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Convocation 2020: Learning to Listen, Learn, Love and Lead

Dr. Bryan Beyer blows the shofar signalling the beginning of a new school year.
CIU President Dr. Mark Smith gives the Convocation address.

CIU President Dr. Mark Smith gives the Convocation address.

鈥淧raise the Lord for such a great start to the semester!鈥 said Professor , opening the annual Convocation signaling the 2020-2021 school year at CIU.

In the era of COVID-19, Rogers encouraged students to continue wearing their masks and being diligent about social distancing. led a welcoming round of applause for new students and faculty before set the tone for the academic year.

Smith thanked the new students for choosing CIU, and updated everyone with a short video on recent CIU achievements such as 240 new courses and additional security cameras. After welcoming new faculty and staff to the team, Smith also noted that 20 CIU athletes rededicated their lives to Christ at an Athletics Department worship service a few days prior.

In his address, Smith openly spoke on what it means to be at CIU during a time of racial tension within the nation.

鈥淲hen we see sin, we denounce it. When we see racism, we denounce it. When we see someone struggle, we come alongside them and help,鈥 Smith said.

Further pointing out, 鈥淲e are all God鈥檚 children,鈥 he said our ultimate purpose in life is the worship of God and preaching of His name throughout the nations, as he noted the CIU motto, 鈥淭o Know Him and to Make Him Known,鈥 hanging in bold white lettering on either side of him.

Smith also quoted from the book by CIU alumna Margo Wright Williams, who was in the audience.

鈥淔ar too many times I鈥檝e been grieved by the pettiness and pain demonstrated by my coworkers,鈥 Smith read from the book. 鈥淲e want to listen and learn so we can love and lead well.鈥 听

鈥淐IU, my dream for this year is that you would go deep in your relationship with Christ,鈥 Smith told the students. 鈥淟ife is about building relationships with each other. To go deep with God, we need to understand that relationships with others matter 鈥 Students, let鈥檚 love each other.鈥

Convocation 2020 closed with the tradition of Professor blowing a shofar, reminding everyone of the three ways a shofar is used; as a warning of danger at hand, a battle cry, and a victory call which resounds when the enemy has been conquered.听

Hear the Convocation message on CIU's .听听

Meanwhile, dozens of CIU students quickly took the Convocation message to heart as they participated in a special prayer time the next day, led by CIU Associate Dean of Student Life Travien Capers. With guidance from Galatians 6:2, 鈥渂ear each other鈥檚 burdens and fulfill the law of Christ,鈥 Capers offered up prayers under the Convocation themes, especially love. John 13:34-35 was on an overhead screen at the front of Shortess Chapel:

A听new commandment I give to you,听that you love one another,听even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.听By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

鈥淭he Bible says we鈥檙e standard bearers CIU,鈥 Capers said. 鈥淔or a world that might not know Jesus, it鈥檚 our job to show that love. We鈥檙e the ones to champion that charge. We鈥檙e the ones to preach Christ鈥檚 gospel to the masses.鈥

听ranks 黑料视频 the听,听and CIU is #2 in the state for听Best College Campus.听CIU also consistently ranks听among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report.听听on enrollment at CIU and听听or call听(800) 777-2227, ext. 5024.听听听听听听听

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