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A highlight at this benchmark 75th Anniversary Homecoming
celebration was President Don Green introducing Dr. Silas McCormick,
announcing that Dr. McCormick will become the next LCU President as
of June 1, 2020.
The weekend’s events began Friday evening with a worship service and
congregational singing led by 2002 LCU graduate David Jarrett and
members of the LCU Chorale for the past twenty years.
Vice President of Alumni Services Lynn Laughlin opened with a prayer
thanking God for the opportunity to give God honor and praise and
time to return home to renew acquaintances.
Laughlin then welcomed everyone, especially those from the classes
of 1994, 1999 and 2009, which were having alumni gatherings.
After a time of worship, LCU President Don Green introduced the
evening’s speaker, 1975 LCU graduate Darryl Bolen. Though Bolen
recently retired after serving 44 years at the First Christian
Church in Greenville, Illinois, he has retooled himself by
preaching, leading and serving in a variety of ways.
In his message, Bolen asked the questions, "'Why would God love
someone as bad as me?' and 'Why would God love someone so
insignificant?' when he has so many people to deal with."
At the heart of his message, Bolen said love is not just something
God does, but love is who God is. And nothing we could ever do could
earn more love from him or make God stop loving us. God’s love
changes everything by covering a multitude of sins even though we
are all unworthy and it (God's love) makes us significant.
Once the service was over, everyone was invited for food and
fellowship at a reception at Henderson Hall.
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Saturday’s homecoming events
Saturday’s worship service was led by the LCU worship team.
President Green preached a message titled “Red lion pride” and
what it means to him. Green said Jesus is the lion of the tribe
of Judah appearing in Revelation as a lamb who was slain.
Victory is the theme of Revelation and Green said the slain lamb
is a “red lion” who is resurrected and reigning as sovereign
over all.
In closing, Green said he takes great pride in being part of the
Red Lion Lincoln Leaders serving God.
After the message, this year’s Restoration Award winner and Hall
of Fame inductees were honored.
The 2019 Restoration Award for Kingdom Service in Executive
Ministry was presented to LCU graduate Craig Zastrow. Zastrow
was a paramedic and mental health counselor in Lincoln for many
years before he began ministering at the Central Christian
Church in Beloit, Wisconsin in 1994.
The 1979 men’s basketball team, coached by Lynn Laughlin, was
this year’s Hall of Fame inductees. Current basketball coach
Christian Lowery presented plaques to members of the team who he
said have nearly 500 combined years of ministry and serving. A
plaque honoring the team was unveiled in the Laughlin Center and
has been placed alongside the others in the LCU Hall of Fame.
Other events of the day included various alumni gatherings
around campus and LCU soccer games.
Homecoming 2019 was a good weekend for “returning home” and
reuniting with former classmates and longtime friends.
[Angela Reiners]
Past related article
about LCU's future president, Dr. Silas McCormick, who has been with
the college since 2010:
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