Dear Eastern Community,
This Independence Day, I am reminded of the profoundness of freedom and the significance that this day represents.
In the words of Ephesians 3:12, "In Christ and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." This Scripture encapsulates the essence of our faith and the liberty it affords us. It serves as a reminder that our pursuit of knowledge and truth is deeply intertwined with the spiritual freedom found in our relationship with God.
The Fourth of July holiday celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress, an important moment in our country’s journey toward liberty. The declaration took great courage, costing many of our founding fathers and mothers their property, children, and lives. These ideals of freedom and liberty laid the groundwork for many subsequent leaders to build upon, as future Americans advanced the concept and justice of liberty through the fight to end slavery, advance civil rights, expand the right to vote, and many other important victories over the years.
As we celebrate the courage of those who came before us, I encourage us to reflect on these values of liberty and continue to work toward making them a reality in places in our world where they are not yet. At Eastern, we are called to embrace our missional core values of faith, reason, and justice. Let us also reflect on our responsibilities as stewards of these liberties and move forward with conviction in what we believe as individuals and as a community.
This Fourth of July, I encourage you to give thanks for the blessings of freedom in our lives as we continue to work towards a nation and world where these values are upheld for all.
Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous and blessed Fourth of July.
Gratefully,
Ronald A. Matthews, D.M.A.
President & CEO