As chaplain at the Institute for G.O.D., I organize and host weekly chapel services on Wednesdays. I love our chapels! These weekly gatherings are when students can expect time to put their hearts before God in prayer and worship, as well as receive a relevant Word from God. It’s a time for rest and reprieve in the midst of academically challenging weeks. We have many talented and Biblically literate staff and guests who lead worship and preach. I know every person I’ve asked to serve in this capacity and every one of them is sold out in their love for God and serving people.
A highlight this spring has been having my alma mater’s New Testament and Theology professor, Wye Huxford, travel from Georgia to preach to our students. Wye was my professor, mentor, and in some ways a father figure to me, over twenty years ago when I was in college. He and his late wife, Vikki, would have me over for meals regularly. He would take me out to breakfasts, lunches, and let me drop in his office unannounced to chat. We’d talk about dating, family history, my emotional and spiritual health, and all sorts of theology.
Today, after 48 years on staff as a Biblical Studies professor and currently serving as the Dean of the College of Biblical Studies and Ministry at Point University, Wye is as ready to serve students as the day I first met him. So, when I invited him to come preach to our students, he was eager to get here. I knew his visit would be much like what Paul wrote in Romans 1:11-12, “For I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.” I knew our student body and Wye would both be built up by his visit.
I’m a networker. I know people everywhere. Few things give me more joy than connecting awesome people with one another. It was my pleasure to introduce Wye Huxford to our college community. I love our students, staff, and faculty, and I love Wye.
Wye preached from Luke 4 and Matthew 25. Wye called Luke 4 ‘Inauguration Day’ for the church. This is the day when Jesus reads the scroll of Isaiah about ‘proclaiming good news to the poor, setting captives free, opening the eyes of the blind, and proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor.’ This gospel is God’s will. Wye connected this with Matthew 25, which he called ‘Assessment Day.’ At Jesus' return, he will assess how we well we did at fulfilling his plan. To some, he will say, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Between those texts, Wye used a number of other scriptures and his typical dry humor. Our students were engaged! Several were taking extensive notes. After chapel, Wye took time to chat with multiple students before I had to pull him away, to get to his flight on time!
On the way to the airport, Wye commented on how special our college is. In his 24 hours here, he met many faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as students. He shared meals, hung out late in the evening having meaningful conversations about life and the bible! He stated that our students' Biblical literacy was extremely impressive. Upon arriving home, in an email to me and Jen Nyago, our Director of Student Life, he stated his time with us was the most fun he has had in a long time. I have heard several students mention how much they enjoyed his presence and preaching. As I suspected, we were all mutually encouraged by Wye’s visit.
I’m grateful for my role in facilitating opportunities for our student body at the Institute for G.O.D. so they can have quality times of worship, prayer and hearing the word. It’s a wonderful thing to leave chapel each Wednesday having experienced God’s presence. Seeing students worship, praying with and for each other, praying for the people they serve every week, coupled with their eagerness to receive the Word of God from our preachers is incredibly encouraging!
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