LCU holds 74th graduation and marks the 75th anniversary of the school

 

[May 07, 2019] 

LINCOLN 

On a bright and sunny Saturday, Lincoln Christian University’s Earl C. Hargrove Chapel was filled with many friends and family of graduates for the 74th annual Commencement Ceremonies. At the 10 a.m. ceremony, 88 undergraduate degrees were conferred and at the 1 p.m. ceremony, 80 graduate degrees and five doctorate degrees were conferred.



Both ceremonies began with a time a worship followed by President Don Green welcoming friends and family of graduates, alumni from the class of 1969 celebrating their 50th reunion, and the distinguished graduates of the class of 2019.

President Green congratulated the class of 2019 who “join the ranks of more than 16,000 Lincoln leaders who have studied here and gone on to settle in every state and have served in more than 167 different countries around the world.”

Saturday onward marks the 75th anniversary of Lincoln Christian University. Green said on May 4, 1944, a young preacher named Earl C. Hargrove filed papers to start a Christian college. Hargrove met with a college official who asked him many questions about whether he had any faculty, a building, or funding. Though Hargrove’s answer to each of these questions was no, the official wished him luck.

It seemed foolish to start a school like that, but Green said Earl Hargrove and Charles Mills possessed a deep faith in God and a firm resolve that they should begin a school, which was originally called Lincoln Bible Institute.



Celebrating their faithfulness and their legacy, the families of Earl C. Hargrove and Charles Mills were honored this weekend with the 2019 President’s Distinguished Service Award. Their legacy has been carried on through the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of the two men who established this school.

Special music included 2019 graduate Ali McDonald playing a violin that used to be played by the late Enos Dowling, a long time Dean of the school.



Scripture was read by Richard Hargrove, son of Earl Hargrove. The scripture was Acts 10:34-44 in which Peter talked about Christ’s ministry, death, and resurrection, and said that Christ “commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.”



The undergraduate commencement speaker was Zach Thompson, Hargrove’s great grandson and a member of the class of 2019. Thompson graduated with honors and was previously recognized as a Scholar-Athlete by both the NCCAA and NAIA athletic associations in addition to receiving several awards during his basketball career. He will be serving as an Associate Pastor of Young Adults at Eastview Christian Church while continuing his education in the church’s residency program.

Thompson said it was a good time to celebrate the success of the school that his great grandfather started to build up the next generation of church leaders. Even today, Hargrove’s passion and vision for such a school is still sending out church leaders.

As Thompson spoke about “Bringing the truth to a world that desperately needs it,” he said the gospel is for everyone and does not stay here on this campus. The gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. It was Jesus who was put to death and raised to life on the third day and brought reconciliation to a people group who stood on the outside.

Looking back on the lives of the graduates during their years at LCU, Thompson said some needed the school for the community of many friends or the independence to figure out what their faith meant. Others needed it to grow and understand scripture or discover a renewed sense of the savior’s love and his call on [their] lives.
 

In Acts, the Apostle Peter shares the gospel and explains to those who witnessed Jesus’ ministry to testify about Jesus. Thompson said many students have witnessed the incredible grace Jesus has displayed on and through the campus. The commitment the students have made to understanding scripture and take a different course makes them witnesses like those in Acts. The students have a unique advantage of better understanding real, deep truth about faith and about Jesus.

Thompson said there are questions about what the truth is, whether faith in Jesus is necessary, whether the church is the best vessel for God’s grace, and what the meaning of life is. The world desperately needs to know answers in a time when people are encouraged to seek truth from all the wrong things like media, pop culture, and pagan culture. Thompson said they need to realize truth is in the word of God.

Classes may have been difficult, and faith may have been confusing, but Thompson said those moments make truth clearer and give a better sense of what Jesus is doing in this world. Things which divide us seems counterproductive to the goal of loving God and others.

In Philippians 3:8-9, Paul said he counted everything as loss compared to knowing God, and Thompson said the graduates need to cling first to the love of Jesus as we are called to be Christlike leaders.

Preaching the gospel is why the school was founded. Thompson has been reading stories about Hargrove and said he had a passion and love for people. Hargrove coined the phrase “The preachers are coming” at a time when many area churches needed preachers who felt called to share the gospel.

There is still a need to preach the gospel not just behind the pulpit but in other contexts. In an interview with Christian Standard when Hargrove was 80, Hargrove said if he was a young preacher attending the school at that time, he would ask those planning to be teachers, nurses, counselors, and social workers to join him in tentmaking ministry.

Thompson said he sees students from various majors who will spread the hope and love of Jesus, share the truth of God’s word, share the gospel with different ages, and bring people closer to God. He implored graduates to preach the gospel in whatever the context is.

The Holy Spirit came down to the people while Peter spoke the truth, and Thompson said as a witness of all God has done on campus, the Holy Spirit is still faithful to change lives.

Thompson closed his message by telling his fellow graduates to go into the world and boldly proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ and said, “Grandpa, if you are listening, the preachers are still coming.”

The charge from the class of 1969 to the class of 2019 was given by 1969 graduate Richard Wamsley (3890) who said he remembers a different church and different world.

In II Timothy chapters two through four, Wamsley said Paul wrote from prison and told Timothy to be strong, be an approved workman, and share God’s truth boldly. Paul said leaders need to avoid foolish arguments and focus on righteousness, faith, love and peace.

Wamsley said leaders are expected to take the high road that unifies the body of Christ. Leaders should not conform to the patterns of this world and are to have nothing to do with Godlessness like we see in the twenty-first century. There is a need to share Christ’s love with others despite opposition to faith when the world hates and persecutes Christians.

Wamsley closed with a charge to the graduates to remain faithful to what they have been taught, know the Holy Scripture, maintain a high view of Scripture and be prepared to share it.

After the messages, Green said it is a privilege to confer degrees and awards to help the students better serve Christ around the world.



Dr. Peter Verkruyse and Dr. Silas McCormick handed out degrees to each graduate individually. As graduates crossed the stage, Verkruyse mentioned each student’s plans and any special awards or honors.

As graduates exited the stage, Lynn Laughlin, Special Assistant to the President and Associate Vice President of Alumni Services, presented graduates with an alumni pin, a first-year membership card, and a letter from the Alumni Association.

In continuing with a long time tradition, each seminary graduate is presented with a towel to "to wash the feet of the world,” reminding them of their call to serve The other graduate students receive a bookmark that says, "Live your mission," reminding them to live their mission in the world.

It was a day of celebration for a school that has sent out so many in its 75 years.

[Angela Reiners]