Dr. Elmer Towns speaks at convocation

Liberty University’s co-founder and Dean of the School of Religion Dr. Elmer Towns opened the first convocation of the semester with a message to students on finding a personal dream and vision. “Some of the greatest spiritual leaders have been motivated by a great vision,” he said.

Citing Proverbs 29:18, Towns told students that a vision is not only necessary for life but is something that comes from God and is available to everyone.

After showing clips of the historic Martin Luther King, Jr. “I Have a Dream” speech and the late Dr. Jerry Falwell’s “Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG)” sermon, Towns asked the crowd, “What could God use you to do? What’s your dream of doing something for God?”

Towns went on to encourage students to paint a portrait of their visions.

“See a vision, own a vision and share a vision,” Towns said. “See what God wants you to do and then own it. I don’t want you to just have a dream. I want you to become a dream.”

Demonstrating how to develop a dream, Towns cited Habakkuk 2:1-4 and said, “Vision is for an appointed time … wait for it because it will surely come.”

Towns told students that vision comes to the spiritually alert. He said as they continue to communicate with God, the vision will grow stronger and soon it becomes the person.

“You must go out and fulfill your dream,” Towns said, encouraging students to write down their vision. “An idea is never yours until you write it down.”

He concluded by encouraging students to follow God’s plan for their lives, stating that a vision will give purpose to their actions and make them future oriented.

“You may not get it until you are 70 years old,” he said. “But live for a purpose and the dream that God has given you.”