A Note from
PRESIDENT TIMOTHY BROWN
A few months ago in this column you were looking at my bald head, shaved in solidarity with my faculty colleague, Dr. J. Todd Billings, who had undergone five rounds of chemotherapy and was facing a stem cell transplant and months of quarantine—all in a massive effort to push his blood cancer into remission. Sixteen of us here at the seminary shaved our heads in February as a visual cue to any who saw us to pray for the healing of Todd Billings. And pray we did! On April 17, the doctors allowed Todd to come out of quarantine for one evening to be installed as our first Gordon H. Girod Research Professor of Reformed Theology.
Our gracious God gave Todd a burst of energy, and he delivered his thoughtprovoking inaugural address with vigor and enthusiasm. In mid-May, we received wonderful news. After taking many tests to evaluate the success of the stem cell transplant, Todd’s doctor told him he is in a “fantastic remission,” a complete remission from his cancer. O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works. (Ps. 105:1-2)
June 2013, Vol. 16, No. 3 Editor and Graphic Designer: Carla Plumert Capotosto Editorial Council: Dr. Timothy Brown, Dr. Dawn Boelkins, Rev. Jeff Munroe, Dana Daniels. The Commons is published three times a year for alumni/ae and friends of Western Theological Seminary by the Office of Advancement and Communications, Jeff Munroe, vice president, 101 E. 13th Street, Holland, MI 49423. 616-392-8555; fax 616-392-7717. Reproduction in whole or in part by permission only. advancement@westernsem.edu
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