Torah Scroll donated to SWU
Ken and Barbara Hess Larson, center, donated an 18th Century Torah scroll to SWU recently. With the Larsons are Rev. Mark Wilson, left, assistant professor for discipleship, multiplication and renewal; and Dr. Todd Voss, SWU president.
Ken and Barbara Hess Larson donated several 18th Century Torah scrolls to Kingswood University, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Southern Wesleyan University and God’s Bible College. Each college’s president was at the presentation, along with a faculty member to receive a handwritten scroll containing the first five books of the Old Testament that survived for three centuries or more.
“It is a lesson of the protection of God’s Word, and the 100 percent accuracy of what we are reading today as His truth,” said Dr. Todd Voss, president of Southern Wesleyan University. Rev. Mark Wilson, professor of Religion at Southern Wesleyan, said the scroll “provides wonderful opportunities for our students to grow in the knowledge of the biblical text and its transmission, as well as to deepen their appreciation of the Holy Scriptures.”
Kingswood University President Dr. Steven Lennox said the scroll “provides wonderful opportunities for our students to grow in their knowledge of the biblical text and its transmission, but also to deepen their appreciation of the Holy Scriptures. We are very grateful to the Larson's for providing this precious gift."
“For us, the fact that OKWU’s mission statement commits us to the inerrancy of scripture is important,” said Oklahoma Wesleyan University President Dr. Everett Piper. “It allows us to use scroll as an important teaching tool to corroborate and affirm that inerrancy.”
Faculty members at God’s Bible College were thrilled to see such an old scroll from Yemen, according to Dr. Allan P. Brown, chair, ministerial education.
“We are also planning a public dedication of the Scroll, inviting our Jewish neighbors in the community to participate,” Brown said.
The Larsons founded God’s Ancient Library, a collection of rare Torah scrolls from around the world. These “pasul” (no longer kosher) manuscripts, handwritten by scribes from the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and India, have been preserved and protected for more than 300 years and are being shared by academic institutions with people around the world.
Ken, who is founder of Slumberland Furniture, a leading furniture retailer, is passionate about Christian ministry and giving back to the community. Barbara has led Bible studies for four decades, led women’s ministries and has traveled to Haiti seven times with “Healing Haiti.” She grew up in a predominantly Jewish community in Chicago, where she developed a love for Jewish culture and people at a young age.
Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused, faith-filled community that offers inventive learning experiences. The university endeavors to prepare its students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ. At the same time, it’s Southern Wesleyan’s desire to practice contagious generosity within the surrounding community. For details about degree programs, go online to swu.edu.
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