>> PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND BIOLA'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES. ♪ POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE ♪ PLEASE WELCOME THE FACULTY OF BIOLA UN. [APPLAUSE] ♪ POMP & CIRCUMSTANC♪ ♪ POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE ♪ >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME THE BIOLA UNIVERSITY GRADUATING CLASS OF 2021! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] ♪ POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE ♪ >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE CLASS OF 2021! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] YOU MAY BE SEATED AND THIS IS AWESOME! FINALLY, AFTER 24 MONTHS OF NOT HAVING A GRADUATION IN PERSON, EMBODIED LIKE THIS, WE ARE BACK AGAIN! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] SO IT IS ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE, BIOLA UNIVERSITY, I WELCOME YOU ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. WE ARE SO GLAD TO BE TOGETHER AGAIN. THIS IS ONE OF FOUR GRADUATION CEREMONIES WE ARE HAVING TODAY. ON THE 17TH OF DECEMBER. THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND OF FOUR. WE HAD ONE ALREADY. SO THIS IS, YOU ARE HEADING INTO THE SECOND QUARTER. WE ARE HEADING IN STRONG. LET ME SAY, WE ARE WINNING RIGHT NOW. THIS IS GREAT. GLAD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE. CONGRATD LAKES GRADUATES. THIS IS LONG COMING. WE ARE SO GLAD YOU ARE HERE. THIS IS A DAY THAT YOU WILL BE CONFERRED WITH A DEGREE FROM BIOLA UNIVERSITY. AND YOU HAVE WORKED HARD TO GET TO THIS POINT. I AM SO GRATEFUL GRADUATES THAT GOD BROUGHT YOU TO BIOLA AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE LEAVING BIOLA. [ LAUGHTER ] I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. IT IS TIME, RIGHT? IT IS TIME. READY. I DO. I WISH YOU GREAT JOY AS YOU RECEIVE YOUR DIPLOMAS TODAY. BECAUSE, CONSIDER IT AN EARLY CHRISTMAS GIFT. GRADUATES YOU MADE US PROUD! I KNOW EACH OF YOU. YEP. I DON'T KNOW EACH OF YOU, BUT I HAD SOME MORE SENTENCE, I KNOW EACH OF YOU HAS A STORY TO TELL AND A LIFETIME TO LIVE OUT THE WAY IN WHICH GOD IS USING YOU IN YOUR VERY UNIQUE, DISTINCT GIFTS TO BE A FAITHFUL PRESENCE IN THIS WORLD. YOU'VE BEEN STRENGTHENED IN MIND AND CHARACTER DURING YOUR TIME HERE AT BIOLA UNIVERSITY. I WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE BEEN STRENGTHENED BECAUSE OF YOU. I TRULY MEAN IT. WE ARE A BETTER UNIVERSITY BECAUSE YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO COME HERE. SO THANK YOU FOR THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU HAVE ENRICHED THIS COMMUNITY. I REPRESENT A GRATEFUL COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN SO THANKFUL FOR YOUR PRESENCE HERE THE LAST FEW YEARS. AND WE HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR YOU. PRECIOUS SOULS, BELOVED CHILDREN OF GOD. THAT THE LORD WOULD FILL YOU WITH CHRIST'S LOVE AND THE ABILITY TO INFLUENCE THE WORLD FOR HIM AND MAY GOD GIVE YOU WISDOM AND FAVOR AND JOY THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE, COME WHAT MAY. MANY AT BIOLA HAVE PRAYED OVER YOU AND THEY HAVE NOT STOPPED. BE ASSURED OF THAT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ASSURED THAT WE RECOGNIZE, YOU DID NOT DO THIS JOURNEY BY YOURSELVES. THERE ARE MANY THAT ACCOMPANIED YOU ALONG THE WAY. AND SOME OF THEM, THANKS TO GOD, ARE HERE IN THIS ROOM TODAY. SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR VERY, VERY SPECIAL GUESTS WHO ARE HERE WITH US. I WANT TO BEGIN BY ASK, ARE THERE ANY PARENTS HERE? STAND UP MOMS AND DADS. WHERE ARE YOU? I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AND ARE THERE ANY SIBLINGS IN THE HOUSE? BROTHERS AND SISTERS? WHERE ARE YOU? [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] WE MAY EVEN HAVE SOME SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF THESE GRADUATES HERE. WHERE ARE YOU? SPOUSES AND KIDS? [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AND I SUSPECT THAT WE HAVE SOME GRANDPARENTS HERE ALSO. GRANDMAS AND GRANDFATHERS, WHERE ARE YOU? STAND UP! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] SO I WILL BE NOT THE FIRST TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MANY OF YOU WHO ARE HERE AND THOSE WHO ARE MAYBE WATCHING ON OUR LIVE STREAM, FRIENDS WHO ARE HERE, OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, YOU HAVE MADE SACRIFICES IN MANY WAYS TO ENCOURAGE THESE GRADUATES TO FINISH STRONG. SO I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. THIS IS A VERY RESILIENT CLASS THAT HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT THESE PAST NEARLY 24 MONTHS. AND I KNOW THAT THE STORIES YOU HAVE TO TELL OF WHAT YOU EXPECTED OF BIOLA AND WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED ARE FAR DIFFERENT. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT GOD MAKES CROOKED ROADS STRAIGHT. AND THE TWISTS AND TURNS THESE LAST FEW YEARS IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR, IT WILL ALL MAKE SENSE TO YOU, EVEN THOUGH THAT IT MIGHT NOT MAKE SO MUCH SENSE RIGHT NOW. IF YOU ARE GRADUATING TODAY, AS A FIRST GEN STUDENT AND WANT TO STAND, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. WHERE ARE YOU FIRST GEN STUDENTS? STAND UP! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] SO PROUD OF YOU FIRST GEN STUDENTS. WELL DONE. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU MAY BE SEATED. GLOBAL STUDENTS HERE AS WELL? ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC, YOU PERSEVERED. WHERE ARE THE GLOBAL STUDENTS THAT GRADUATED? STAND UP AS WELL. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IN THE ROOM TODAY, THOSE WHO ARE GRADUATING OR GUESTS WHO ARE HERE, THAT ARE VETERANS OR ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE IN THE RESERVE, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE ON BEHALF OF OUR NATION. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND, WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] TODAY'S GRADUATION, WE ARE HONORING THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTH. WE HAVE FACULTY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THOSE TWO SCHOOLS WHO ARE HERE. AND THEY REPRESENT MANY OF THE FACULTY AMONG OUR NINE SCHOOLS AT BIOLA UNIVERSITY WHO ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF THIS INSTITUTION AND STUDENTS, YOU KNOW THEM. THESE PROFESSORS WHO KNOW YOU BY NAME AND WHO HAVE MENTORED YOU AND COUNSELED YOU AND GIVEN YOU ADVICE NOT JUST ON THE CONTENT OF YOUR COURSES OR THE CURRICULUM YOU ARE TAKING, BUT ALSO ON THE CONTOURS OF YOUR LIFE. WHAT A REMARKABLE BODY OF TEACHER, MENTOR, SCHOLARS AND PRACTITIONERS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I ACKNOWLEDGE TODAY THE PREEMINENT FACULTY OF BIOLA UNIVERSITY. PLEASE STAND SO WE CAN EXPRESS TO YOU OUR GRATITUDE! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES HERE. SOME OF WHOM ARE ON THE STAGE WITH ME RIGHT NOW. WE RECOGNIZE THEIR FAITHFUL SERVICE ON THIS UNIVERSITY'S GOVERNING BOARD. WORKING HARD AS VOLUNTEERS BUT LABORING INTENSIVELY AS GOVERNORS OF THIS INSTITUTION TO MAKE SURE THAT BIOLA UNIVERSITY NOT ONLY REMAINS FISCALLY STRONG BUT ALSO MISSIONALLY STRONG. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AS WELL. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AND WE HAVE DEANS AND VICE PRESIDENTS AND FACULTY AND STAFF HERE WHO HAVE JUST, WHO ARE LOOKING AT THIS GRADUATING CLASS TODAY AND, AND FEELING THAT THE FRUIT OF THEIR INVESTMENT IS MATURING IN RIPE WAYS IN YOU. I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR SO MANY THAT HAVE INVESTED IN YOU AND THOSE THAT HAVE INVESTED IN THIS EVENT AS WELL. THAT TOOK THIS GYM GYMNASIUM D TRANSFORMED IT INTO THIS COMMENCEMENT ARENA. I'M SO THANKFUL FOR CAMPUS SAFETY FACILITIES AND EVENTS AND OTHERS WHO MADE TODAY POSSIBLE. I WANT TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO PLANNERS OF THE EVENT AS WELL. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] SO THIS YEAR, ONCE MORE, WE HAVE MANY REASONS TO GIVE THANKS. CERTAINLY COMING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND THE MANY ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE HAD TO MAKE ALONG THE WAY, BUT THROUGH IT ALL, OUR OUTSTANDING AND DIVERSE STUDENT BODY CONTINUES TO REFLECT. 113 YEAR TRADITION OF A BIBLICALLY CENTERED, CHRIST EXALT, ACADEMIC ROBUST, COMPASSION ORIENTED EDUCATION WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT OUR BEST DAYS OF BIOLA UNIVERSITY ARE STILL TO COME AND GRADUATES, YOURS ARE AS WELL. OUR STUDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE GRADUATING TODAY HAVE EXCELLED IN SO MANY WAYS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, THROUGH VOLUNTEERING, IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THE LOCAL CHURCH ON MISSIONS TRIPS, AROUND THE WORLD. SERVICE PROJECTS, ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH AND ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS, MUSIC, ART, SCIENCE, THEATRE, JOURNALISM AND SO MUCH MORE. BUT ABOVE ALL, THIS YEAR, UPHELD OUR TIME HONORED COMMITMENT TO THE LOVE OF CHRIST, TO THE AUTHORITY OF GOD IN HIS WORD. AND THE RENEWING WORK, THE HOLY SPIRIT IN AND THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY. AND FOR THAT, I AM PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL. PLEASE STAND WITH ME FOR THE INVOCATION FOLLOWED BY OUR AFTERNOON HYMN. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> WE READ IN JEREMIAH 29:11 FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU DECLARES THE LORD. PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU. PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE. TODAY WE ARE THANKFUL FOR EACH STUDENT HERE AND THEIR FUTURE. IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE BEGIN EVERY CLASS, EVERY SEMESTER, PLEASE JOIN ME AS WE INVITE JESUS TO JOIN US. HOLY FATHER, WE LOOK FULL INTO YOUR WONDERFUL FACE AND WE THANK YOU. WE THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE AND THE LIMITED AND GROWING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING WE HOLD OF YOUR WAYS. WE STRIVE TO LOVE YOU, LIVE FOR YOU, AND BECOME MORE LIKE YOU IN ALL THAT WE DO. LORD JESUS, SOME MAY SEE THIS GRADUATION EVENT AS SOLEMN, SOMBER OR SCARY TIME WHERE THE FUTURE IS NOT YET FULLY KNOWN. OTHERS MAY BE FESTIVE, EXUBERANT AND EXCITED TO STEP INTO WHATEVER JOURNEY YOU HAVE FOR THEM. COMPLETION OF ONE'S COLLEGE EDUCATION IS BOTH AN ENDING AND BEGINNING FILLED WITH THE FUTURE OF POSSIBILITIES, OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES. FATHER GOD, WE INVITE YOU HERE, WE NEED YOU HERE, WE WANT YOU HERE WITH US. AS EACH GRADUATE WALKS ACROSS THE STAGE, WE INVITE YOUR PRESENCE TO ENGULF THEM TO ASK THAT YOU GUIDE AND DIRECT THEM, PROTECT AND KEEP THEM IN YOUR CARE AS THEY CARRY FORTH THEIR WORK IN WHATEVER FIELD OF EXPERTISE THEY HAVE BEEN PREPARED. JESUS WE ARE GRATEFUL. REMINDED THAT EDUCATION IS A GIFT. ASSURED YOU ARE A LOVING GOD, DETERMINED TO WALK WORTHY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR WAYS ARE NOT YOUR WAYS. WE ASPIRE TO HONOR THE TEACHING AND WISDOM FROM WHICH WE HAVE GROWN AND SEEK TO ENDURE, TO BE RESILIENT AND AS YOU HAVE DIRECTED US IN SCRIPTURE, STEADFAST, IMMOVEABLE, ALWAYS A FOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD UNTIL YOU RETURN AGAIN. FATHER PLEASE BLESS THIS GRADUATION CEREMONY. WE RELEASE THIS CELEBRATION TO YOU IN YOUR PRECIOUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AND YOU MAY BE SEATED. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> PLEASE STAND FOR THE READING OF GOD'S WORD. READING FROM THE BOOK OF HEBREWS 12:1-2. >> THEREFORE WE ALSO, SINCE WE ARE SURROUNDED BY SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES, LET US LAY AND THROW OFF EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS AND WITH EVERYTHING THAT TANGLES. LET US RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE, AND FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS, THE PIONEER AND PERFECTER OF FAITH. FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM, HE ENDURED THE CROSS, SCORNING ITS SHAME AND SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD. YOU MAY BE SEATED. >> OUR COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER TONIGHT, OR THIS AFTERNOON, I SHOULD SAY, IS DYNAMIC RISING LEADER IN THE CHURCH IN THE ACADEMY. JP FOSTER IS WELL-KNOWN AND REGARDED ON THIS CAMPUS. HE RECEIVED HIS UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE HERE AT BIOLA UNIVERSITY. HE RECEIVED HIS GRADUATE DEGREE FROM TALBOT SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND CURRENTLY PURSUING HIS DOCTORATE DEGREE AT TALBOT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY, JP, WHEN WE GIVE YOU THE THIRD DEGREE. SO UNTIL THAT... [LAUGHTER] THAT IS FUNNY AS I'M GOING TO GET TODAY. BEAR WITH ME. WOW! MANY OF YOU ARE GRADUATING KNOW JP. AND HIS PASSION AND INTEGRITY FOR SERVING CHRIST, WHETHER IN THE CLASSROOM WHERE HE TEACHES ADJUNCT PROFESSORSHIP OR CHAPEL MESSAGES OR BEING AROUND CAMPUSES OR BEING ENGAGED IN CONVERSATION, AND MAYBE LISTENS TO YOU, AND GIVES YOU ADVICE. COPASTOR AT FAITHFUL CENTRAL BIBLE CHURCH DM LOS ANGELES, WITH BISHOP ELMER, HE HAS HAD THE UNIQUE BLESSING OF BEING MENTORED BY DR. ALMA FOR MANY YEARS. IT IS ESPECIALLY FITTING THAT TODAY'S COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES ARE SHARED BY THESE TWO GOOD AND GODLY MEN. THIS MORNING, AFTERNOON, WITH PASTOR FOSTER SPEAKING AND LATTER TWO SERVICES TO BE ADDRESSED BY DR. KENNETH ALMER. JP FOSTER, QUICKLY INFLUENTIAL FIGURE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND BEYOND. WITH A MINISTRY THAT IS FUELED BY A PASSION FOR SCRIPTURE. AND ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO TRANSFORM LIVES IN A VERY NEEDY WORLD. HIS EXCELLENCE IN BIBLICAL EXPOSITION, I'M PROUD TO SAY, WAS KINDLED AND SHAPED IN HIS UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDIES HERE AT BIOLA UNIVERSITY WHERE HE RECEIVED HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE AS I SAID, ALSO RECEIVED A MASTER'S DEGREE FROM TALBOT SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY. HIS BREADTH OF STUDY AND SCHOLARSHIP INCLUDES TIME AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY IN THE AREA OF CHURCH UNITY. AND RECONCILIATION. AT THE KING'S UNIVERSITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP. MOODY BIBLE COLLEGE, LITERATURE. FINISHING DOCTORATE BACK HOME AT BIOLA AT TALBOT SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY. HOW GRATEFUL FOR JP'S GENTLE WISDOM AND PASSION AND BIBLICAL HEART FOR JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION. HIS FRIENDSHIP, HIS KINDNESS, HIS WISDOM. I HAVE SOUGHT OUT YOUR COUNSEL ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT THE WAYS IN WHICH HE HAS INVESTED IN MY LIFE, WHEN I WAS SOMEONE SEEKING HIM OUT FOR GUIDANCE IN AREAS THAT I FELL LIKE I WAS FUMBLING THROUGH, I AM PROFOUNDLY AND FOREVER GRATEFUL, JP, I COUNT MYSELF AS YOUR FRIEND AND BLESSED BENEFICIARY OF THAT FRIENDSHIP. I LOVE THIS MAN. HE IS A GOOD MAN. A FATHER. A HUSBAND. MY BROTHER IN CHRIST. AND IT IS WITH PROFOUND JOY AND APPRECIATION THAT I INTRODUCE YOU AND WE WELCOME YOU, TODAY'S COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER, PASTOR JOHN-PAUL FOSTER. [APPLAUSE] >> WOW! CLASS OF 2021. IF YOU DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING I SAY TO YOU TODAY, I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER TO RUN FOR YOUR LIFE. [ LAUGHTER ] WHEN DR. COREY MENTIONED ALL OF THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THINGS THAT I HAVE DONE OR ATTAINED, AFTER CROSSING THE STAGE TWICE, I COULD NOT HAVE ATTAINED ANY OF IT IF I DID NOT GRAB MY DEGREE AND RUN FOR MY LIFE. IT IS INTERESTING, BECAUSE THE WRITER OF HEBREWS IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE BELIEVERS, TO MOVE FORWARD. INTO WHAT GOD HAD FOR THEM. HE ENCOURAGES THEM TO RUN. IN FACT, HEBREWS 12:1 SAYS, THEREFORE SINCE WE ARE SURROUNDED, BY SUCH A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES, LET US RUN. BUT IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IN VERSE 1 OF CHAPTER 12, HE SAY, THEREFORE, SINCE SURROUNDED BY A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES. I WAS TAUGHT MIMI MENTOR, DR. ALMER, WHENEVER YOU SEE THEREFORE, YOU CAN FIND OUT WHAT THAT THEREFORE IS THERE FOR. IT IS INTERESTING, BECAUSE IF YOU KEEP READING THE PASSAGE, YOU REALIZE THIS CLOUD OF WITNESSES, MOST THEOLOGIANS WILL RECOGNIZE THIS CLOUD OF WITNESSES AS THE HALL OF FAITH IN CHAPTER 11. IN CHAPTER 11, ALL YOU HEAR, OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, REPEATED IS, BY FAITH. WE HEAR, BY FAITH. NOAH BUILT AN ARK, EVEN THOUGH HE NEVER SEEN RAIN. WE HEAR, BY FAITH. ABRAHAM WENT WHERE THE LORD WAS SENDING HIM AND OBEYED EVEN THOUGH HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY DETAILS. WE HEAR, SARAH WAS ABLE, BY FAITH, SHE WAS ABLE TO HAVE A CHILD EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD PASSED CHILD BEARING AGE. THEN WE HEAR AGAIN, BY FAITH. RAHAB WAS ABLE TO WELCOME THE SPIES OVER AND OVER AGAIN EVEN WITH MOSES WE HEAR, BY FAITH, MOSES WAS ABLE TO LEAD THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL OUT OF BONDAGE. BY FAITH. THIS ENTIRE LIST OF MEN AND WOMEN, YOU AND I WOULD CONCLUDE, THAT THEY HAVE DONE EXTRAORDINARY THINGS FOR GOD. IN FACT, THOUSANDS OF YEARS LATER, WE SAID TO OURSELVES, THESE MEN AND WOMEN ARE EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE. BUT I SUGGEST TO YOU, THEY ARE NOT SO MUCH EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE, THEY ARE ORDINARY PEOPLE. THEY ARE ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO TRUSTED AND BELIEVED IN AN EXTRAORDINARY GOD. AND BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED IN AN EXTRAORDINARY GOD, THESE MEN AND WOMEN WERE ABLE TO DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS. CLASS OF 2021, I WANT YOU, AS YOU MOVE FORWARD, INTO THIS NEXT SEASON, NEXT CHAPTER, BY FAITH, TO FOLLOW GOD SO THAT YOU CAN DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY GOD FOR HIS KINGDOM AND FOR HIS GLORY. AND YOU MAY SAY TO YOURSELF, WELL, HOW DO I RUN FOR MY LIFE? IF YOU KEEP READING IN VERSE 2, HE SAY, HE SAY, SINCE WE ARE SURROUNDED BY A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES, WE SHOULD TAKE OFF EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS US. THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT. IF I WANT TO KNOW HOW I CAN RUN FOR MY LIFE, IT IS A COUPLE OF THINGS I MUST DO. FIRST THING I MUST DO, I MUST TRUST AND BELIEVE IN AN EXTRAORDINARY GOD. SECOND THING I MUST DO, I MUST THROW OFF OR TAKE OFF ANYTHING THAT MAY HINDER ME. CLASS OF 2021, WHEN YOU GO ACROSS THIS STAGE, ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION, AS I CAN'T INTO THIS NEXT CHAPTER, AS I GO INTO THIS NEXT SEASON, WHAT MIGHT BE HINDERING ME? REMEMBER, THIS IS A PICTURE OF A RUNNER RUNNING A RACE. WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE HE SAY, THAT YOU ARE RUNNING THE RACE THAT IS MARKED OUT FOR YOU. IT IS A RACE OF ENDURANCE. SO IT IS NOT SO MUCH A SPRINT, IT IS A MARATHON. IT IS OUR JOURNEY, IT IS A RACE. OF FAITH. AND HE SAY, IN ORDER TO RUN, YOU MUST TAKE OFF EVERYTHING THAT MIGHT HINDER YOU. IT IS A PICTURE OF A RUNNER WHO MAY BE RUNNING. AND, AND STRIPPING OFF BURDENSOME CLOTHING. WHEN ATHLETES TRAIN, THEY MAY TRAIN WITH A WEIGHT VEST. THEY MAY TRAIN WITH A SANDBAG IN THEIR HAND. THEY MAY TRAIN WITH ANKLE WEIGHTS. WHEN THEY GET INTO THE COMPETITION, THE ATHLETE, NEVER WEARS A WEIGHT VEST. THEY NEVER WEAR ANKLE WEIGHTS. THEY NEVER RUN WITH A SANDBAG. IN FACT, MOST TRACK STARS BEGIN TO STRIP OFF THE JUMP SUIT SO THAT NOTHING IS HINDERING THEIR MOVEMENT SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE AND RUN THEIR VERY BEST RACE. NOW THAT THE DECEPTION OF THIS HINDRANCE IS THAT SOMETIMES YOU WILL SEE YOURSELF MOVING FORWARD. BUT WHEN YOU LEAVE HINDRANCES IN YOUR LIFE, YOU WILL NEVER RUN AT YOUR BEST. CLASS OF 2021. I WANT YOU WHEN YOU LEAVE, YOU WALK ACROSS THIS STAGE, I WANT YOU TO RUN THE VERY BEST RACE YOU COULD POSSIBLY RUN. IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO LET GO AND THROW OFF ANYTHING OR ANYONE THAT MIGHT HINDER YOU. IN ORDER TO RUN YOUR RACE, YOU HAVE TO TRUST AND BELIEVE IN EXTRAORDINARY GOD. IN ORDER TO RUN FOR YOUR LIFE, YOU ALSO MUST THROW OFF ANY HINDRANCE. AND YOU ALSO, YOU MUST TAKE OFF, OR THROW OFF ANY ENTANGLING SIN. I AM GOING TO BE THE FIRST PERSON TO TELL YOU. WHEN YOU CROSS THIS STAGE, WHEN YOU GOING TO THAT NEXT CHAPTER, NEXT SEASON OF YOUR LIFE, YOU ARE GOING TO BE TEMPTED. IN FACT, THE WORD OF GOD SAYS, IF YOU RESIST THE ENEMY, THE DEVIL, HE WILL FLEE. WHEN YOU WALK ACROSS THIS STAGE AND YOU MOVE INTO THE NEXT SEASON, NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE, I PROMISE YOU, YOU ARE GOING TO BE TEMPTED. AND THE WRITER OF HEBREW SAYS, LISTEN, THAT YOU MUST BE CAREFUL THAT YOU THROW OFF ANY ENTANGLING SIN. NOW IT IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM A HINDRANCE, BECAUSE HINDRANCE, YOU SEE MOVEMENT. AND YOU MIGHT NOT BE MOVING AT YOUR BEST, BUT YOU ARE STILL MOVING. BUT WITH AN ENTANGLING SIN, SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY BE ENTANGLED IN, IT IMPEDES YOUR PROGRESS ALTOGETHER. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT IS A PICTURE OF A, SOMEONE GOING FISHING. THERE ARE CERTAIN WAYS TO FISH. ONE OF THE WAYS YOU CAN FISH IS BY NETTING. GIL NET. THE DANGEROUS THING ABOUT A FISH IN A GIL NET, WHEN THE FIN GETS BEHIND FISH, NO MATTER HOW MUCH IT MOVES, WIGGLE, TRIES TO GET AWAY, IT CANNOT MOVE FORWARD. BECAUSE IT IS ENTANGLED IN THE NET. CLASS OF 2021. IF YOU RUN YOUR RACE, I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO ENTANGLE YOU TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU DON'T RUN YOUR RACE AND YOU RUIN THE LEGACY, THE PURPOSE THAT GOD HAS FOR YOU. BUT THIS IS THE BEST PART OF THE RACE. HOW DO I RUN FOR MY LIFE? I MUST RUN FOR MY LIFE. BELIEVING IN EXTRAORDINARY GOD. I ALSO MUST RUN FOR MY LIFE, REMOVING ANY HINDRANCE. BUT I ALSO MUST RUN FOR MY LIFE, GETTING RID OF ANY SIN THAT MAY ENTANGLE ME FROM MOVING FORWARD IN THIS NEXT SEASON THAT GOD HAS TAKEN ME. BUT I ALSO MUST RUN WITH MY EYES, IT SAYS, FIXED ON JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF MY FAITH. SO WHEN I RUN THIS RACE, WHEN YOU WALK ACROSS THIS STAGE, AND YOU BEGIN TO RUN FOR YOUR LIFE, YOU RUN FOR YOUR LIFE WITH YOUR EYES FIXED ON JESUS. IT IS INTERESTING, BECAUSE IN CERTAIN RACES THAT OLYMPIC RACES THAT YOU HAVE, IF YOU LOOK TO YOUR LEFT, OR LOOK TO YOUR RIGHT, AND GET OUT OF YOUR LANE, YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THE RACE. BUT IF YOU RUN YOUR RACE, FOCUSED ON THE FINISH LINE, IF YOU RUN YOUR RACE, FOCUSED ON WHAT LIES AHEAD AND WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR US IS JESUS. WHEN YOU RUN WITH YOUR EYES FIXED ON JESUS, YOU MOVE FORWARD. AND SUCCEED. AND YOU KNOW, WHEN I USE MY IMAGINATION, AND I THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO RUN FORWARD AND RUN FOR YOUR LIFE, I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT FORREST GUMP. [ LAUGHTER ] NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I WATCH THE MOVIE FORREST GUMP, I ENJOY IT EVERY TIME, BUT OVERTIME, WATCHING THIS MOVIE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, I CANNOT HELP BUT THINK, AND REMEMBER, THAT EVERY TIME I SAW FORREST GUMP SUCCEEDING, EVERY TIME I SAW FORREST GUMP OVERCOMING, EVERY TIME I SAW FORREST GUMP PROSPERING, HE WAS RUNNING. WHEN HE WAS YOUNG AND HE COULD NOT RUN AND HE HAD THESE BRACES ON HIS LEG, AND HE KIND OF WALKED LIKE THE TIN MAN, HE, HE HAD SOME BULLIES COME TO HIM ON A BICYCLE. REMEMBER THAT? SOME BULLIES CAME TO HIM ON A BICYCLE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, FORREST GUMP BEGAN TO MOVE HIS LEGS. FORREST GUMP BEGAN TO RUN. AND THE MORE HE BEGAN TO MOVE, THE BRACES WHAT WAS HOLDING HIM BACK, BEGAN TO FALL DOWN AND HE RAN. HE WAS WITH HIS FRIEND JENNIE. AND THESE BULLIES CAME TO HIM ON A BIKE. FORREST GUMP GOT AWAY BECAUSE HE RAN. JENNIE WAS SO SURPRISED, WHEN SHE SAW HIM, HE SAID, RUN FOREST, RUN! IF RUN, HE SUCCEEDS AND GETS AWAY FROM THE BULLIES. WHEN INTO HIGH SCHOOL, THEY HAVE A PICK-UP TRUCK. WE HAVE HIM NOW. AS FOREST WALKING HOME, THE BULLIES COMES AND FOREST RUNS FOR HIS LIFE! AND WHILE HE IS RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE, HE RUNS THROUGH THE TOWN AND CUTS ACROSS THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND THE COACH SEES FOREST RUNNING ACROSS AND SAYS, WHO IS THAT? THAT IS FORREST GUMP! AND SO SURPRISED THAT HE IS MOVING, RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE, THEY SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE NEED TO GET HIM ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM. FORREST GUMP, BECAUSE RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE, NOW IS RUNNING ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM. WHILE FORREST GUMP IS RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE, BUT RUNNING ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM, FORREST GUMP GETS A SCHOLARSHIP TO GO TO COLLEGE BECAUSE HE IS RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE. WHAT FOREST ENLISTED IN THE ARMY. HE IS IN THE ARMY. THE SOLDIERS GET ATTACKED. FORREST GUMP IS ABLE TO SAVE SOLDIERS LIVES AND GET A PURPLE HEART ALL BECAUSE HE WAS RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE. CLASS OF 2021, I MAY NOT BE FORREST GUMP, BUT THE ONLY REASON WHY I'M STANDING HERE, THE ONLY REASON I'VE HAD SUCCESS, THE ONLY REASON I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ACCOMPLISHMENT IS BECAUSE SINCE I WALKED ACROSS THIS STAGE, I HAVE BEEN RUNNING FOR MY LIFE WITH MY EYES FIXED ON JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND THE FINISHER OF OUR FAITH. IF YOU DON'T GET ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT WHAT I AM SAYING TODAY, I PRAY THAT YOU WILL RUN ACROSS THIS STAGE, GET YOUR DIPLOMA, GET YOUR DEGREE AND RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! CLASS OF 2021. PLEASE! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE. CLASS OF 2021, WILL YOU RUN FOR YOUR LIFE? WITH YOUR EYES FIXED ON JESUS. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. AND RUN. FOR YOUR LIFE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> PASTOR JP FOSTER, YOU BROUGHT IT. THANK YOU. THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH. KEEP YOUR EYES FIXED ON JESUS. EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION ONE MORE TIME. PASTOR JP FOSTER. WORD THAT MANY USED THIS PAST YEAR, MORE THAN ANY OTHER WORD, IS THE WORD PIVOT. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO DO RIGHT NOW. PIVOT TO THE CONFERRAL OF DEGREES AS PART OF THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY. INVITE TO THE PLATFORM HERE AT THE PODIUM OUR BOARD CHAIR, Mr. MIKE MAPLES. MICHAEL MAPLES IS BOARD CHAIR FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS RIGHT NOW. HONOR TO SERVE ALONG SIDE HIM. HE IS KIND OF MY BOSS. AND DELIGHTFUL REPRESENTATION OF THE 26 OR SO TRUSTEES OF BIOLA UNIVERSITY. HE IS GOING TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE MISSION OF BIOLA. AND HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DR. DEBORAH TAYLOR, PROVOST AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT WHO WILL ENTER US INTO THE PART WHERE THE DEANS WILL BE INTRODUCING OUR GRADUATES. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING Mr. MICHAEL MAPLES. [APPLAUSE] >> THE MISSION OF BI UNIVERSITY IS BIBLICALLY CENTERED EDUCATION, SCHOLARSHIP AND SERVICE ━ EQUIPPING MEN AND IN MIND AND CHARACTER TO IMPACT THE WORLD FOR THE LORD JESUS CH WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THESE COMMITTED CHRISTIAN STUDENTS WH HAVE COME TO BIOLA FOR THIS REA IT IS NOW A DISTINCT PRIVILEGE FOR US TO PRESENT THESE DIPLOMA TO THOSE WHO HAVE FINISHED THEI COURSE, AND HAVE DEMONSTRATED S INTELLECTUAL GROWTH AND CHRISTIAN COMMITMENT. GRADUATES, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I CONGRATULATE YOU AND PRAY GOD'S BEST FOR EACH OF YOU AS YOU SEEK TO GLORIFY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN THE DAYS AND YEARS TO COME. CONGRATULATIONS! [APPLAUSE] >> AS PROVOST, IT IS MY HONOR TO ADD MY WELCOME TO THIS COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY WHERE WE ARE HONORING OUR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WHO ARE RECEIVING THEIR DEGREES FROM TWO OF OUR NINE SCHOOLS. STUDENTS FROM THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES. ARE YOU OUT THERE? [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AND HOW ABOUT OUR STUDENTS FROM THE SCHOOL OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTH. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. SO IN A MOMENT, YOUR SCHOOL DEANS WILL ASK YOU TO RISE FOR YOUR DEGREES IN GROUPS. THEN ACCORDING TO THE SCHOOL, YOU WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND THEN I WILL PRESENT TO YOU THE PRESIDENT FOR THE OFFICIAL CONFERRAL OF YOUR DEGREES. SO TO EACH OF YOU WHO ARE GRADUATING TODAY, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOUR RESILIENCE FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE OVERCOME IN THESE LAST MONTHS AND THAT HAVE YOU COMPLETED THE REQUIREMENTS AND DEMONSTRATED THE GROWTH THAT HAS HAPPENED IN YOUR MINDS, YOUR BODIES, YOUR SOULS AS YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE DEGREE THAT YOU HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO EARN. SO THANK YOU FOR PERSEVERING, THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THIS UNIVERSITY AND ALL THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT DURING THE TIME YOU ARE HERE. AND WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL NOW BE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND ENJOY THE REST OF THE CEREMONY. SO I WILL NOW ALLOW THE DEANS TO COME FORWARD. >> WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES PLEASE RISE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] GUIDED BY FACULTY COMMITTED TO FAITH-INTEGRATION INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM AND MODELING A CHRIST-LIKE COMMITMENT TO HUMAN FLOURISHING YOU HAVE ENDEAVORED: TO STUDY WHAT IT IS TO BE HUMAN; TO QUESTION WHO WE ARE HOW WE THINK, AND WHY WE ORGANIZE AS WE DO; TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR HUMAN FRAILTY THROUGH THE LENS OF EPISTEMIC HUMILITY; TO REVIEW, AND RESIST REPEATING, THE LESSONS OF HUMAN HISTORY THAT SHOW OUR GREATEST PITFALLS AND THE HORIZONS OF OUR GREATEST POTENTIAL; TO GIVE VOICE TO OUR NARRATIVES AND THE NARRATIVES OF OTHERS; TO DO JUSTICE AND TO BRING FORTH BEAUTY; TO BETTER SEEK, SEE, AND SAY THAT WHICH IS TRUE, AND GOOD, AND BEAUTIFUL. THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE DONE ━ TO CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2019! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] PLEASE BE SEATED. >> WILL THE CANDIDATES FOR BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN THE SCHOOL OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTH PLEASE RISE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] OUR SCHOOL, OUR SCHOOL VISION IS TO QUIP A NEW GENERATION OF ETHICALLY THOUGHTFUL PROFESSIONALS IN THE SCIENCES AND HEALTHCARE WHO ARE GROUNDED IN A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW, EDUCATED IN AN ACADEMIC RIGOROUS ENVIRONMENT READY TO PRESUME POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP AND ABLE TO PROVIDE THE CLEAR, MORAL VISION THAT THE WORLD DESPERATELY NEEDS. YOU ARE THIS NEW GENERATION. GO NOW AND TAKE UP POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP. GO NOW AND PROVIDE THE WORLD WITH A CLEAR MORAL VISION IT MEANS. GO NOW AND DISCOVER, INVOEO -- INNOVATE AND HEAL. MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU AS YOU IMPACT THE WORLD FOR OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. YOU MAY BE SEATED. [ APPLAUSE ] WE WILL HAVE NOW HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF THE RINGING OF THE BELL. >> I'M GOING TO PUT THIS DOWN BECAUSE I'M A LITTLE SHORT. SO THE RINGING OF BELLS IN CHURCHES AND CATHEDRALS TRADITIONALLY CALLS THE FAITHFUL TO WORSHIP. THIS BELL ON OUR COMMENCEMENT STAGE TODAY, ALONG WITH THE FIVE BELLS ON OUR BELL TOWER, AS PART OF THE ORIGINAL ELEVEN BELLS THAT WERE ONCE ON THE ORIGINAL BIOLA BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO, CALLING STUDENTS TO WORSHIP AND SO AS TO YOU, GRADUATING STUDENTS WHO ARE LEAVING THIS PLACE, PAUL TELLS US THAT WORSHIP IS PRESENTING OUR BODIES IN EVERY PLACE, AT EVERY TIME. AS LIVING SACRIFICES TO GOD, AS SAID IN ROMANS 12:1. JUST AS WE RANG THIS BELL, FOR MANY OF YOU, AT YOUR UNDERGRADUATE ORIENTATION ON THE LAWN, ON A SWEATY DAY, AND WHEN YOU ENTERED THE UNIVERSITY, YOU ARE NOW GRADUATING FROM BIOLA UNIVERSITY AND THIS IS AN ENTRANCE INTO YOUR NEW BEGINNING OF YOUR SERVICE IN THE WORSHIP OF THE WORLD. AND I WILL NOW RING THIS BELL ON BEHALF OF THE CLASS OF 2021. [APPLAUSE] [ BELL RINGS ] [APPLAUSE] >> AND NOW WILL ALL OF THE CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES P PRESIDENT COREY, ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY OF BIOLA UNIVERSITY IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO PRESEN TO YOU THESE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE DEGREES. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, I CONFER UPON YOU GRADUATES OF BIOLA UNIVERSITY, YOUR RESPECTIVE DEGREES WITH ALL THE ATTENDANT HONORS, RIGHTS AND PR. PERTAINING THERE TO. CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES. YOU HAVE NOW GRADUATED. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU USE YOUR EDUCATION TO HONOR THE WORLD. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] SO PLEASE BE SEATED. NOW AS WE TRANSITION TO PRESENT DIPLOMAS WE'LL HEAR BIOLA ALUMINA JUDY KIM SING, GOD I LOOK TO YOU. [ MUSIC ] ♪ GOD I LOOK TO YOU, I WON'T ♪ ♪ BE OVERWHELMED ♪ ♪ GIVE ME VISION TO SEE THINGS ♪ ♪ LIKE YOU DO♪ ♪ GOD I LOOK TO YOU, YOU'RE ♪ ♪ WHERE MY HELP COMES FROM ♪ ♪ GIVE ME WISDOM, YOU KNOW ♪ ♪JUST WHAT TO DO ♪ ♪ GOD I LOOK TO YOU, I WON'T ♪ ♪ BE OVERWHELMED ♪ ♪ GIVE ME VISION TO SEE THINGS ♪ ♪ LIKE YOU DO♪ ♪ GOD I LOOK TO YOU, YOU'RE ♪ ♪ WHERE MY HELP COMES FROM ♪ ♪ GIVE ME WISDOM, YOU KNOW ♪ ♪JUST WHAT TO DO ♪ ♪ AND I WILL LOVE YOU LORD MY ♪ ♪ STRENGTH ♪ ♪ AND I WILL LOVE YOU LORD MY ♪ ♪ SHIELD ♪ ♪ AND I WILL LOVE YOU LORD MY ♪ ♪ ROCK FOREVER ALL MY DAYS ♪ ♪ I WILL LOVE YOU GOD ♪ >> FEEL FREE TO SING-ALONG WITH ME. OH, GOD I LOOK TO YOU! ♪ GOD I LOOK TO YOU, I WON'T ♪ ♪ BE OVERWHELMED ♪ ♪ GIVE ME VISION TO SEE THINGS ♪ ♪ LIKE YOU DO♪ ♪ GOD I LOOK TO YOU, YOU'RE ♪ ♪ WHERE MY HELP COMES FROM ♪ ♪ GIVE ME WISDOM, YOU KNOW ♪ ♪JUST WHAT TO DO ♪ ♪ AND I WILL LOVE YOU LORD MY ♪ ♪ STRENGTH ♪ ♪ AND I WILL LOVE YOU LORD MY ♪ ♪ SHIELD ♪ ♪ AND I WILL LOVE YOU LORD MY ♪ ♪ ROCK FOREVER ALL MY DAYS ♪ ♪ I WILL LOVE YOU GOD ♪ ♪ AND I WILL LOVE YOU LORD MY ♪ ♪ STRENGTH ♪ ♪ AND I WILL LOVE YOU LORD MY ♪ ♪ SHIELD ♪ ♪ AND I WILL LOVE YOU LORD MY ♪ ♪ ROCK FOREVER ALL MY DAYS ♪ ♪ I WILL LOVE YOU GOD ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH OUR GOD REIGNS ♪ >> COME ON! SING IT. ♪ HALLELUJAH OUR GOD REIGNS ♪ ♪ OH HALLELUJAH OUR GOD ♪ ♪ REIGN ♪ FOREVER ALL MY DAYS ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH ♪ >> RECEIVING A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ENGLISH: >> RECEIVING A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY... >> RECEIVING A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES... >> RECEIVING A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PHILOSOPHY AND GRADUATING SUMMA CUM LAUDE... GRADUATING SUMMA CUM LAUDE... BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SOCIOLOGY... >> IT IS A LITTLE TOO QUIET IN HERE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ONE MORE TIME. CLASS OF 2021! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] SO GRADUATES YOU REACHED THIS MILESTONE IN EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY. IT IS A JOURNEY THAT HAS BEEN BOTH EXHAUSTING AND EXHILARATING. IT IS A JOURNEY THAT HAS TAKEN YOU TO NEW HEIGHTS AND MAYBE NEW DEPTHS. IT IS A JOURNEY THAT MADE YOU QUESTION PERHAPS, AND STRUGGLE IN WAYS THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE EACHED. PARTICIPATED. AT LEAST FOR FOR THIS JOURNE, IT IS OVER. OVER. AS YOU PART FROM HERE, JOINING A COMMUNITY OF BIOLA ALUMNI. I TRUST THAT BIOLA HAS IMPRESSED UPON YOU THAT YOU MUST TAKE ON THE CHALLENGES OF THIS WORLD SERIOUSLY. AND YOU MUST BE A LIGHT WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS. A HOPE WHERE THERE IS DESPAIR. A STEWARD OF KINDNESS IN A WORLD THAT SEEMS TO BE INCREASINGLY HOSTILE. AND YOU MUST BE WITH THE PROPHET ISAIAH SAYS, A REPAIRER OF THE BREACH. REPAIRER OF BROKEN WALLS. FIX THOSE THINGS. WITH REDEMPTIVE SPIRIT. THAT ARE BROKEN IN THIS WORLD. I CHARGE YOU GRADUATES, TO BE AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST. UPHOLDING BIBLICAL TRUTH. AND INTEGRITY AND SACRIFICE AND JUSTICE AND COMPASSION. I CHALLENGE YOU TO LIVE SELFLESSLY. I CHALLENGE YOU TO DEFINE YOURSELVES, NOT IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU DO OR WHO YOU IMPACT OR WHAT YOUR LEGACY MIGHT BE, I CHALLENGE YOU TO DEFINE YOURSELF IN JESUS. AND IT IS IN HIS NAME THAT I COMMISSION YOU NOW. SO I PRAY THAT YOU GO IN THE NAME OF THE ONE WHO IS BORN IN A MANGER, DIED ON A CROSS, FOR OUR SINS. RISEN FROM THE DEAD. AND ONE DAY COME AGAIN. GRADUATING CLASS, ONE MORE TIME, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO STAND UP WITH ME, IF YOU WOULD. I'M GOING TO GIVE. >> CHARGE, RESPOND BY CORPORATELY SAY, WE WILL. GRADUATES OF BIOLA UNIVERSITY, CLASS OF 2021, AS GOD HAS CALLED YOU, WILL YOU COMMIT TO BEING A LIGHT TO THE WORLD? [ GRADUATES ] WE WILL. >> I KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE. THESE GRADUATES BEHIND THEM, BEFORE THEM, TO THEIR LEFT AND TO THEIR RIGHT, ARE CELEBRATING GUESTS WITH THEM. FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS. I WILL ASK THE SAME OF YOU. THAT YOU ALSO RESPOND TO MY CHALLENGE SAYING, WE WILL. SO TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THESE STUDENTS IN THEIR JOURNEY, I ASK YOU, WILL YOU JOIN ME IN PRAYING FOR AND ENCOURAGING THOSE WHO YOU KNOW IN THIS CLASS OF 2021 AS THEY GRADUATE FROM BIOLA UNIVERSITY TODAY? [ AUDIENCE ] WE WILL. >> THAT WAS ROBUST. GRADUATES TIME TO GO NOW. NOT JUST TO CELEBRATIONS AND DINNERS BUT TIME TO GO IN THE SPIRIT OF THE ONE THAT CALLED YOU DISCIPLE. A WORLD THAT REALLY NEEDS YOU, NOW MORE THAN EVER. THE LOVE YOU EMBODY, THE GRACE YOU RADIATE, THE CONVICTIONS YOU BEAR, THE COURAGE YOU WILL MUSTER, THE WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE YOU POSSESS, GO NOW TO THE NEXT LEG OF YOUR JOURNEY. AS YOU RUN FOR YOUR LIFE. WITH THE HOPE AND KNOWLEDGE THAT INDEED TO LIVE IS CHRIST. KEEPING YOUR EYES FIXED ON HIM. I WOULD ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE JOIN THESE GRADUATES IN STANDING FOR OUR BENEDICTION THAT WILL BE GIVEN BY BIOLA UNIVERSITY TRUSTEE, FOR MANY DECADES NOW, MR. DWIGHT HANGER. >> PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER. >> OH, ABBA FATHER, CREATOR OF ALL THING, WHAT A BLESSING IT IS TO BE HERE FOR THE GRADUATION OF THESE TALENTED STUDENTS. THEY HAVE GROWN AND MATURED IN THEIR FAITH, THEY HAVE COMPLETED THEIR REQUIRED EDUCATION, SCHOLARSHIP AND SERVICE. DEAR GOD, WE ASK YOU TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE EVIL ONE. KEEP THEM CLOSE TO YOU AND BUILD A HEDGE OF PROTECTION AROUND THEM. MAY YOUR WORD IN THE HOLY SPIRIT BE THEIR GUIDE AS THEY PROVIDE LIGHT IN THE DARK WORLD. FATHER MAKE YOUR PLAN FOR THEIR LIVES, CRYSTAL CLEAR TO THEM. AND NOW WE SEND THEM OFF TO IMPACT THE WORLD FOR YOUR KINGDOM. MAY THE LORD BLESS EACH OF THEM WITH THE GIFT OF HIS PERFECT PEACE. AMEN. IF THE AUDIENCE WILL REMAIN SEATED WHILE WE HAVE THE RECESSIONAL. UNTIL THE RECESSIONAL IS COMPLETED. [ MUSIC ]
