January 2026
Dear Rebecca,
Happy New Year from Wheaton College, and welcome to our quarterly Wavelength newsletter.
Below you will read about some of the ways Wheaton is maintaining its mission for Christ and His Kingdom, including a Chapel message from Graduate School Chaplain Greg Anderson, a focus on graduate student Catherine Kingston M.A. ’26, and a remembrance of the contributions of Wheaton Professor Daniel Treier, who sadly passed away in December.
We achieved much in 2025 in God’s service and look forward to many exciting events and accomplishments this year as we move faithfully forward for Christ and His Kingdom.
In Christ’s service,
Philip G. Ryken
President
Chapel Message on “Spiritual Presbyopia” by Graduate School Chaplain Greg Anderson
Wheaton students gather in Edman Chapel three times a week to live out our commitment to worship God through prayer and music. Graduate School Chaplain Greg gave an insightful Chapel message in September in which he explored 2 Corinthians 5:16-19. We encourage you to take a few rewarding minutes to view his message and to share in our campus fellowship.
Student Focus: Catherine Kingston M.A. ’26
We invite you to read this profile of graduate student Catherine Kingston M.A. ’26, who is a recipient of a Billy Graham Scholarship and is earning her degree in Outdoor & Adventure Leadership through the Wheaton College Graduate School. Her own experiences growing up drew her to work in youth ministry to help young people experience the freedom and joy she gained from her relationship with Jesus. This has included serving with Teens Aloud Foundation, a Christian fellowship in her home country, Ghana.
Dr. Dan Treier
We are deeply saddened to share that Wheaton has lost a truly special educator and scholar. Dr. Daniel Treier, who served with distinction as the Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Theology and as Director of Wheaton’s Ph.D. Program in Biblical and Theological Studies, passed away in December from metastatic lung cancer.
A beloved professor, renowned scholar, and generous mentor, Dr. Treier was a prolific author and editor of reference works, including Introducing Theological Interpretation of Scripture (Baker Academic, 2008), Proverbs & Ecclesiastes (Brazos, 2011), Theology and the Mirror of Scripture (IVP Academic, 2015), Lord Jesus Christ (Zondervan, 2023) and several more. At the time of his passing, he was working on a project exploring the theology of technology and its effect on humanity.
Dr. Treier leaves a remarkable legacy of excellent Ph.D. students, both past and present, for whom he was a devoted spiritual and theological mentor. Our prayerful hearts are with Dr. Treier’s wife, Wheaton Political Science Professor Dr. Amy Black, and their daughter, Anna. You can learn more about his many contributions as a scholar and a Christian here.
“Talking with the President” Podcast
We are pleased to share a new “Talking with the President” audio podcast from our Cabinet Conversations series. This quarter we feature President Philip Ryken and Paul Chelsen, Vice President of Student Development. Please listen in as Drs. Ryken and Chelsen answer important questions on student formation, spiritual life on campus, and Wheaton’s theological commitments.
Summer Music Camp
Hosted by Wheaton’s Conservatory of Music, the 2026 Wheaton College Summer Music Camp, June 14–27, invites high school musicians, from rising freshmen to recent graduates, to a dynamic two-week residential experience that blends Christian faith with musical excellence. Students receive focused training through private lessons, chamber groups, and ensemble experiences, while taking part in daily worship, devotionals, and small group engagement. Participants also explore Chicago’s vibrant arts scene and perform in a gala concert. Learn more here.
Wheaton Football
Congratulations to Wheaton Thunder Football for making it to the NCAA Division 3 quarter-finals. Please read about how Wheaton Football placed three players on the 2025 Division 3 Associated Press All-America Team and five players on the D3football.com All-America Team.
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HoneyRock’s 75th Anniversary: Celebrating our Past & Forging our Future
2026 marks HoneyRock’s 75th anniversary. We will celebrate 75 years of God’s faithfulness in sacred spaces, authentic community, wholistic engagement, and spiritual rhythms. In this place apart, generations have been shaped through transformational experiences and formed into whole and effective people. This legacy lives on through students, campers, parents, alumni, and donors, grounded in Psalm 78: “We will tell the next generation… so the next generation might know.”
HoneyRock will share specific dates and event details in the coming months. You can help celebrate “Generations Alive in Christ” all year long by subscribing to the Northern Light Newsletter and staying connected to all anniversary updates, stories, and event invitations.
Faithfully Forward: An Evening of Music & Mission
This year, Wheaton will travel to five cities around the country, sharing the vision of Wheaton’s next chapter through the Faithfully Forward campaign. These family-friendly events will feature live worship performances by acclaimed Christian artists, along with food, fun, and the chance to reconnect with Wheaton friends. Learn more about these upcoming events.
Save the date! Registration will open soon.
March 7, 2026 – Minneapolis, MN, featuring Big Daddy Weave
March 14, 2026 – Denver, CO, featuring Aodhán King
April 18, 2026 – Atlanta, GA, featuring Rend Collective
September 26, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA (Artist TBD)
October 24, 2026 – Washington, D.C., featuring Steven Curtis Chapman