"It's like déjà vu all over again" is a famous, intentionally redundant catchphrase attributed to New York Yankees legend Yogi Berra. It describes a situation where an event feels like a repeat of something you've experienced before.

God often works in our lives this way. In our earlier years, God gives us skills, experiences, relationships, and insights that we only later recognize as preparation for something God knew would cross our path again.

BGU is experiencing a bit of déjà vu all over again. What's new is different, but it fits themes God confirmed from the very beginning as part of what He called BGU to do.

Ethiopia

One of BGU's founders was Jember Teffera, who gave BGU its foundational values for incarnational urban ministry. She was the grandniece of Ethiopia's last emperor, Haile Selassie, who traced his lineage and Jewish/Christian heritage to the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Selassie was overthrown and killed in a 1974 coup d'état. Jember's husband was the mayor of Addis Ababa at the time, and both were imprisoned for more than five years. Despite the harsh conditions, Jember established a clinic and school for fellow inmates and prison guards. After her release, she built one of the most vibrant urban ministries in East Africa, improving housing, health, education, and employment for more than 50,000 people in the slums of Addis Ababa. Her life, counsel, and leadership shaped BGU's vision and values. Flowing from her influence, the head of the Addis Ababa city council became a BGU student and, as part of his dissertation, conducted seminars for more than 4,000 city government workers using content he learned at BGU.

Twenty years later, BGU's current academic dean lives in Addis Ababa. Last month, BGU led an urban immersion there, and without anyone knowing the full story of Jember, doors opened far beyond what anyone expected. Ethiopia is becoming an important hub for BGU to train leaders throughout East Africa. God planted seeds. They were quiet for a season. Now they are flowering.

Mandarin

In the first decade of this century, BGU received unusual favor and access in mainland China. BGU was the first university outside China to grant a theology doctorate to a provincial leader of the China Christian Council, with all training completed in-country. BGU also conducted seminars for Chinese government leaders on human dignity economics and how to build a nonprofit sector. BGU trained church and business leaders across the nation. Eventually, those doors closed.

Yet recently — and without knowledge of that history — new leaders in BGU's business school have seen new doors open to develop business programs in Mandarin. In July, BGU will launch its first EMBA Mandarin cohort equipping emerging Asian leaders with a transformational, faith-rooted approach to business. While these programs will be conducted in Asia outside of China, the relationships and business connections formed will extend their reach into the nation.

Workplace

BGU's mission and history are deeply connected to those called to steward God's purposes through business and other workplaces. As global business, technology, and economics face tectonic shifts, new leaders at BGU are finding fresh ways to equip workplace leaders that BGU's founders could not have imagined.

These are just three examples among several of déjà vu all over again at BGU. It is inspiring to see enduring themes expressed in innovative ways by a new generation of younger leaders across every part of BGU.

For more than 20 years, BGU has remained true to its biblical heritage, vision, and values. As BGU's fiscal year closes on June 30, would you prayerfully consider a gift at https://bgu.edu/giving? God is very much at work — in BGU's past, in its present, and we trust He will remain faithful to what He has called us to steward into the future.

Dr. Brad Smith

Chancellor

Bakke Graduate University