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The Motto

The earliest declaration of the university motto, “God First” was originally adopted in the early part of the twentieth century to reflect the desire and commitment that this institution remains spiritually alive and vitally Christian. An early publication stated that “it is the foremost thought of our every activity, the principal lesson of every class and the utmost desire of every soul.” The foundational proclamation, “God First”, continues to be central to sustaining the identity, mission, and purpose of Azusa Pacific University.