Keep Hope Alive!
Dear Paine College Family,
Grace and peace to you in the name of the Risen Christ.
In this sacred season of Easter, we proclaim with confidence and conviction: He is not here; He is risen. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the ultimate testimony that hope is never defeated, that God’s redemptive power is always at work, and that new life can emerge even from the most difficult and uncertain circumstances.
This Easter, I am reminded of a simple yet profound charge: Keep Hope Alive. The Resurrection is God’s decisive declaration that despair does not have the final word. Hope lives. Hope rises. Hope endures.
At Paine College, this truth resonates deeply within our institutional identity. Our motto, “Truth, Rejoicing in Hope,” calls us to anchor ourselves in what is eternal and trustworthy, while choosing—deliberately and faithfully—to rejoice even amid challenge. Easter affirms that our rejoicing is not naïve; it is rooted in the living Christ who continues to transform lives and history.
Likewise, our commitment to “Preparation for Transformation” finds its fullest meaning in the Resurrection story. The risen Christ prepares His followers to go forth as agents of change, bearers of justice, and witnesses to a new way of being in the world. In that same spirit, Paine College prepares each of you not only for personal success, but for transformative impact in your communities and beyond.
So, in this season, I encourage you:
- Keep Hope Alive—even when the path forward is not yet clear.
- Stand in the Truth—that God is still at work in and through you.
- Rejoice in Hope—because resurrection power is real and present.
- Embrace your Preparation—knowing it is shaping you for transformation that extends far beyond yourself.
The story of Easter reminds us that what looked like an ending was, in fact, a beginning. As it is with us; No matter the challenges we face, we are a Resurrection people—called to rise, to rebuild, and to renew.
May the power of the Risen Christ strengthen your faith, renew your spirit, and sustain you in hope.
He is risen indeed!
Keep hope, faith, and love for PC alive,
Dr. Lester A. McCorn
Paine College
Paine College is a historically Black liberal arts institution located in Augusta, Georgia. Founded in 1882 through a partnership between the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Paine College is dedicated to providing a liberal arts education of the highest quality- emphasizing academic excellence, ethical and spiritual values, social responsibility, and personal development. For more information, visit Paine online.
