It is a wonderful blessing to witness the power of God’s Hand at Providence Christian College. In five short years, God has taken our “kitchen table vision” of a thoroughly Reformed college on the West Coast, to the growing, exciting institution that “firmly grounds and fully engages” all of our students today. We have every hope and expectation that, by God’s grace, in May of 2009 we will celebrate with our very first graduating class here in Ontario! What a privilege! 

 

God has powerfully used our president, Jim Den Ouden, in turning vision to reality. We have been blessed by Jim’s wisdom and leadership through these early years of our college’s conception, birth, and operation. Jim has ensured a high quality educational experience for each of the students through the hiring of quality faculty and staff. He has also played a lead role in the fundraising efforts of the college, ensuring that all operating and capital expense needs are met according to our commitments. In a fast growing, constantly evolving endeavor like our college, this has been no simple task! We have seen God use Jim’s experience, talent, and efforts to do great things for the college all with the honor of Christ and His Kingdom as his motivation. We are so grateful to God for Jim, and Anne, and their tireless dedication to the vision, mission, and values of Providence Christian College. 

 

President Den Ouden has dedicated over 30 years to teaching and administration of schools in Southern California, and now, Jim and Anne are ready to take another step, this one into active retirement. It is their desire to spend more time together and withfamily. In February, Jim asked the executive committee to begin constructing a succession plan that would allow him to retire by July 1st of 2009. We board members respect Jim’s request and we know that God will continue to use Jim and Anne in whatever role He calls them to next, whether that is an advisory or part-time role at Providence or some other organization. 

 

We pray that God will continue to use the Den Oudens to bless Providence even as God provides a new leader to take us from our early, formative years, into the next phase of our development as a college. By July of 2009, we will, by God’s grace, have our provisional accreditation nearing completion, and will have graduated our first class! A search committee has already been formed and a succession plan is being developed. Therefore, we will be working diligently over the next 15 months to find a new president to lead Providence Christian College, so that by July of 2009, Jim and Anne may join the first graduating class of Providence, to go out from us, with our heartfelt thanks and appreciation, to move forward to their next stage of service. 

 

If you have any questions, or have thoughts or ideas about a good candidate for this position, please feel free to give me a call – I would appreciate the opportunity to talk with you. 

 

Sincerely

 

Pete Haringsma, President

Board of Directors