Convocation: President Dondi Costin and Randall Wallace encourage students to not give up

Liberty students took part in worship and tuned in to listen to Randall Wallace and President Dondi Costin speak about trusting in and relying on God at the final two convocations of the spring 2024 semester.

The Liberty University Wind Symphony, under the direction of Zachary Bruno, opened Wednesday’s convocation with a performance of “For the Love of a Princess” from Wallace’s movie “Braveheart.” Wallace is a screenwriter and film director best known for his movies “Braveheart,” “Pearl Harbor” and “Secretariat.”

Wallace began his speech by telling the students that the biggest thing he wanted them to know was that God’s plan is much grander than their own. A video compilation, which Wallace called his “Ego-reel,” was then projected on the screens for all the students to see. 

Wallace continued to describe to the students how he got to where he is today. Wallace started working at a television company as a producer for a movie that was struggling. The acclaimed screenwriter and director said that he was unsure of how he could help the movie survive through the production process, but he believed that he could only truly fail if he did not try. 

“You don’t have to be afraid to fail,” Wallace said. “In fact, if you are afraid to fail, you’ll never do anything.”

Wallace then reminisced about the production of his movie “We Were Soldiers.” Wallace said that the idea for “We Were Soldiers” came before a flight when he happened to pick up the book “We Were Soldiers Once,” written by Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway. Wallace decided to take a risk by purchasing the rights for the production of the movie and asking the army if he could participate in Ranger School to prepare him effectively for production.

During his time at Ranger School, Wallace sustained multiple injuries, though none were life-threatening. He said that one of the most powerful lessons he learned during Ranger School was to not be afraid. Wallace connected this to the angels in the Bible who appear to individuals and tell them to not be afraid.

Regarding his career in Hollywood, Wallace said he is often asked how he holds onto his faith in the midst of unbelievers. Wallace explained that he puts all of his trust in God, because he knows he is weak, but God is strong.

“You have to have your faith,” Wallace said. “It’s the most important weapon you can possibly have.”

Claudia Gamble, a junior, found it admirable that Wallace was committed to his craft and sought to use his talents to bring glory to God.

Toward the end of his speech, Wallace announced that he was in the production process of a movie about Jesus Christ’s resurrection. Wallace said that the resurrection is the most important part of the Christian faith. He explained that he plans to have the first showing of the movie at Liberty University.

“None of us would have heard Jesus’ name if it hadn’t been for one event: the resurrection,” Wallace said.

At the end of his speech, Wallace invited all the students to stand and link arms. On the count of three, Wallace had everyone yell the signature word from “Braveheart”: “freedom.”

Jairus Mullen and members of LU Praise opened Friday’s convocation with an original song titled “IDK.”

Before Costin took the stage, a video compilation of Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training (BUD/S) was played for all students to see. Costin began his speech by describing the difficulty of BUD/S training in order to encourage students to not give up. Costin said that Champions for Christ should know how to win because their final exams are not the final exam: The true final exam is the one Christians will take on their death bed.

Costin drew from Matthew 17:1-8 to explain to students that when they leave the bubble of Liberty University, they will either fall in line with the world, or they will fall in line with the word of God. Costin encouraged the student body to follow Jesus Christ because it is only through him that Christians will find meaning and purpose.

“You don’t speak your own truth. You speak God’s truth,” Costin said.

Costin also encouraged students to stay plugged into a local church. He begged students to not pass up the opportunity to be where they are meant to be on a Sunday morning.

“God has made us to be in a community of faith in which we study God’s word, because this is how we know what it’s like to live,” Costin said.

Costin discussed the necessity of getting through the hardships of life. He drew from John 16:33 to tell students that God has overcome the world. Christians have been given the strength and peace they need to get through their own hardships. Gamble said her takeaway from this point was for Christians to let the storms bring them closer to God rather than pull them away from him.

Costin used a collection of four chairs and a bell to demonstrate the stages of life Christians will endure: drive, survive, revive and thrive. Instead of ringing the bell to give up, Costin said Christians should reach out and trust God to get through trials. He encouraged students to teach others how to hold on to God in midst of struggles.

“Don’t ring the bell,” Costin said. “Just get up and do the thing that Champions for Christ do. They don’t quit. They find a way to win.”

Sturek is the on-campus news editor for the Liberty Champion