>>> GOOD MORNING. IT'S FRIDAY, MAY 1STst. YOU'RE JOINING US LIVE FROM LIBERTY UNIVERSITY FRONTAL ZONE. ♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ >> THESE ARE CRAZY TIMES THAT CALL FOR CRAZY GATHERINGS LIKE THIS. TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE COMING TO YOU FROM VARIOUS PEOPLE'S LAWNS ALL THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. INCLUDING THE WORSHIP COLLECTIVE. THEY'RE GOING TO JOIN US, ALL THE DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE WORSHIP COLLECTIVE TO LEAD US IN SONG, THIS SEMESTER, WHERE WE WERE IN A MOMENT OF A COME INDICATED SERIES CALLED GOD ALONE. ♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ ♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ >>> EACH YEAR, WE TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK BACK AND REFLECT ON ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE IN AND THROUGH THE LIVES OF OUR UNIVERSITY. OBVIOUSLY NONE OF US WOULD HAVE PREDICTED A YEAR AGO THAT THIS WOULD BE A YEAR THAT WAS MARKED BY GLOBAL PANDEMIC. A MEDICAL PANDEMIC THAT HAD UNPRECEDENTED CULTURAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, YES, EDUCATIONAL RAMIFICATIONS LIKE NONE OF US HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED IN OUR LIFETIME. AT THIS PRESENT MOMENT, SO FAR AROUND 3 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE CONTRACTED THE CORONAVIRUS LOCALLY WHICH HAS RESULTED IN NEARLY A QUARTER MILLION DEATHS WORLDWIDE. COVID-19 HAS HAD A DEEP IMPACT ON THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AS WELL. WITH OVER 26 MILLION PEOPLE FINDING UNEMPLOYMENT HERE IN THE U.S. ALONE TODAY. THESE A A ALARMING REALITIES, SO NATURALLY, THESE WILL BE SYNONYMOUS TRUTHS ABOUT THE YEAR 2020, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO OVERRIDE AND HIJACK THE MEMORIES WE HAVE OF ALL THE OTHER GREAT THINGS THAT GOD HAS DONE THIS YEAR AS WELL. THIS IS PRECISELY WHY IT MIGHT BE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THIS YEAR THAT IN YEARS PAST FOR US TO DO -- WHAT WE DO AT LAWN VERY EVERY YEAR TO STOP AND REFLECT, TO REMIND OURSELF ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE IN AND THROUGH US AT LIBERTY. WHY DON'T WE DO THAT RIGHT NOW. BECAUSE WE ARE AN INSTITUTE OF HIGHER LEARNING AFTER ALL. LET'S START WITH WITH ACADEMICS. THIS YEAR THEY'RE THRILLED TO BEAT LAST YEAR'S RECORD TO HAVE THE LARGEST GRADUATING CLASS IN OUR HISTORY. I'M SO PROUD OF THESE SENIORS. CELEBRATE WITH THEM THIS VERY MILESTONE. WE ALSO CUT THE RIBBON THIS YEAR ON THE NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART SCHOOL OF BUSINESS. THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC LAUNCHED THE MICHAEL W. SMITH CENTER FOR WORSHIP MUSIC, A COLLABORATIVE -- AND KEVIN JOHN NASA, SR. THE FATHER, OF COURSE, OF THE JOHN HE IS BROTHERS. AND ALSO THE FALL KIRK CENTER WITH DISTINGUISHED INFLUENCES ALL OVER THE WORLD. IN ATHLETICS CLUB SPORTS EX HE WOULD LIKE NEVER BEFORE. MEN'S LACROSSE ARREST RANKED NUMBER FIVE IN THE NATION AFTER A 6-0 START. BOTH MEN AND WOMEN HOCKEY WON THEIR CONFERENCES. SHOOTING SPORTS WON FOUR NATIONAL TITLES AT THE SCHOLARSHIP SHOOTING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. SOME OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL MEMORIES OF LIBERTY ATHLETICS HAPPENED THIS YEAR. THIS WAS THE YEAR, AFTER ALL, THAT WE BECAME ELIGIBLE AND PLAYED IN THE VERY FIRST BOWL GAME IN OUR HISTORY IN FOOTBALL, AND WE WON IT. SPEND ANY AMOUNT OF TIME WITH THE COACH, THE STAFF, THE PLAYERS, YOU'LL GET THE FEELING THAT AROUND HERE, BOWL GAMES ARE GOING TO BECOME A REGULAR OCCURRENCE. THEY'RE GOING TO NEED A BIGGER TROPHY CASE. YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT THEIR BRAND-NEW DIGS. LET'S WATCH THIS VIDEO. >> OBVIOUSLY THUS ARE LOOKING WAY UP FOR OUR ENTIRE FOOTBALL PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHY WE LOVE IT WHEN WE HEAR THE COACH SAY IN HIS SOUTHERN ACCENT RISE WITH US. JUST A YEAR AGO, LIBERTY MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM ALSO PUT TOGETHER HISTORIC FIRST FOR LABS, ADVANCING TO THE SECOND ROUND OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT. THIS YEAR THEY PUT TOGETHER THE SINGLE BEST SEASON IN LIBERTY'S HISTORY. TOPPING IT ALL WITH ANOTHER CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP. NOT TO BE -- OUT DUNE, THE LIBERTY'S WOMEN'S TEAM HAS IS, IS ANNOUNCED COCHAMPION OF THE ASON CHAMPIONSHIP. THE SWIMMING AND DIVING TEAM BOTH WON A TITLE FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR AND THIRD EVER CONFERENCE TITLE. ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS ARE AWESOME. BUT IF -- WHAT MATTERS TO ME MOST IS, OF COURSE, SPIRITUALLY LIFE. -- SPIRITUAL LIFE. KEEPING THE FLAME BURNING STRONG SINCE THE DAY THE SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED. THE LORD WAS SO GOOD TO US THIS YEAR AND SHOWED UP IN SUCH STRONG AND MEMORABLE WAYS. WE SAW OVER 100 STUDENTS GIVE THEIR LIVES TO THE LORD THIS YEAR AND WE CELEBRATED OVER 70 PAP TOUCHES TOGETHER. THAT IS NOT COUNTING THE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF TIMES FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS AND THEY BAPTIZED SOMEONE IN THE POND. ON CAMPUS COMMUNITY WE SAW RECORD ATTENDANCE EACH WORK. WE WALKED THROUGH A SERIES CALLED -- WE GOT PRACTICAL THIS SEMESTER ON HOW WE CAN LEVERAGE THESE RELATIONSHIPS FOR GOSPEL ADVANCEMENT. WE HAD BRILLIANT PASTORS AND SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST RESPECTED AUTHORITIES ON THESE TYPE OF RELATIONSHIPS COME AND SPEAK TO US ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON THESE PARTICULAR PLACES, WHERE THEY'RE THE EXPERTS. GUESTS MIKE JOHN MARK COMER, BEN STEWART, AND REBECCA LIONS. THIS YEAR WE LAUNCHED TWO SEPARATE 24-HOUR PRAYER GATHERINGS. FOR 24 HOURS, NON-STOP ROTATING GROUPS OF YOU GATHERED IN PRAYER CHAP ELSE TO LEFT YOUR VOICES TOGETHER TO GOT IN PRAYER. OVER 3,000 OF YOU PARTICIPATED IN THOSE SUCCESSFUL PRAYER GATHERINGS AND THEY WERE SO IF YOU CAN IT WILL THEY SEALED IN OUR MINDS TOWARDS WORKING TOWARDS A TRUE ROBUST 24/7 PRAYER MINISTRY FOR NEXT YEAR. WE HOSTED A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL WOMEN'S CONFERENCE AS WELL. THE LEVERAGE CONFERENCE WAS ATTENDED BY OVER 1,000 OF OUR FEMALES. WE ARE SURE TO HAVE IT AGAIN LAST YEAR. MISSIONS SERVING OUR WORLD HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF OUR DNA. THIS YEAR WE FOUND OURSELVES WITH NEW PARTNERS DOING NEW THINGS. IN FEBRUARY WE PACKED OUT 287,000 MEALS IN ONE DAY AND GOT MEALS READY FOR CHILDREN READY IN HAITI. HOW MUCH MORE IN THE LIGHT OF ALL THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN OUR WORLD DO YOU THINK THOSE FOOD PACKAGES ARE OR THOSE FAMILIES RIGHT NOW. IN THE FALL WE SENT CLOSE TO 2500 OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE SHOEBOXES OUT TO THE WORLD. MY PERMANENT FAVORITE WAS WHEN WE GATHERED TOGETHER AFTER CAMPUS COMMUNITY TO PACK AND DECORATE 325 SUIT CASES THAT WERE SENT TO EACH FOSTER CHILD IN THE GREATER LYNCHBURG AREA. HERE IS A VIDEO OF THAT MOMENT. >> SOME OF THESE CHILDREN COME FROM VERY FORGET END SITUATIONS. WE WANTED TO GIVE THEM DIGNITY. WE PROVIDED SUIT CASES WHERE THEY ARE UNIQUELY PAINTED AND PRAYED OVER. THEY BECOME THEIR BAGS THAT THEY CAN CARRY WITH THEM THE REST OF THEIR LIVES WE HAVE BEEN TO PAINT LIKE 300 BAGS, MAKE SURE THEY'RE GOOD AND WE'RE TELLING THESE FOSTER KIDS THAT, HEY, WE LOVE YOU, WE CARE ABOUT YOU, THIS IS A GIFT FOR YOU. >> LOVE LUGGAGE FOR ME WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH A BUNCH OF GIRLS IN MY COMMUNITY GROUP, COMMUNITY HERE, BUT ALSO BRING COMMUNITIES TO ANOTHER GIRL OR GUY FOR OTHER GROUPS. WHO DOESN'T KNOW US, BUT STILL HAVE A NEED TO FEEL LOVED. TO FEEL LOVED JUST FROM, LIKE, PEOPLE THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW. >> IT MEANS SHARING LOVE WITH CHRIST AND ALLOWING CHILDREN TO KNOW THAT CHRIST LOVES THEM, WHO DIED FOR THEM, AND WANTS THEM TO -- HIM TO KNOW HIM PERMISSION. >>, LORD, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. WE DON'T HAVE TO. WE GET TO DO THIS FOR SO MANY CHILDREN AROUND THIS COMMUNITY AND SO I KNOW THERE'S GOD TO BE A FOSTER KID OUT THERE RIGHT NOW WHO IS THINKING NO ONE THINKS ABOUT ME, NO ONE CARES ABOUT ME, NO ONE KNOWS MY NAME, HAS NO IDEA THERE'S GOING TO BE NINE, 10 COLLEGE STUDENTS PREPARING A GIFT FOR THEM. AND PRAYING OVER THEM. WE PRAY, GOD, THAT OUR LOVE WOULD BE SO EXTRAVAGANT THAT WE VIEW THIS THAT IT WOULD BE JUST ONE MORE AIR RORY POINTING SOMEONE TO THE GOSPEL. WE PRAY THIS IN YOUR NAME, AMEN. AGAIN LIKE YOU JUST SAW ON THAT VIDEO IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAID ME TO -- AMAZE ME HOW LIBERTY STUDENTS ARE INTERESTED IN GOD WORKED THROUGH THEM AND THEIR LIVES, BUT THROUGH THEIR CAMPUS AND THROUGH THE WORLD. ORPHANS, FOSTER KIDS, THEY'LL NEVER FORGET WHAT WAS GIVEN TO THEM AND THEIR ACT OF KINDNESS. SPEAKING OF BEING SENT OUT, WE SENT OUT EVEN TO TO THE BORDER OF TEXAS THIS LAST SUMMER TO SERVE IMMIGRANTS. WHEN THE HURRICANE HIT THE BAHAMAS WE SENT A TEAM THERE AS WELL. HUNDREDS OF YOU WERE PLANNING TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE WORLD FOR SPRING BREAK. IN PARTICULAR WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP THROUGH SAMARITAN'S PURSE IN COLOMBIA. SEVERAL GOT TO GO IN JANUARY TO SERVE REFUGEES. DON'T WORRY, THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE DONE WHEN WHEN WE'RE CLEARED TO TRAVEL AGAIN, COLOMBIA -- COLOMBIA, WE'RE COMMITTED TO GO BACK AND FINISH THE JOB. WE PROMISE MORE ON THESE LU SEND TRIPS THAN EVER BEFORE. HE IS EVEN AT SPRING BREAK. WE HAD MORE OF YOU SIGN UP THAN EVER IN HISTORY. EVEN THOUGH EVERYTHING HAD TO BE CANCELED BECAUSE OF THIS PANDEMIC WE WERE ABLE TO REFUND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WHICH HELPS US TO REBOOT NEXT YEAR AND TO BE GOAL MISSIONAL ONCE AGAIN. THEN OF COURSE, THERE'S ONE THING THAT SETS US APART FROM ANYONE UNIVERSITY IN THE WORLD. OUR WEEKLY CONVOCATIONS. CONVOS THIS YEAR HIT NEW LEVELS OF IMPACT AGAIN. I KNOW IT MIGHT SEEM FOREVER AGO, BUT BACK IN AUGUST WE STARTED THIS SCHOOL YEAR BY WALKING INTO THE VINES CENTER AND FOUND F SINGLE SEAT COVERED WITH A MY PILLOW WAITING ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. THAT DAY OVER 10,000 OF US KICKED THINGS OFF DANCING AND LITERALLY MIRRORING THE MIRROR MAN. WHAT A FUN WAY TO START. WE CERTAINLY MADE SURE WE HAD FUN IN EVERY FACET BEYOND EVEN CONVOCATION. COFFEE HOUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, TREATED US TO OUR VERY OWN ROCKETs COMEDY. INSTEAD OF CHRISTMAS CONVO, WE HAD A SPECIAL VALENTINE'S CONVO WHICH INCLUDED AN APPEARANCE OF THE VERY REAL, THE VERY SHIRTLESS, THE YouTUBE SENSATION, THE SAX MAN SERGIO FLORES. WE PLAYED DUCK HUNT WITH NONE OTHER THAN BRETT FAVRE. WE TRIED OUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOT SAUCE WITH THE HEAD OF NASA. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN. WHEN BEN FROM THE SHOW HOMETOWN VISITED LAST YEAR, WE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO SURPRISE A COUPLE OF FRESHMAN GUYS WHO HAD NO IDEA WHILE WE WERE RENOVATING THEIR DORM, THEY HAD THE COOLEST DORM ON CAMPUS. LET'S WATCH THIS TOGETHER. >> >> THE COOLEST THING OF ALL IS THIS RIGHT HERE. >> YOU'RE THINKING I'M NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE A LOUD AMP IN A DORM. THIS ISN'T A BE AMP. CHECK IT OUT. IT'S A REFRIGERATOR. >> WE COMPLETELY REDID THE CABINETRY. >> THE LIVING AREA, WE THREW IN A BRAND-NEW LOVESEAT AND A LET CHAIR TO MATCH. WE ALSO THREW IN THREE CHAIRS, WHERE YOU CAN TURN THEM AROUND, THIS WHOLE PLACE CAN BE PERFECT FOR COMMUNITY. >> WE GAVE YOU A SETTING WHERE YOU CAN HAVE PLENTY OF SPACE FOR YOUR HOMEWORK, BRAND-NEW BEDDING, EVEN GAVE EACH OF YOU A PERSONALIZED PILLOW WITH YOUR ZIP CODE AND HOMETOWN ON IT. >> AS FAR AS STUFF ON YOUR WALL, WE HAVE A POSTER SIGNED BY MOST OF THE GUYS ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM, A NEON SIGN FROM LIBERTY AND WE PUT YOUR GUITARS ON THE WALL. >> EACH BUNK HAS ITS OWN PERSONALIZED LIGHT. COME CHECK THIS OUT. >> WE STOCKED YOU WITH ENOUGH SPEAKS -- SNACKS TO HOST EVERYONE ON THE HAUL. >> GOD BLESS YOU. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> PHIL AND EVAN JOINED US FOR A BIT OF BATTLE OF BROTHERS AS WELL. CANDICE AND HER HUSBAND GEORGE JOINED US A WEEK AFTER THEY WERE MARRIED TO PLAY THE NEWLY WE HAD GAME TO SEE IF THEY ACTUALLY KNEW EACH OTHER WELL ENOUGH. ONE OF OUR FIRST FAVORITES WAS THESE DOCTORS, TWO GENTLEMEN WHO DEFINITELY ON DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM TALKED ABOUT WHERE WOULD LIFE BE DESPITE ALL THAT AND JOINED IN A GAME CALLED COMMON DEMONSTRATE NADER. -- DENOMINATOR. I LOVE EVERY GUEST THAT GOD HAS BROUGHT OUR WAY. ONE I'LL PERSONALLY NEVER BE ABLE TO FORGET AND GET OVER IS WHEN AMERICA'S GOT TALENT WINNER FOR THIS YEAR, CODY LEE, JOINED US. WHO COULD EVER FORGET THAT IN GOD'S PROVIDENCE AND PERFECT TIMING, HE WOULD BE HERE TO SING "I CAN OBVIOUSLY IMAGINE." WE CAN SAY THAT TOBY McAND HIS FAMILY WERE HERE. IN YEARS TO COME THERE WILL BE MOVIES, DOCUMENT DEGREES, MOVIE SERIES, BOOKS, MUSEUM EXHIBITS, SO MUCH MORE DEDICATED TO THIS COVID-19 MOMENT, WHERE THE WHOLE WORLD CAME TO A HALT. I HOPE IN ALL OF THIS YOU SENSED THAT INDEPENDENT SEE ON GOD, A DEPENDENCY ON HIM, A REALONEMENT, AN AWAKENING THAT MAKES THIS YEAR HARD FOR SO MANY OF US, YES, EVEN HARD BREAKING, BUT ALSO REWARDING. LOOKING HEAD, LIFE WILL SURELY BE DIFFERENT WHEN WE ARE ALL BACK TOGETHER. BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE MOMENTS AND HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS YEAR THAT WE SIMPLY CAN'T FORGET IN THE WAKE OF THE THE CORONAVIRUS. MEMORIES THAT WERE MADE AND ENDURE LONGER. IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT MY FAVORITE MEMORY WILL BE, IT WAS BACK ON SEPTEMBER 15, WHEN ABOUT 4,000 OF YOU WALKED UP THE HILL, WORSHIPED GOD AND PRAYED FOR REVIVAL AND WE WATCHED THE SUNSET OVER OUR CAMPUS. LET'S WATCH THIS VIDEO. ♪ [ SINGING ] ♪ ♪ [ SINGING ] ♪ >> WE PRAYED FOR REVIVAL THAT NIGHT KNOWING GOOD AND WELL THAT SOMETIMES THE ONLY WAY REVIVAL IS USHERED IN IS ON THE SKIRTS OF DISRUPT DISRUPTION. MAYBE THIS IS A WAY FOR GOD TO COME ON OUR CAMPUS, BUT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. TO WAKE US UP FROM OUR SLUMBER, QUARANTINE US SO WE CAN BE INTIMATE WITH HIM. SPEAKING OF DISRUPTION, I WANTED TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO HAVE TWO OF OUR SPIRITUAL LEADERS ON CAMPUS WHO HAD THEIR ENTIRE SENIOR YEAR DISRUPTED. LET'S WATCH THIS TOGETHER. >> ESTHER AND DEREK, THANK YOU FOR BEING ON MY FRONT PORCH. THIS IS KIND OF WEIRD. FUN HOPEFULLY AT THE SAME TIME. [ LAUGHTER ] >> TAKE YOUR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT HAT OFF, SGA HAT OFF, PUT YOUR CAP AND GOWN ON FOR JUST A SECOND AND TAKE YOUR SENIOR CAP AND TALK TO US ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SENIOR YEAR. I MEAN, IT'S NOT AT ALL WHAT YOU EXPECTED IT TO LOOKS LIKE AS FAR AS THE SECOND HALF, BUT, YEAH, HOW HAS THIS FELT FOR YOU, YOU KNOW, AS A SENIOR COMING IN TO THIS PANDEMIC SEASON? >> YEAH, WELL OBVIOUSLY THIS HAS BEEN OUR THIRD TIME AROUND SEEING OUR FRIENDS GRADUATE AS FRESHMAN, SOPHOMORE, JUNIORS AND SENIORS, SO WE'VE SEEN THEM DO THE TRADITIONAL GOOD-BYE, YOU HANG OUT THE LAST TIME, HANG OUT WITH YOUR FRIENDS ON CAMPUS, GO TO A BASEBALL GAME AND WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT. SO IT'S CERTAINLY DISAPPOINTING. IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE HOPED THAT ARE THAT YOU IMAGINE THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO HOLD ONTO WHILE YOU SAY GOOD-BYE TO THIS INCREDIBLE SCHOOL. IT'S CERTAINLY DISAPPOINTING, BUT WE KNOW THAT HAS HAS -- GOD HAS GOT A PLAN. HE ALREADY HAD THIS PLANNED. WE'RE TRUSTING THAT THIS IS JUST A START TO AN INCREDIBLE LIFE AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT. >> SO FAIR TO USE THE WORD DISAPPOINTMENT. A LOT OF TIME PEOPLE EXPECT TO HAVE CHRISTIANS HAVE VEND NEAR AND NOT HAVE WORDS LIKE HURT, DISAPPOINTMENT, HARDSHIP. HOW HAS THIS FELT FOR YOU AS A SENIOR? >> AS A FIRST GENERATION GRADUATE, IT'S BEEN SORT OF A DIFFERENT BATTLE TO MOURN THE LOSS OF WHAT I WORKED FOR, FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, SO THAT IS NOT EVEN JUST FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR MY FAMILY. I KNOW THERE'S SO MANY OF MY PEERS THAT ARE MOURNING THE SAME LOSS, THE GRADUATION, AND SO IT'S REALLY TO ALLOW MYSELF TO MOURN THE LOSS OF JUST THIS EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO TO ENCOURAGE MYSELF, TO ENCOURAGE MY APPEARS TO REMAIN OPTIMIST AND TO KNOW THAT GOD IS SOVIET -- SOVEREIGN AS WELL. >> IT'S VERY EASY WHEN YOU -- IT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE DOING REALLY WELL, YOU HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL IN YOUR LIFE. AS I SAID EARLIER WE HAVE THESE PLANS TO GRADUATE, WE HAVE THESE PLANS FOR LIBERTY AND WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER IT. WE HAD NO IDEA GOING INTO THIS SEMESTER THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. NOT EVEN A CHANCE. IT'S SHOWN ME WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL, BUT TAUGHT ME GOD HAS CONTROL. WHEN WE TAKE OURSELVES OUT OF THAT EQUATION IT'S EASIER TO SEE HOW MUCH CONTROL HE HAS AND HOW HE'S GOING TO USE THIS. IT WILL TAKE A FEW WEEKS, MONTHS, YEARS TO SEE THE THINGS MAYBE HE PROTECTED US FROM, THE THINGS HE ALLOWED US TO GO THROUGH TO DWELL AND LEARN FOR NEXT SANCTIONS IN LIFE, BUT WE JUST ARE -- JUST HAVE TO TRUST IN LIFE. GROW IN OUR FAITH. >> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPACTING THE ENTIRE WORLD, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPACTING US. WHAT IS GOING TO MATTER AFTER THIS IS THAT WE LOOK BACK AND WE KNOWED THAT -- IN COMMUNITY. WE WERE DEEP IN OUR FAITH DURING THIS. WHAT IS GOING TO MATTER AFTER ALL OF THIS TO THE WORLD IS TO REALLY SEE HOW THE CLASS OF 2020 NAVIGATED IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCE, SO I FEEL LIKE THIS IS JUST ANOTHER INSTANCE, WHERE GOD IS ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO RISE TO THE CASE, BUT WITH THAT SAID, IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO TOGETHER. SO I WOULD JUST REALLY ENCOURAGE MY CLASSMATES, GRADUATING CLASS, TO BE STRONG, HOLD THEIR CHIN UP, TO KNOW THEY'RE NOT IN THIS ALONE. >> WE RECENTLY HAD A CHANCE TO BE WITH OUR FRIENDS AT RUNK RUNK AND PRATT PRATT. A SENIOR COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE BEEN CORNED. I KNOW SEVERAL WHO LOST LOVES AND CAN'T ATTEND THEIR FUNERALS BECAUSE THEY'RE MORE VULNERABLE DURING THIS SEASON AS SENIOR CITIZENS. WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE WORSHIP COLLECTIVE WE WANT TO THEM AND WE WENT TO THEIR LAWN, SET UP, AND LED SOME OLD GOSPEL SONGS FOR THEM. A LOT OF THEM CAME OUT TO THEIR PATIO. SOME CAME OUTSIDE AND SAT SAY DISTANCE AND ENJOYED THAT TIME OF WORSHIP. IT WAS SUCH AN HONOR FOR US TO GET TO MINISTER THEM. LET'S WATCH THIS TOGETHER. >> THESE FOLKS ARE LIVING UNDER SOME OF THE STRICTEST GUIDELINES BEING ABLE TO SEE OR EVEN SPEND TIME WITH OTHER PEOPLE. WE SHOWED UP HERE TODAY TO REMIND THEM THAT THEY ARE LOVED, THEY ARE VALUED, THAT THEY ARE INDEED NOT ALONE. FOR EACH OF THE 175 RESIDENTS, WE ON BEHALF OF THE LIBERTY FAMILY HAVE BROUGHT THEM EACH PERSONAL GIFT BASKETS WITH HANDWRITTEN LETTERS AND CANDY FOR THEM TO ENJOY. ADDITIONAL WE'RE GOING TO BE LEADING THEM IN A WORSHIP SET, THIS GENERATION'S FAVORITE IS -- FAVORITE HYMNS. THIS SET WILL BE BROADCASTED TO A CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION. WE'RE EXCITED TO BE HERE AND CELEBRATE THE RESIDENTS OF THE RUNK & PRATT COMMUNITY. ♪ [ SINGING ] ♪ ING. ♪ [ SINGING ] ♪ ♪ [ SINGING ] ♪ >> SO LET'S THINGS GOING AS WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR NOT JUST THE SENIOR ASSISTS, BUT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WORLD SINCE THEY'RE SO VULNERABLE TO THIS VIRUS WE NEXT WANT TO CHECK IN WITH OUR FOOTBALL COACH. IN ONE YEAR OF BEING OUR COACH HE HAS BEEN SO USED TO TAKING US FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER TO A BOWL GAME. NOT JUST TO DO THAT BUT TO WIN IT. WE LOVE HIM AND CELEBRATE HIM FOR WHAT HE'S DONE IN THE PAST, BUT AS WE LOOK AHEAD, WANTED TO VISIT HIM IN HIS LAWN, THAT'S RIGHT, THE FOOTBALL FIELD. >> WHAT IS UP, GUYS? THIS IS COACH FREEZE. I'M ON MY LAWN AT LIBERTY STADIUM. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE DAY THAT HAVING GETS TO BE BACK TO SOME NORMALCY AND WE GET TO PLAYING SOME FOOTBALL BECAUSE YOU GUYS, OUR STUDENTS, MAKE THIS THE BEST ATMOSPHERE EVER TO PLAY IN. I ENJOY IT MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW. I KNOW THAT THIS FALL WHEN WE COME BACK HERE AND HAVE OUR HOME OPENER, YOU'RE GOING TO BE HERE LOUD, EXCITED, PULL OUR TEAM ON TO A VICTORY AND GET US TO ANOTHER BOWL GAME IN YEAR TWO. YOU GUYS ARE SPECIAL. CAN'T WAITED TO SEE YOU. >> WE LOVE YOU AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO KICK OFF IN SEPTEMBER. WE WANT TO END OUR LAWN SLOW WITH, OF COURSE, OUR VERY OWN PRESIDENT JERRY AND BECKI. THEY ALLOWED US TO COME TO THEIR LAWN AND SPEND SOME TIME WITH THEM TOGETHER. LET'S WATCH THIS TOGETHER. >> OBVIOUSLY IT WOULDN'T BE FRONT LAWNVO WITHOUT COMING TO VISIT THE FALL WELLS IN THEIR BEAUTIFUL HOME. THANK YOU FOR OPENING UP I GUESS NOT ONLY YOUR LAWN, BUT -- YOUR HOME TO US, BUT YOUR LAWN, YOUR FRONT LAWN. ALL OF US ARE QUARANTINED IN THIS SEASON FOR YOU AS GRANDPARENTS, JUST TO HAVE YOUR GRANDKIDS AND FAMILIES WITH YOU, BUT IT'S CHALLENGING. HOW ARE YOU DOING? >> I THINK WE'RE DOING WELL. WE ENJOYED OUR TIME. WE'RE REALLY BLESSED TO BE OUT HERE ON THE FARM, TO HAVE THIS PLACE, BE ABLE TO GET OUT, PLAY WITH THE DOGS. OUR HORSES ARE RIGHT BEHIND US. WE'VE BEEN SPENDING MORE TIME THAN WE EVER WOULD RIDING HORSES AND HANGING OUT WITH THE FAMILY. WE ALSO KNOW THAT THIS HAS AFFECTED A LOT OF OUR FRIENDS. WE FEEL REALLY BAD FOR OUR FRIENDS IN NEW YORK. THEY HAVEN'T HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUTSIDE. THEY'RE SUFFERING. A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVE LONG LIVES. WHILE WERE ABLE TO ENJOY OURSELVES HERE, WE ARE CONTINUALLY PRAYING FOR THEM AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT IS AFFECTED SO HEAVILY. ALL THE BUSINESSES ALSO THAT HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS CORONAVIRUS. >> I'VE BEEN MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN EVER. I STILL HAVE TIME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FINGERPRINT YEARS TO RIDE HORSES ON THE TRAILS. I'VE MADE THE BEST OF A TOUGH SITUATION FOR OUR PEOPLE. I REALLY THINK IT'S GOING TO TURN OUT THIS -- THE NUMBERS ARE SHOWING NOW THE DEATH RATE IS NOT AS HIGH AS PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS TO BEGIN WITH SO THAT IS GREAT NEWS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, FOR THE WORLD, AND WE -- WE'RE PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS FOR BEING SO STRONG THROUGH THIS, BEING SO UNDERSTANDING. ALL DURING SPRING BREAK, THE WHOLE WORLD CHANGED. WE HAD MEETINGS EVERY DAY, TWO HOURS, ALL THE EXECUTIVE TEAM, YOU WERE PART OF THAT, DAVID, AND WE CAME UP WITH A PLAN THAT WE THINK IS A MODEL FOR ALL UNIVERSITIES TO FOLLOW, WHERE STUDENTS WHO DON'T HAVE -- CAN'T DO ONLINE EDUCATION VERY WELL, -- DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK HOME. -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] -- REALLY HAVE NO CHOICE, BUT TO BE HERE. WE FOUND A WAY TO KEEP THIS THEIR HOME, BUT TO KEEP IT SAFE. WE HAD ZERO CASES AMONG FACULTY, STAFF, OR STUDENTS ON CAMPUS. SO EVEN THOUGH THE PRESS HAS TRIED TO BEAT UP ON US WE TAKE IT A-- WE TAKE IT AS A COMPLIMENT THAT WE'RE THE TARGET. >> EVERY LAWN SLOW WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ARE FROM YOU AS OUR LEADER. YOU KNOW MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE WHAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR AS WE GET KNOWING. OBVIOUSLY THIS YEAR FEELS LIKE IT'S A WHOLE NEW SET OF CHALLENGES FOR YOU DURING SUMMER WITH CONSTRUCTION AND EVERYTHING, BUT THERE'S SO MANY EXCITING THINGS THAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT? >> THE PARKING GARAGE, THE OTHER BIG PROJECTS ON CAMPUS, THIS HASN'T IMPACTED CONSTRUCTION HARDLY AT ALL. SO WE'RE GETTING A LOT DONE. IT WAS A PERFECT TIME TO TAKE THE ROOF OFF THE VINE CENTER BECAUSE CONVO WAS CANCELED ANYWAY. THE NEW WILL BE READY HOPEFULLY EARLY FALL. IT WILL BE A BIG IMPROVEMENT, MUCH BETTER SOUND, MUCH BETTER CONSTRUCTION, MUCH MORE PERMANENT CONSTRUCTION, AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING. I REALLY THINK THINGS WILL BE OPENING UP IN THE FALL. I STALKED TO THE GOVERNOR TWO NIGHTS AGO, CALLED TO ENCOURAGE HIM. HE HAD THE GUTS TO OPEN IT UP WHEN HE'S GETTING BEATEN UP FROM ALL SIDES. EVEN THE PRESIDENT CRITICIZED WHAT HE'S DOING A LITTLE BIT. YOU REALLY HAS SHOWN LEADERSHIP LOOKER YOU -- LIKE YOU RARELY SEE FROM A POLITICIAN. I THINK THE SAME THING IS TRUE FOR OUR YOU WANT, TOO. -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] -- TOO MUCH MORE OF THIS SHUTDOWN. ALL OUR NUMBERS LOOK GREAT AT LIBERTY. THERE'S A WHOLE WORLD OUT THERE THAT WE GOT TO WORRY ABOUT. WE GOT TO GET THINGS BACK. >> OBVIOUSLY OUR STUDENTS SEE -- THE PARKING, THAT IS EXCITING FOR -- EXCITING FOR OUR COMMUTERS. THE VINES CENTER ALSO. TELL THEM ABOUT THE CONCERTS. >> -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] -- I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO -- MAKE IT A VENUE TO BRING IN MAJOR ACTS TO LIBERTY. IT WILL BE BIG NAME MUSICAL GROUPS IN A LOT OF YOUR CITIES. -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] . >> WE STARTED THE INDOOR TENNIS FACILITY, TOO. >> I SAW THAT. >> YOU'RE A TENNIS PLAYER, SO I KNOW YOU'LL BE ENJOYING -- ENJOYING THAT. >> MY FAMILY AND I WERE PLAYING TENNIS. WE NOTICED THE NETS WERE DOWN AND THEY WERE CLEARING THE GROUND. WHEN YOU'RE ON CAMPUS -- YOU'RE WORKING FROM HOME, I'M WORKING FROM HOME, OUR MAINTENANCE FOLKS ARE FULL THROTTLE. OUR CLEANING FOLKS. THIS IS THE CLEANEST PLACE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. AND THEN OUR CONSTRUCTION PEOPLE. IT JUST FEELS LIKE WE HAVE PUSHED THE GAS ALL THE WAY DOWN. >> THE VAST MAJORITY OF EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING FROM HOME. I JOKED THE OTHER DAY WE TALKED ABOUT MOVING THE SHOOTING RANGE TO THE LAWN BECAUSE -- IT REALLY LOOKS EMPTY PEP WHEN YOU PUT 1200 PEOPLE ON A CAMPUS THAT SIZE, IT'S LIKE NOBODY IS THERE, IT'S LIKE A GHOST TOWN. BUT IT'S THE SAFEST PLACE THAT ANYBODY CAN BE AT, I BELIEVE. >> WE MISS THE STUDENTS AND WE KNOW EVERYBODY MISSES CAMPUS. THAT IS WHAT THEY SIGNED UP. THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED. >> COMMUNITY. >> RIGHT. NOBODY IMAGINED SPRING BREAK AND WE'D COME BACK AND THE WORLD WOULD BE LIKE THIS, AND SO I ALSO FEEL FOR THE STUDENTS THAT ARE MISSING THEIR SPRING SEMESTER, WHATEVER YEAR, FRESHMAN YEAR, SOPHOMORE YEAR, ESPECIALLY THE SENIORS. IT'S TOUGH. EVERYBODY IS GOING TO REMEMBER THE YEAR. EVERYTHING CHANGED. 2020, EVERYTHING CHANGED. >> MY MESSAGE TO THE SENIORS IN PARTICULAR? >> YEAH, WE HAVE SPECIAL PLANS FOR GRADUATION CEREMONIES, THE DAY BEFORE AND THE DAY AFTER THE FIRST FOOTBALL GAME. WE THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A SPECIAL OCCASION IN A LOT OF WAYS. I HOPE THE FAMILIES WILL ALL COME BACK. WE'LL HAVE SPACE RESERVED FOR THEM. I THINK THE STADIUM WILL BE FULL. I CAN'T ANNOUNCE ALL THE PLANS RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A SPECIAL EVENT. A LOT OF THE SENIORS -- >> WE'RE PROUD OF THEM AND WHAT THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED. WE DIDN'T WANT TO JUST SET UP A VIDEO AND LET THAT BE DONE LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, LIKE SOME SCHOOLS HAVE DONE. WE DECIDED TO SET OUT A WEEKEND TO HONOR OUR GRADUATES. >> IT'S SUCH A MILESTONE MOMENT. THEY HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY-YEAR AFTER-YEAR AFTER-YEAR AFTER YEAR. IT'S NOT JUST THOSE STUDENTS, THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY THAT HAVE INVESTED MONEY, TIME, EFFORTS. A LOT OF THEM THE VERY FIRST COLLEGE GRADUATE IN THE FAMILY, TO BE ABLE TO BE ON CAMPUS ON A WEEKEND SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO BE ALSO ENJOY THE FIRST FOOTBALL GAME OF THE SEASON, THAT IS GOING TO BE A REALLY, REALLY FUN, MEMORABLE WEEKEND FOR ALL OF US. THANKS SO MUCH AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. >> -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] -- I GUESS EVERYBODY REMEMBERS -- >> SANDY, COME HERE. >> JERRY CALLS HIM A DIFFERENT NAME EVERY TIME. >> SANDY, COME HERE. >> HE CALLS HIM BANDIT SOMETIMES. >> LOVE BANDIT. >> ANYWAY -- >> LAST TIME OUR STUDENT BODY SAW THEM. >> THAT'S RIGHT. NOT EXACTLY THRILLED ABOUT IT, I DIDN'T ACTUALLY WANT ANOTHER PUPPY AT THE TIME. WE HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE. HE IS A GREAT, GREAT DOG. THANK YOU, DAVID NASSER ADD LIBERTY UNIVERSITY. >> THAT DOG TRAVELED HALFWAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO COME BE A PART OF THIS FAMILY. >> HE'S PART OF THIS FAMILY NOW. >> I GOT BECKI A HORSE FOR HER BIRTHDAY. >> THE WHITE ONE. >> THE HORSE IS SUCH A GOOD RIDING HORSE NEXT TO THE OTHERS THAT WE HAVE. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE FIVE-YEAR-OLD RALPH ON A TRAIL RIDE ON A SADDLE. >> THE GRANDKIDS, ARE THEY GETTING ON THE HORSES? >> THEY LOVE THEM. SHE TALKED ABOUT HER ALL THE TIME AND WANTS TO RIDE HER. >> HAVE A GREAT SUMMER. >> THANK YOU. >> WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE FALL. >> AGAIN, THANKS FOR LETTING US JOAN YOU IN YOUR -- ON YOUR LAWN. >> THANKS FOR COMING OVER. >> THANK YOU, DAVID. >> ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE SO BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE GREAT LEADERSHIP LIKE JERRY AND BECKI, REALLY ALL OF OUR SENIOR LEADERSHIP WHO LED US TO THIS PARTICULAR SEASON. WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO HAVE OUR STUDENTS LEAD AND END THIS VERY LAST MOMENT IN THIS SEMESTER'S LAWN CASE. WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO GO THROUGH THE 360, EVERY CONVOCATION, BY LISTENING TO OUR THEME SONG, CONVOCATION THEME SONG. WE REMIXED IT, PUT IT ON TIKTOK AND OPENED IT UP FOR A COMPETITION. LISTEN, LISTEN TO THIS REMIX, THAT IS THE VOICE OF OUR SENIOR FOUNDER, PRESIDENT FALWELL WELL, SR. IN THE MIX, AND EVERYONE WHO HOSTS ONE WILL GET A LAWN CASE T-SHIRT, BUT ALSO YOU WILL HAVE ONE PARTICULAR WINNER WHO WILL WIN A V.I.P. EXPERIENCE FOR NEXT SEMESTER. WE HAVE BECKI AND CAROLYN TO JOIN US IN THAT JUST FOR FUN, BUT YOU'LL SEE THAT AND A FEW EXCERPTS OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO SUBMITTED THEIR TIKTOK, BUT LAST BUT NOT LEAST, OUR WINNER. LET'S WATCH THIS TOGETHER. ♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ >> THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US FOR FRONT LAWNVOCATION THIS MORNING. I HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT TIME AND IT INSPIRED YOU. JOIN US IN PRAYER ALL THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND REALLY AS WE ALL PREPARE AND EXPECT GOD IN THE FALL TO DO THINGS THAT WE'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE. WE LOVE YOU. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN THE FALL. GOD BLESS YOU.
