A MESSAGE FROM THE Chief Executive Officer

She was a student in the BIBL 101 course I was teaching online. She was struggling in the course, and we agreed to meet in a Zoom conference that evening. I logged on and waited for her to join ... and waited ... and waited a bit longer. When she popped up on my screen, it was clear that she was joining on her cell phone, in her car, with her toddler in the back seat. “I’m so sorry. I had to pick up my daughter. I realized I was late for this meeting and pulled off the side of the road. I didn’t want to miss our meeting.” Recognizing that the side of the road was not the ideal location for our conversation, I suggested that we meet later that evening once she arrived home. When we did connect, we covered the assignments she had submitted, those missing and the final work to be completed for the course. I could tell this was hard for her. She was quiet and stared down at her notepad. Overwhelmed, she began to cry.

At that moment, more than anything else, I wanted her to know that we believed in her and were committed to walking alongside her step by step, assignment by assignment. I wanted her to know that regardless of the obstacles to her learning and growth as a person in the past, we were here now for her and with her, and that is what makes ACU different.

During the 22 years I have served at ACU, I’ve seen this commitment to students play out over and over again. Whether in the Bean, in a classroom on campus or online, or in a Zoom room, we are fierce, relentless and tenacious about the work of pouring into students’ lives.

When a young professional baseball player says, “One of the reasons I got into ACU was I wanted to expand outside of baseball and find my identity,” we are advancing our mission. When a student completes their journey with us and writes, “I am just so grateful that the online program is offered for people like me ... that saw no possible way to make this happen. So, the journey that began 23 years ago, will be complete and I am forever grateful! My faith is stronger than ever because God made beauty from ashes. Mine is a story of redemption and unfailing love,” we are advancing our mission.

These are the stories we tell. These are the moments we celebrate. This year’s ACU Dallas Year in Review is an opportunity to do just that – and give thanks!

STEPHEN JOHNSON ( ‘90 ) , T h .D. Chief Executive Officer, ACU Dallas