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NCU’s graduation exercises began on Friday August 10, 2007 with
the consecration service held in the University’s gymnatorium.
Despite heavy rain, graduands, their family members, faculty,
staff and alumni came out in their numbers to worship,
fellowship, reconnect and to be inspired.
Pastor Glen Samuels,
President of the West Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day
Adventists, addressed the graduands, and commended those who,
despite the weather, were in attendance. This, he said, was
indicative of their determination to defy the odds and fulfil
their dreams. He challenged them to endeavour to be “more than
just another person” as “God has raised (them) up to fulfil a
special purpose”.
Pointing out that
the pursuit of fulfilling one’s dreams was often fraught with
obstacles, he urged the graduands to have faith in God
regardless of obstacles and challenges. Pastor Samuels cited
King David who waited nineteen (19) years after he was anointed
to ascend the throne. He urged the graduands to “never let a
good dream die”, rather, be like David who despite his failures,
refused to be ‘defined by his past’ and worked to accomplish
God’s purpose for his life. The service ended on a high note
with Pastor Samuels advising the graduands that ‘failure is
never final’, and urged them to surround themselves with
positive people and make God the centre of their lives.
The momentum created by Pastor Samuels continued through to
Sabbath’s Baccalaureate service which began with the graduands
reflecting on their “journey” at NCU. Their reflections were
interspersed with a number of musical selections which set the
stage for the Baccalaureate address delivered by Pastor Patrick
Allen, who is currently the President of West Indies Union
Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists. “This is the day
Pastor Glen O. Samuels
that the Lord has made,” stated Dr. Allen, “a day for
reflection, thanksgiving... a day to recognize God as the source
of all success. Success, which should not be selfishly held on
to, but rather shared with others”. “Whatever we achieve or
inherit, is not intended for selfish purposes, [but instead],
are templates to empower us for greater service.” He encouraged
the graduands to strive for “something better”, to apply the
principle of “Plus Ultra” (going further, going beyond) to their
lives.
Dr. Patrick Allen makes an emphatic presentation.
It is this quest for
“something better”, to go further, that facilitated “a century
of spectacular achievements for the Adventist Church and
University” which through God’s grace were not overwhelmed by
the numerous challenges they faced on the hundred year journey.
He stated that those who came to NCU “seeking to experience Plus
Ultra were now leaving with status and standing to enable them
to experience the good life”,
These graduates appear captivated by
Dr. Allen's presentation.
Dr. Allen
re-iterated the fact that it was a time of good tidings for the
graduates and their family members and charged them to “seize
the opportunity to commit and allow God to use them to
accomplish his purpose [and] embrace the future with confidence
knowing that God is not finished with them yet”.
Both services were very inspiring and no doubt have made a
lasting impression on the graduands and will no doubt motivate
them to aspire to excel and make positive contributions to the
society.
Article by Frances Black
Photos by Kevin Clarke and Kenny Whyte
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