You might be wondering, when will she get to the actual graduation? Right now!
After traveling and visiting with friends, we made our way to Springfield, MO, a place we called "home" for 5 years. Our first mission was to go to the seminary and grab the cap, gown and much coveted hood! It felt funny to be on the Evangel University campus, a first for us. In the 1990's, the seminary was located downtown on the top floor of the Assemblies of God Headquarters building. In all the years we were in Springfield, we never once stepped onto the campus of what was then Evangel College. Since then, both Central Bible College and AGTS have come under the umbrella of what is now Evangel University so the seminary is now located at Evangel. The photos below are of the seminary. I loved the prayer chapel. What a reminder it is that NOTHING of eternal value is accomplished but through prayer. The cloud of witnesses above encouraged me as I knelt on the prayer bench to give thanks to God for all that He had done to get us to this moment. My favorite thing there was the Torah. This particular torah survived Hitler's Poland and was declared unkosher due to damage and age. It was donated to the seminary for academic and teaching purposes. As I stood there, I wondered what stories it could tell, what tradgedies it had seen, and especially how it experienced the power of God who will always save and preserve His own until His plan is completed.
After traveling and visiting with friends, we made our way to Springfield, MO, a place we called "home" for 5 years. Our first mission was to go to the seminary and grab the cap, gown and much coveted hood! It felt funny to be on the Evangel University campus, a first for us. In the 1990's, the seminary was located downtown on the top floor of the Assemblies of God Headquarters building. In all the years we were in Springfield, we never once stepped onto the campus of what was then Evangel College. Since then, both Central Bible College and AGTS have come under the umbrella of what is now Evangel University so the seminary is now located at Evangel. The photos below are of the seminary. I loved the prayer chapel. What a reminder it is that NOTHING of eternal value is accomplished but through prayer. The cloud of witnesses above encouraged me as I knelt on the prayer bench to give thanks to God for all that He had done to get us to this moment. My favorite thing there was the Torah. This particular torah survived Hitler's Poland and was declared unkosher due to damage and age. It was donated to the seminary for academic and teaching purposes. As I stood there, I wondered what stories it could tell, what tradgedies it had seen, and especially how it experienced the power of God who will always save and preserve His own until His plan is completed.
Our first function was a baccalaureate for AGTS - just the ministerial students. There we heard an encouraging message about the path that God leads us on and how to trust it even when it takes you in directions you don't understand and didn't plan for. It certainly was a blessing to Darrell and I! Afterwards, they called all the candidates to the front to receive their hoods and to pray for us. The prayer time was power packed! There is something about Spirit-filled corporate prayer that is dynamic. You could feel the Spirit of God in the place as each graduate was prayed for by both the president of the seminary and the president of the university. We both had tears flowing as we felt the Spirit resting on us and heard the prayers prayed for us assuring us that God was in all that we had done and been through, and would be in every step of our future. It was if these men, that we had never met, knew us personally and knew the journey we have been on. But I know that the Spirit is well aware and gave these men of God the words to pray over us and we received their prayers gladly. We weren't the only ones that said this after the service. What a blessing is was to be there!
Our 2nd day was AGTS baccalaureate for all AGTS graduates. Again, the worship was wonderful and the speaker so dynamic and encouraging. Truly this man had a word from God for the graduates. I especially enjoyed the Evangel chapel and it's massive pipe organ. All the services were conducted in a celebratory yet reverent way. Darrell and I talked a lot about this trip, not sure that all the pomp and circumstance would be enjoyable but we're so glad that we went. What a blessing it was!
We had a few hours to grab a bite to eat and to get ready for the big night! We had cashew chicken, of course! (If this means nothing to you, stay tuned to a future blog!)
Graduation was held at SMU conference and convention center. The venue was about 1/2 the size of Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State's campus. The lobby and stage were decorated, the Evangel orchestra was playing, the worship team assembled, and of course, the grads were anticipating the big night! The speaker was Admiral Vern Clark, an Evangel alumnus. He was the 2nd longest serving Chief of Naval Operations and is a highly decorated Naval officer with a long list of accomplishments and honors, but when he stepped behind the podium that graduation night, he was a humble, (and quite funny), man of God with a lifetime of living for Christ and serving others in some of the most desperate of situations, while maintaining his witness and integrity. What an honor to hear the wisdom this man challenged the graduates with. The ceremony concluded with one power-packed prayer by a female professor and the largest confetti shower I've ever seen! It had been a hectic and tremendously blessed two days and we were spiritually full, exceptionally grateful, and expectantly looking to the future with a smile.
The most special moment was when the entire building resounded with the chorus "You Are Worthy of it All" as graduates, faculty and spectators alike all raised their hands and sang. While some campuses are erupting with violence, this campus was filled with worship singing "for from You are all things, and to You are all things, You deserve the glory." And so He does!
Graduation was held at SMU conference and convention center. The venue was about 1/2 the size of Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State's campus. The lobby and stage were decorated, the Evangel orchestra was playing, the worship team assembled, and of course, the grads were anticipating the big night! The speaker was Admiral Vern Clark, an Evangel alumnus. He was the 2nd longest serving Chief of Naval Operations and is a highly decorated Naval officer with a long list of accomplishments and honors, but when he stepped behind the podium that graduation night, he was a humble, (and quite funny), man of God with a lifetime of living for Christ and serving others in some of the most desperate of situations, while maintaining his witness and integrity. What an honor to hear the wisdom this man challenged the graduates with. The ceremony concluded with one power-packed prayer by a female professor and the largest confetti shower I've ever seen! It had been a hectic and tremendously blessed two days and we were spiritually full, exceptionally grateful, and expectantly looking to the future with a smile.
The most special moment was when the entire building resounded with the chorus "You Are Worthy of it All" as graduates, faculty and spectators alike all raised their hands and sang. While some campuses are erupting with violence, this campus was filled with worship singing "for from You are all things, and to You are all things, You deserve the glory." And so He does!
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