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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.
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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] |
