Convocation speakers encourage students to remain faithful
One Convocation speaker challenged audience members to get to know the “lowly” Savior, while the other reminded them to love his creation. For Oct. 4 and 6, Liberty University welcomed Pastor Dane Ortlund on Wednesday and writer Nancy Pearcey on Friday.
Wednesday morning, Convocation opened with head football coach Jamey Chadwell inviting the student body to the Thursday night football game. He shared some encouraging words and gave out free T-shirts. Liberty President Dondi Costin prayed over Chadwell and the student body afterwards. The Worship Collective followed them with worship.
Next, Pastor Ortlund, out of Chicago, took the stage. “What is the real Jesus like?” He took time to dive into this question and preach to the student body of the true character of Christ and what following him looks like.
Ortlund emphasized the importance of how Jesus was lowly and how he wanted his followers to come to him and let him carry any burdens or troubles they had.
“If we don’t know that Jesus is gentle and lowly, we don’t know him at all,” Ortlund said.
To close out Wednesday’s Convocation, the Worship Collective sang “Lamb of God” by Matt Redman and David Funk.
Friday morning, Liberty welcomed Rep. Bob Good to open Convocation. He spoke briefly about his time being an active congressman and how he lets Christ shine in his line of work, encouraging students to remain active and up to date regarding the realm of politics.
After Good closed, the Worship Collective performed “You’ve Already Won” by Shane & Shane and “Abide” by Dwell Songs and Aaron Williams. Afterward, evangelical writer Pearcey took the stage.
Pearcey is a best-selling author who published numerous pieces of writing, but on Friday, she talked to Liberty’s students about her book, “Love Thy Body.” She spoke on the pressing matters of transgenderism and homosexuality, which are very prevalent in today’s society.
“It’s not you that’s wrong; it’s the stereotypes that are wrong,” Pearcey said.
She talked about how her book highlights the argument of biological denial and the attack on God’s creation. She gave several accounts of personal stories of why people chose to change their identity.
“People are trying to live out a secular ethic that does not fit the body,” Pearcey said.
She drove home the fact that people are God’s creation and that we can’t claim to love him while rejecting his creation.
To view Convocation online, get information on upcoming speakers or stay updated on the schedule, visit the Office of Spiritual Development’s website.
Hay is a news reporter for the Liberty Champion