In college, former United States Vice President Mike Pence wanted to wear a cross around his neck just like the one worn by the leader of the campus Christian fellowship group. But when he asked about ordering one the leader told him, “You know, Mike, you’ve got to wear it in your heart before you wear it around your neck.”

A few weeks later, at a Christian music festival, Pence heard the words of John 3:16.

“And not just because I believed in the truth of it, but that my heart was broken with gratitude for what had been done for me on that cross,” Pence told the Columbia International University Class of 2022. “I prayed a prayer to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior, and it has made all the difference in my life ever since.”

Pence was the speaker for the second of two commencement ceremonies on April 30 where President Dr. Mark A. Smith and Provost Dr. James Lanpher conferred degrees on 335 graduates.

COUNTING ON YOU

Noting some of the adversities and evils in the nation and across the world, Pence challenged the graduates to stand strong in their faith and to defend freedom.

“American’s counting on you to be the leaders this country needs,” Pence said. “We need men and women of integrity to take up the mantle of leadership in every area of life. We need men and women who have faith. So put into practice what you’ve learned here every day.”

That resonated with Katie Mayberry who received a bachelor’s degree in Teacher Education and plans to be a teacher in Kenya after completing a CIU master’s degree.

“I especially loved the leadership advice and hearing from someone who has been leading the United States and encouraging us in how we can play a part in (leadership).” Mayberry said.

“THE KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE.”

Graduates in the first commencement ceremony heard a charge from CIU alumnus Jeff Cranston, the lead pastor of LowCountry Community Church in Bluffton, South Carolina, one of the fastest-growing churches in America.

Using a chess analogy where a player is about to lose a life-or-death chess match to the devil, he noted that all is not lost because “The King has one more move.” He told the graduates that when dark days come:

“There is One however, looking down from above who sees the chessboard of your life, and how the pieces are laid out, and He says to you, ‘The King has one more move.’”  

CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES, C'MON!

Malcolm Campbell did a little dance across the stage of Shortess Chapel as he received his MBA in the first commencement ceremony. He said the Lord told him it was time to celebrate and let everyone know that He got him to this point. He said God put it this way to him:

“Malcolm, I made this day for you. I made it to celebrate, so pump your fist, you smile, you do whatever you have to do to let that energy out.”

Crossing the stage right behind him was his wife Patricia Campbell who earned her Master of Education degree. What was going through her mind as she crossed the stage?

“First, I was embarrassed by (Malcom’s) dance,” she said with a laugh. “But now we’re mulling over a doctorate. Do we want to do that? I don’t know,” Patricia said with a wry smile, noting late night and early morning study sessions as the couple works full-time jobs while raising two young sons.

BITTER-SWEET

As graduates met with family and friends on The Quad after the ceremonies, their professors stood by taking it all in. Among them was Professor Dr. Andre Rogers who called the moment “bitter-sweet.”

“I hate to see them go, but I love to see them go and make a difference in the world,” Rogers said. “I see a look in their eyes — a hunger. They want to make a difference.”  

See both commencement ceremonies in their entirety, including performances from the Ambassador Choir, at the following:

8 am ceremony - https://vimeo.com/701231198

11 am ceremony - https://vimeo.com/701227030

Check out the report on commencement from ABC Columbia, WOLO TV.  Also see video highlights from CIU videographer Taylor Irizarry. 

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