Many lifetimes ago, the people of God came to a long-anticipated threshold in their lives. The land of slavery lay behind them and an entire generation, including their great leader, Moses, had fallen silent along the way. As they stood ready to enter the land of promise, the never-before-seen longing of their hearts was about to become reality. We read the story in Joshua 4. The doorway that opens for them to enter their new home was the same doorway that opened the way for their escape from death and slavery. Leading with the voice of praise and the feet of worship, the people move forward, the water parting before them exposing a pathway of dry ground. As the triumphant processional comes to an end, but before the watery door closes behind them, God's people pause to look back at the path that had brought them to this new place. They stop not only to remember, but to do something that will help them continue to remember in the years to come. They erect a pile of stones as a memorial. They expect to revisit this memorial again and again, generation after generation. Years from now, little children will ask, "What do these stones mean?"

We at Chesterton House are pleased to announce the arrival of our own long-anticipated threshold: As of August 1, 2005, Karl Johnson is the first full-time Director of the Chesterton House ministry. As with all such transitions, it is an occasion to look back at God's faithfulness, and to look forward with anticipation and trust that where he guides he also provides.

We look back over 5 short years and say, "Look what God has done." Chesterton House has partnered with all the evangelical campus fellowships by providing speakers and movie nights for their weekly fellowship meetings; with the Graduate Christian Fellowship by co-sponsoring their roundtable series, the attendance at which doubled this past year; and with Bethel Grove Bible Church by co-sponsoring the annual Institute of Biblical Studies, the attendance at which has also increased dramatically by moving the Friday night lecture onto campus. We have drawn crowds of 400 to 500 members of the Cornell community for lectures by theologians D.A. Carson and John Polkinghorne, and engaged students in the more intimate settings of reading groups and one-on-one mentoring relationships. Chesterton House has been well received by the university community as a whole, as evidenced by encouragement and support we have received not only from Cornell United Religious Work (CURW), but also from academic deans and President Emeritus Frank Rhodes. Most importantly, we have had the privilege of making a difference in students' lives. As one graduating student wrote to us, "The only reason my faith survived my college years was because of my experiences with Chesterton House."

We look forward and see tremendous opportunities. Presently, there is only one undergraduate and one graduate campus minister representing any of the national evangelical campus ministry organizations serving Cornell's 20,000 students. Surely it is no coincidence that God is raising up Chesterton House "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14) to become a voice for Christ within the Academy. In addition to continuing our regular seminars, lectures, and movie night discussions, new plans for the coming year include partnering with Christian faculty to provide a speakers bureau for campus fellowships, reading groups in faculty member homes, and working toward offering courses in theology accredited by a Christian college or seminary--a strategic long-term goal that is central to our vision.

On behalf of the Board, I wish to express to Karl heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for his vision and his willingness to step into this role. Not very long ago Karl could be found sitting with friends chatting bright-eyed, wistful about a Christian study center at Cornell, his alma mater, that would challenge students to think earnestly about the application of the Christian faith to every area of life. Today, by God's great grace and by your prayerful support, the vision is a reality. No provision of God is more significant than that of Karl himself as a gifted servant-leader who is guided by the wisdom of God's Word and a Spirit-directed insight into the world.

Looking back, we remember God's faithfulness and draw the strength to move forward by faith. Looking forward, we invite you to walk with us through the door that the Lord our God has thrown open for us. Pray with us and for us, especially for Karl as he shoulders his new responsibilities. In addition to maintaining a resource room at the Crossroads Life Center in Collegetown, Karl is in the process of settling into a new office on north campus graciously provided by Christian Union, meeting with students and faculty members, and becoming a university chaplain. With the board's strong encouragement, he will continue to write his Ph.D. dissertation and will also be meeting with individuals and foundations to generate additional financial support. Given that we have moved beyond the days of volunteer personnel, the ministry's financial needs are greater than ever. We invite you to pray for Karl's fundraising efforts, and also to prayerfully consider including Chesterton House as part of your regular charitable giving. The $100,000 matching grant is an incredible opportunity to multiply your giving to Chesterton House.

Perhaps, not too many years from now, little David Johnson, Karl and Julie's youngest child who will not remember today's crossing, will ask of God's calling upon his father's life, "What does this mean?" Karl and Julie, the board, each one of us will be able to give the ancient answer of those before us who have paused to remember God's faithfulness: "The Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever." (Joshua 4:23-24)

On Friday, September 16th, 7:30pm, Myers will give a keynote address entitled "The Church and the Arts" at Cornell University's Moakley House on Warren Rd. This event is sponsored by Chesterton House, and is being held in conjunction with the fall meeting of the NYS Presbytery. There will be a dinner prior to the talk beginning at 6:00 pm. Those interested in attending the dinner should call the New Life Presbyterian Church office at 607-277-8398 to make reservations by September 9th (cost is $20 at the door). After dinner, we will enjoy a short performance by the Hanshaw Trio. At 7:30 pm, Myers will provide a keynote address followed by a panel discussion. The 7:30pm keynote address is free and open to the public, and no reservations are required for those attending only the keynote.

Myers is Executive Producer of Mars Hill Audio, publisher of a bi-monthly audio magazine and other audio resources designed "to assist Christians who desire to move from thoughtless consumption of modern culture to a vantage point of thoughtful engagement." Myers is the author of All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes, and previously served for eight years as arts and humanities editor for National Public Radio's Morning Edition and All Things Considered.