NW Valley Times

Grand Canyon University President Brian Mueller continued his tradition of delivering the first Chapel talk of the semester on Monday at Global Credit Union Arena. He spoke about life's journey to discover one's identity and how unforeseen paths are part of a greater plan.

“Life is a process,” emphasized Mueller, projecting an optimistic outlook for the year ahead.

Reflecting on his tenure, Mueller said, “(This is) my 16th year at GCU, my 48th year in starting the school year, and I've never, ever felt this much excitement for what is going on as I have this year.”

Mueller discussed the Gospel of Mark, noting that "immediately" is frequently used to describe Jesus' actions in building His kingdom. He connected with students uncertain about their choices regarding majors, classes, or friendships by sharing the story of Jesus healing a blind man from Mark 8:22-30.

The narrative resonated personally with Mueller as he recounted a poignant moment with his mother before her passing. “I want you to know that I love you and that I'm ready," she told him. Her clarity about her faith left a lasting impression on him.

Addressing contemporary issues, Mueller mentioned a recent tragic incident involving a 14-year-old charged with murder. “How does a person get here?” he asked. “And how do we move forward and get more people over here (on the right side) than over here (on the wrong side)?”

Mueller shared his own unpredictable career path from teaching at Arizona State University to becoming GCU's president. “My career went in a totally different direction,” he said. “... If you want to give God a good laugh when you're 22 years old, tell Him what your plans are because He's got His own plans for you.”

At his mother's funeral service, Mueller reflected on her dedication to family and ministry. She would engage those attending her services alone and eventually discuss Jesus with them.

“We don't have nearly enough people to get the job done today,” Mueller stated. He proposed starting bivocational tracks for GCU students to address this shortage.

He shared an example of a former athlete who became a pastor after facing financial ruin during the 2008 recession. This individual now works for GCU and has started a Calvary chapel in Houston.

“We don't have enough people pastoring and ministering to those who need it,” said Mueller. The new bivocational program aims to fill these gaps by enabling students to pursue dual careers.

Mueller highlighted that many business majors also study Christian or biblical studies and can contribute valuable skills like marketing or technology management to churches.

“Paul made a living making tents, and he was still the greatest evangelist in the world,” noted Mueller.

Students interested in this track are invited to attend an informational meeting at 11 a.m., Oct. 11 in the Colangelo College of Business.

“It’s going to be the best year we’ve ever had, and let’s thank God for that,” concluded Mueller.

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