President Costin joins spiritual development leaders in welcoming newest members of the Liberty family at special Convocation

About 4,300 freshmen and several family members gathered in the Vines Center Friday morning to hear from Liberty University leaders, including President Dondi Costin and Chancellor Jonathan Falwell, at New Student Convocation. The event is a tradition each semester that helps orient students to the different areas of the Office of Spiritual Development that exist to help them grow academically, spiritually, and relationally in their upcoming years. The Convocation is a part of multiple Welcome Week events to kick off a new school year at Liberty.

New students began arriving on campus on Wednesday, and returning students began moving in on Friday. Classes begin on Monday.

Following a time of worship, Liberty’s SGA (Student Government Association) President Daniel Hostetter greeted students and informed them on some exciting events ahead, including an SGA Town Hall with Costin and other university leaders on Aug. 28 in the School of Business’ Towns Auditorium. Hostetter then introduced Costin, who took the Convocation stage for the first time in his role as president.

“The best thing about President Costin isn’t his impressive résumé (with multiple doctorates and serving the country as a major general in the Air Force); the most impressive thing about President Costin is his godly character,” Hostetter said. “I can confidently tell you that he is marked and defined by deep Gospel humility and radical integrity, and that is what the leader of this moment needs. I truly believe that he is the leader who will help us hold fast to our mission while also continually innovating and helping us move forward to serve the next generation.”

Costin said like most of those in the room, he was also a “freshman,” sharing in the experience of being brought to Liberty by God for a reason. Noting that the figurative baton of running the race at Liberty has been passed, he urged the new students to jump forward knowing that the track ahead will not be easy but also knowing that what lies in front of them is a tremendous opportunity.

“For some of you, this is the first time you will have been away from home for an extended period of time in your entire life, and now all of a sudden all of the responsibility and obligation is placed upon you,” he said. “Liberty University, unlike any other university in the country, is orchestrated and designed and staffed and equipped to help you make everything of every opportunity. I can guarantee you that if you seize this opportunity, the best is yet to come.”

Costin spoke directly to the parents, grandparents, guardians, and other loved ones in attendance, sincerely thanking them for what they’ve done for their student in order to bring them to a place like Liberty.

“A part of your job was making sure that the one you love the most has been handed off to a place where Jesus Christ is the center of it all. You have done exactly what God has asked you to do, and I thank you for that. This is going to be an exciting time for each and every one of you.”

He concluded with a charge that is both timely and timeless: Expect great things from God, and attempt great things for God.

“If you expect God to work in and through your life at Liberty University … If you expect God to do what only God can do, if you expect God to show up in your life and to transform you in a radical way, I have it on good authority that God will do exactly that. Let God do in and through you what only He can do.”

“I am so excited to be a fellow freshman with you, I’m excited to be back on a mountain full of miracles, because I know this to be true: the next miracle God is going to do is the miracle He is going to do in you,” he added.

Vice President of Spiritual Development Josh Rutledge and Falwell then laid out the spiritual goals and pillars of Liberty and its Office of Spiritual Development. They likened it to a river or stream that is flowing in the direction of Christ and becoming more in His likeness. Through opportunities to hear from leading Christian voices in Convocation (held twice a week) and Campus Community (Wednesday nights) and engage with the larger Lynchburg community through LU Serve projects and Christian Service (CSER) hours and gather with hallmates for community groups, the Liberty student experience is filled with ways to serve and follow Christ.

“Get to know that community group leader, that Resident Shepherd, that RA, be here on Wednesday nights for Campus Community; you’re not going to miss if you’re engaged in that community,” Rutledge said. “Everything that happens within spiritual life (on campus), all of the things that come up and those opportunities, they flow out of those major gatherings.”

“Whether it’s in the classroom, in the dorm, in the Wednesday night community groups, in Campus Community on Wednesday night, or in Convocation on Wednesday and Friday mornings, everything we do here is intentionally planned and laid out to help students grow in their faith, and you’re going to have to work hard against it to not grab ahold of what God is doing here,” Falwell said. “I would encourage you to swim downstream; jump into the water and flow along the way of growing in your faith.”

They also shared highlights of the upcoming fall Convocation lineup, which includes Grammy Award-winning Christian artist and alumnus Toby McKeehan (’88) — better known as TobyMac — along with Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, pastor Louie Giglio, and many others.

Liberty Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Scott Hicks closed the gathering in prayer.