Being Light in Dark Places – A Message from the Chancellor

The importance of shaping hearts and culture from a biblical perspective.

Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” (NKJV). In those words, believers find both identity and calling. You and I are not merely to carry the light of Christ in our hearts (John 8:12); we are to be light in a world that desperately needs it.

Today, that charge has never been more critical. In Isaiah 42:6, we’re told the Lord calls us to righteousness, so we can be a light to the unsaved. But we live in a time when darkness dominates airwaves, streaming platforms, social media, and other areas of influence.

Voices that distort truth, glorify despair, and blur moral boundaries have found vast audiences. Entertainment that once uplifted now often tears down. Even children’s programming subtly reshapes how the next generation understands identity, purpose, and truth itself.

“You are the light of the world.”

Matthew 5:14 (NKJV)

This is not a time for the Church to retreat or remain silent. Just as a city on a hill cannot be hidden, neither can His people. We must step boldly into the spaces where culture and hearts are shaped.

At Regent University, we believe God has called us to a specific mission: to equip servant leaders who will create and shape media from a biblical worldview—not merely consume it. We are preparing students to be Kingdom influencers—journalists who report truth, screenwriters who craft redemptive stories, broadcasters who proclaim hope, and artists who point hearts toward Christ.

Regent University takes Christ’s command to be light in dark places seriously. We refuse to hide our light under a basket (Mark 4:21). Through the School of Communication & the Arts, we’re shining it boldly in newsrooms, film stages, television studios, theaters, classrooms, and other media venues worldwide.

Will you join us in raising up the next generation of Kingdom influencers? The darkness is real, but John reminds us, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5, ESV). Our mission continues with urgency, and His light will prevail.