“Let this job bring you to your knees,” I told my staff in August.

And that it has, over and over again. The stories that stuck, the stories that sparked conversation — those were the results of prayer, long hours and probably a few donuts. Journalism has the unique capability to push you past your limits.

A strong love for journalism didn’t keep me in the job of editor-in-chief for two years at a student-run newspaper. The thrill of seeing my name in print or telling a story on deadline wasn’t enough to keep me pressing on through never-ending work.

Don’t get me wrong. I love journalism more than most sane people. But that never motivated me.

No, my friends, I continued in this job because of you. I kept asking questions and telling stories and caring about the news because of the community here at Biola.

This community is uniquely capable of furthering conversations — this is true both in gossip and stories that matter. All one has to do is look at the backlash after the monopod incident to realize how fast word travels at Biola. Or, if we want to look way back — how about the Justin Bieber rumor? That was a classic. Of course, there are ways we’ve talked about the things that matter too.

As I leave, my challenge is for each of you to carefully evaluate what conversations you pursue here at Biola — and then to engage them carefully, prayerfully and thoughtfully. Important conversations have emerged on the meta level during my past four years at Biola. These are discussions that matter not only to Biola, but to the Christian world at large, as Biola helps pave the way.

The discussions include freedom of religion, issues of race, gender, equality, sexuality and far more. They matter deeply, and I hope that you will continue to integrate them into your day-to-day lives.

Deeply important conversations can and should be happening on a personal level too. I’ve been challenged to be vulnerable and open about how life really is with my friends — pushing past the shallow stuff that so easily consumes us. This is a unique time where you are surrounded by other Christian students who will walk alongside you.

In Scripture we are commanded to only speak when it builds up the body of Christ. I’ve spent my four years here trying to learn how to do that well, though I’ve often slid into shallow, snarky, selfish speech. Keep talking, Biola. Keep prayerfully wrestling with big ideas together. If you’re not going to do it now, you may never.

Seek out voices different than your own. Expect to have your mind changed by others. Learn to hold your convictions loosely while still standing firm.

This job has been richly rewarding. Not because of the awesome portfolio or the sweet title. No, I’ve been so rewarded by the way this community has come alongside me in these conversations and wrestled with these big ideas. I’m thrilled to leave the leadership of the newspaper to a team who will continue thinking through these things with you.

It’s been a joy, Biola. Keep talking.

Elizabeth Sallie,
Editor-in-Chief ‘11-‘13