China, Venezuela, Argentina, Switzerland, Spain and Germany. Students also travel to Tanzania and other countries of Africa. Possibly, with God's help, they will one day come to Russia.
Dr. Hall called the students to not be afraid to risk, to make mistakes so as to gain experience from such difficulties; this will help them to understand and appreciate life. He called them to give themselves to one another and to not regret time spent to gain self-understanding and to intelligently evaluate their path in life.
It is on
these principles that Pepperdine tries to build both a spiritual and temporal
education.
Dr. Hall told about his sunny Malibu and about the beauty of the Pepperdine campus, inviting all to come for a visit. He described a little of his own Christian ministry path, including his work as a Youth Pastor and a general Pastor.
In addition, he gave some details about the programs at Pepperdine and that university's history. He closed the meeting with the prayer of St. Francis of Assissi.
Following this meeting, he was invited to the cafeteria for lunch which included real Russian Borsch (beet soup).
After that, working conversations continued with SPbCU officials concerning the possibility of future joint activities between Pepperdine and SPbCU. The main topic discussed was a hope for the organization of a 2-month program for Pepperdine students in the summer of 2010. We will pray that this joint venture will develop well with God's help.