2021 Graduates

CLASS OF 2021 LINCOLN DAILY NEWS MAY/JUNE 2021 Page 53 The graduate’s lives were influenced by professors who showed them care and compassion hoping to shape them as a followers of Jesus. Stetzer told the graduates if their lenses got knocked around by the world events in 2020, it is time to adjust those gospel lenses as needed. Even if we knew Christ in a worldly perspective, when we are a new creation, the old has passed away. Stetzer said a new life is connected to a new look and a new set of lenses through which we see the world. The message was how do we think christianly in a divided age? Stetzer said as followers of Jesus who have been changed by the gospel, it must include engaging the world as Jesus would call us to. For Stetzer, it means showing and sharing his love to a broken, hurting and divided world. Stetzer said Christians should not be joining in the division but showing the love of Jesus in the midst of the division. Ultimately, then Jesus’ name will be more widely known. In closing, Stetzer prayed God would work in and through his people and thanked him for the classes represented here. As the graduates engage in their various workplaces, Stetzer prayed they would be reminded in a tumultuous time, we need the work of Christ. He prayed they would show the love of Jesus. Thanking God for the Jesus movement that began in 1968 when the world was divided, Stetzer said there are now millions of new followers of Jesus. He prayed 2021 will be a time when God’s spirit is poured out on his people. Stetzer’s prayer is people go into the world with gospel shaped lenses knowing they have new life, new look and new set of lenses through which they see the world. He prayed [the graduates] would make much of Jesus as they show and share his love. Stetzer closed by asking God to bless the graduates and their families and send all on mission for the sake of Jesus’ name. After the message, President McCormick handed out degrees to each graduate individually. As graduates crossed the stage, Dr. Brian Messner shared each student’s plans and any special awards or honors. CONTINUED u