Identity statement
Messiah University is a Christian university of the liberal and applied arts and sciences. The University is committed to an embracing evangelical spirit rooted in the Anabaptist, Pietist and Wesleyan traditions of the Christian Church.
Mission statement
Our mission is to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in church and society.
Motivated by a common mission
The opening commitment of our mission statement―to develop students’ “maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith”―reflects the integration of our community’s shared faith into every aspect of the Messiah University experience. This holistic educational model was the bold vision of our founder S. R. Smith more than 100 years ago and remains a cornerstone of our identity.
The other core components of Messiah’s mission—service, leadership and reconciliation—are also firmly rooted in the context of our Christian faith. We don’t just serve because it’s the “right thing to do”; we serve because God calls us to open our hearts to the poor and needy and to work for justice wherever injustice prevails. We learn to lead believing that Jesus is our ultimate example of leading with compassion, respect and love. And, because of our faith, we are compelled to build bridges of understanding and peace to demonstrate the reconciling love of God to others.