Invitation to Renewal

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. – Isaiah 55:12

As we walk into the season of spring, we are surrounded by signs of new life: blossoms pushing through the soil, birds returning with song, and a soft breeze that reminds us that the cold and quiet of winter has passed. Spring, like Easter, is a sacred invitation to renewal—a divine reminder that death is never the end of the story. In Christ’s resurrection, we are offered hope that life will always rise again.

This season calls us to reflect on what is blooming in us. What parts of our purpose are coming into focus? What burdens are we being invited to lay down so that new service and leadership may emerge?

At Pepperdine GSEP, we are more than just a community of scholars and professionals—we are a family grounded in faith, united by our calling to lead with integrity, to serve with humility, and to live with purpose. We are rooted in belonging. And as spring reminds us, true belonging is not passive; it is ever-growing. It is nurtured through kindness, cultivated in shared mission, and made visible when we choose to see the divine potential in one another.

In this season of resurrection and new beginnings, may we open our hearts wide to God’s transforming grace. May we lead not only with our minds but also with our spirits. And may we remember that in God’s garden, there is space for every soul to grow, to rise, and to bloom.

Let us carry this truth with us into every classroom, every meeting, every act of service—that we are never alone. We belong to one another. We belong to a mission greater than ourselves. And we belong, always, in the tender and renewing love of Christ.

About The Author

Lina Safa, EdD '24

GSEP Research and Grand Manager