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Each commencement began with a time of worship and
celebration.
Recently inaugurated President Dr. Don Green welcomed everyone by
noting this year’s celebration of the school's 70th year of service.
After welcoming the 50 year alumni from the class of 1965, and all
family members, siblings, spouses, and friends of the graduates,
President Green congratulated the class of 2015, calling them “one
in two million.”
Dr. Green began quoting from a recent New York Times article by Mark
Bauerlein, “What’s the point of a professor?” Green stated, “In the
coming weeks, two million Americans will earn a bachelor’s degree
and either join the work force or head to graduate school. They will
be joyous that day, and they will remember fondly the school’s they
attended. But as this unique chapter of life closes and they reflect
on campus events, one primary part of higher education will fall low
on the ladder of meaningful contacts: the professors.” President
Green said that LCU’s professors touch their students’ lives, and he
then told the students “you are equipped for the future.”
President Green alluded to another article that noted many college
educated people have learned to be sheep, be a student, jump through
hoops, and take tests and [students] are often adrift in how to
creatively and critically think. He said that [professors at] LCU
teach students “how to think” not “what to think” and leave them
with values for life.
Introducing keynote speaker Eddie Lowen, Lead Minister of West Side
Christian Church in Springfield, Illinois, Green referenced Lowen’s
long and effective ministry as a servant leader who sees beyond his
congregation and is a friend to LCU. As the program noted, “It is
timely for Mr. Lowen from this treasured partner church, to deliver
the commencement address as we conclude our 70th anniversary year.
It was Mr. Ernest Laughlin, LCU board member from 1946-1963 and
senior minister of West Side Christian Church, who delivered the
first commencement address at Lincoln Christian.”
Green noted that the West Side Church has given nearly three
quarters of a million dollars to the school over the years and “has
sent more than 100 students to LCU to prepare for Christian
service.”
Lowen began his message by recalling that during a recent trip to
India his daughter texted this -- that some of her schoolmates were
also in India, and one of the students there died. He declared that
death clarifies everything. At that point, all that mattered was
whether she believed that Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
Lowen noted that it was a heavy way to start a message, but stated
that this is not a destination, but an intersection or checkpoint.
He wanted the graduates to walk away with three words: “Listen to
Him.”
For his scripture reference, Lowen used Matthew 17, where Jesus took
Peter, James, and John up to the mountain—an experience that would
help Peter experience the truth about Jesus.
Lowen noted that in Matthew 16, Jesus had asked Peter, “Who do
people say that I am?” and Peter answered well.
Asking the questions, “what is your conviction about his identity”
and “do you grasp what it means,” Lowen recalled that on his wedding
day, he did not realize how marriage would transform him and that
mothers do not realize how children will transform them.
As Lowen discussed the passage in Matthew 17, he explained that
after Peter, James, and John fell asleep, the three awoke to see
Jesus “glowing” with clothes “whiter than anyone in the world could
bleach them” and then watched Moses and Elijah appear and begin
talking with Jesus.
Lowen said that Peter, not sure how to grasp the situation, offered
to make shelters for Jesus, Elijah and Moses; observing that while
some learn by listening, Peter learned by saying the wrong things.
Lowen said he identifies with Peter and does not always grasp Jesus’
importance.
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For the parents of graduates, Lowen pointed out that if Jesus does not get the
best of enthusiasm, “you’re missing who he is.” Lowen said that when Jesus was
“transfigured,” (in the passage from Matthew), a voice from the clouds said,
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!"
Lowen declared “Now is the time for you to apply that understanding—Listen to
Him.”
After Lowen noted that bad times often befell those who did not listen to God,
he asked the graduates who know a lot about Jesus already, “Are you listening to
Him?”
Lowen says he graduated with some who stopped listening and now they are at a
point where they did not imagine themselves. As Lowen asserted, many voices tell
us to trust ourselves and take pride in ourselves and many want us to listen,
but Jesus says his sheep know his voice, and Lowen says to make sure that
describes us. Lowen exhorted everyone that if exhausted by life and you can only
listen to one voice, listen to Him, for someday when you die every other voice
will be silent and your heart will break if you have listened to all the other
voices.
Lowen concluded his message with a passage from Numbers 24:26, “The LORD bless
you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
After Lowen’s message, Dr. Silas McCormick, LCU interim Chief Academic Officer,
and Dr. Shane Wood, Academic Dean of the School of Adult and Graduate Studies,
conferred degrees to each graduate individually. President Green declared that
the degrees are tools which will enable graduates to better serve Christ and his
kingdom throughout the world. As they handed out diplomas, McCormick and Wood
also mentioned each student’s plans and 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.
As the school has done for several years due to space and time constraints, a
1:00 p.m. ceremony was held to confer degrees to graduates of the Hargrove
School of Adult Graduate Studies and Lincoln Christian Seminary. After a brief
time of congregational worship and a message from Eddie Lowen, those conferring
degrees were Dr. Wood along with Dr. Trevor Cochell, Assistant Professor and
Director of Bible and Theology Studies; Dr. Dinelle Frankland, Academic Dean,
Lincoln Christian Seminary; and Dr. Robert Rea, Professor of Church
History/Historical Theology.
Dr. Rochelle Scheuermann, Assistant Professor and Director of Intercultural
Studies, presented the Hargrove School graduates bookmarks embossed with the LCU
logo and the words “Live Your Mission” to “remind them that worshiping God is
the heart of their education and living their mission in the world is the hands
of it.”
After the graduate students descended the platform, Dr. Nolan Thomas, Associate
Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Dr. Barney Wells, Associate
Professor and Director of Doctor of Ministry Program, conducted the foot washing
ceremony and each grad was presented a towel. This practice began over 20 years
ago and, according to Wayne Shaw, “This towel signifies that when our students
graduate, it is not for arrogance, honor, or prestige, but so that they might go
out and wash the feet of the world. That is what we are about.”
The message impressed on the graduates of LCU classes of 2015, was to go out
into the world and “Live your mission!”
[Angela Reiners]
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