Called to Voyage: Reflecting on Luis Salazar’s Message
Luis Salaza, Graduate and Student Mentor, preaching at the second week of chapel
The theme “We Are Voyagers” is more than a slogan for Pacific Rim Christian University. It reflects who we are as students, staff, and faculty following Jesus together. In a recent message shared on the Pacific Rim Christian University YouTube channel, Luis Salazar unpacked what it means to live as a Voyager in this season.
His words landed with clarity and challenge: being a Voyager means embracing both calling and community as we move with God into the future. While Chaplain Garret Chang outlined the character of a Voyager in the first chapel, Luis Salazar’s message deepened that vision by focusing on identity, purpose, and the way we travel together as a crew.
What It Means to Be a Voyager
Luis Salazar’s message highlighted that a Voyager is not a lone traveler. In the Pacific tradition, voyagers moved as a crew, relying on one another’s gifts, wisdom, and courage. The same is true for us at PRCU.
Being a Voyager means:
Trusting God’s call: We believe God has placed each of us here for a reason.
Walking in community: We do not make this journey alone.
Growing through challenge: Rough seas and unexpected winds become part of our training.
Serving as we go: Our voyage is not just about personal success, but about blessing others.
This vision fits perfectly with PRCU’s mission to equip students who love God and serve the world.
Identity: Who We Are Before What We Do
A key thread in Luis Salazar’s talk was identity. Before we ask, “What should I do?” we need to ask, “Who am I in Christ?” Our identity as beloved children of God shapes every choice we make.
For college students, that question matters especially. It is easy to let grades, social media, or other people’s expectations define us. The Voyager mindset invites us to let God’s truth define us first.
From that secure identity, we can pursue our purpose with freedom:
Choosing majors and careers as responses to God’s call, not just paths to a paycheck.
Using our gifts to build up the body of Christ on campus.
Seeing setbacks not as proof of failure, but as part of the voyage God is using to shape us.
When we know who we are in Christ, we can voyage with confidence, even when the waters get rough.
Purpose: Sailing Toward God’s Calling
Luis Salazar also spoke about purpose. A Voyager does not drift aimlessly. A Voyager has a destination in mind, even if the exact coordinates are not yet clear. For PRCU students, purpose is tied to God’s calling over our lives.
That calling might look like:
Becoming a teacher who shapes the next generation with truth and love.
Serving as a nurse or healthcare worker who treats patients with dignity and compassion.
Leading in business, ministry, arts, or technology with integrity and gospel-centered values.
Raising a family that reflects God’s love to the next generation.
Purpose gives direction to our studies, our relationships, and our daily choices. It turns ordinary tasks into acts of worship when we do them for God’s glory.
Community as Our Crew
No voyager reaches the destination alone. Luis Salazar emphasized that our campus community functions like a ship's crew. We need one another to stay on course.
That looks like:
Showing up for chapel and campus events, not just when it is convenient.
Checking in on classmates who seem stressed or withdrawn.
Praying with and for one another before exams, presentations, and big decisions.
Serving together in ministries, outreach, and local churches.
When we function as a crew, we reflect God's heart to our campus and our islands. We become a living example of what it means to love one another as Christ loved us.
Trusting God in the Unknown
One of the most encouraging parts of Luis Salazar’s message was the call to trust God in the unknown. Many students feel pressure to have their entire future mapped out by graduation. But the Voyager journey reminds us that God often reveals the next step, not the entire route.
Trusting God in the unknown means:
Taking faithful steps even when you do not have all the answers.
Seeking God in prayer and Scripture before making big decisions.
Being open to detours that God might use to grow you or redirect you.
Believing that God’s plan is better than any plan we could design for ourselves.
This kind of trust does not eliminate uncertainty, but it fills it with peace. We can move forward knowing that the One who called us is faithful to complete what He started.
Stepping Into the Semester as Voyagers
As this semester unfolds, each of us can ask:
Where is God inviting me to trust Him more?
Who has God placed around me to walk with on this voyage?
How can I use my gifts to serve others at PRCU and beyond?
What habits of Scripture, prayer, and worship will keep me aligned with God’s direction?
These questions turn the Voyager theme from an idea into a daily practice.
Connecting the Two Messages
When we hold Chaplain Garret Chang’s first chapel message and Luis Salazar’s reflection together, a full picture of the Voyager emerges. We are Pioneers, Resilient, Persistent, Humble, Passionate, Joyful, and Faithful. We are also people of identity, purpose, and community, trusting God as we sail into the future.
These truths are not just for one chapel or one semester. They are for our entire time at PRCU and beyond. They shape how we study, serve, and live as followers of Jesus in a complex world.
A Prayer for Voyagers at Pacific Rim Christian University
Lord, thank You for calling us to voyage with You. Help us to know our identity in Christ and to walk in the purpose You have for us. Strengthen our community so that we function as a faithful crew, supporting one another on this journey. Make us Pioneers who claim new territory for Your Kingdom. Make us Resilient in every storm. Make us Persistent when the journey feels long. Make us Humble in our relationships. Make us Passionate in all we do. Fill us with Joy that trusts Your promises. And make us Faithful as we step into the unknown. Use PRCU to shape us into people who love You and serve others well. In Jesus’ name, amen.
