Living connected

When I open the newspaper, I am horrified. I have the feeling that times are changing at breakneck speed: Existing, traditional values are not only being questioned, but seemingly abandoned without much inhibition. I would describe what people in the West, in Europe and also in Germany, are currently experiencing as the ‘dissolution of solidarity’. There is less and less that we share with each other – and perhaps this is leading to alienation. A willingness to help people in need, solidarity with the weak, the sick, the elderly, our neighbours, a sense of responsibility for the environment and the consequences of our economic activity at the expense of nature and others – all of this is dwindling, and now it's my turn.

A few months ago, I received a letter from the probate court. A sister had made a will in which she remembered her home congregation and Friedensau as well as some people who had accompanied her in her life. She always felt connected to Friedensau throughout her life, after she had been in Friedensau and met her husband here.

Creating connections, accompanying people at an important stage of their lives, training them well for their work, living and passing on Christian Adventist values - these are the tasks of the university. We want to enable people to be there for others. Giving senior citizens a home is just as much a part of Friedensau's profile as offering communities a good space to be strengthened, motivated and encouraged in their faith in camps, seminars and events. A good opportunity for this is the first ‘Friedensau Short Bible School’, which will take place here on campus at the end of May, the HopeCamp in the summer or the big alumni reunion in autumn 2026 here in Friedensau. Everything serves to strengthen connections with each other, with the church, with ourselves and with God. I believe that on a small scale, this can help to counteract the feeling that everyone is only thinking about themselves and everything is falling apart: we want to stay connected and express this bond. Jesus says in his high priestly prayer that this ‘being one’, this staying connected, is a reflection of God's love for all people (John 17:23).

In order to realise this in Friedensau, we also need financial resources to maintain the infrastructure. The university, the town and projects such as the new student hall of residence, investments in the energy and heating infrastructure, the planned expansion and renovation of our kindergarten and the expansion of nature education programmes at the campsite all serve this purpose.

I would like to thank everyone who expresses their connection to our common concerns and to Friedensau through intercession, donations or a gift in the event of death. We want to be there for each other and our neighbour. Thank you very much for all your support.

Tobias H. Koch, Chancellor

The following account details apply for payment by bank transfer:
Friedensauer Hochschulstiftung
SozialBank
IBAN: DE86 3702 0500 00014854 00
BIC: BFSW33XXX