During final Convocation of school year, Interim President Jerry Prevo shares God’s Word as the guiding light

On Friday morning, Liberty University Interim President Dr. Jerry Prevo took the stage as the main speaker for the final Convocation of the academic year, reminding students to immerse themselves in the Word of God, using it as a light to direct their paths as they leave for the summer, return home, or travel around the country and the world for internships and employment opportunities.

Prevo has served as Liberty’s interim president since the start of the 2020-21 school year. A longtime member of the Board of Trustees, with many of his 25 years on the board spent as chairman, Prevo accepted the interim position after retiring as pastor of Anchorage Baptist Temple in Alaska for 47 years.

Liberty announced last month that Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Dondi E. Costin, Ph.D., has been named president and will take office on July 1. Campus Pastor Jonathan Falwell will assume the role as Chancellor. Prevo has been given the title of President Emeritus and will remain an active member of Liberty’s Board of Trustees.

Friday’s Convocation — Prevo’s final formal address to the student body as interim president — was very characteristic of all three of his years at the helm of Liberty, as he focused his message entirely on seeking God’s will, on sharing the Gospel, and on students’ spiritual growth. As he has done with every message, he closed with a call to salvation.

Prevo gifted every student at Convocation a pocket-sized book, “The Bible Incorporated in Your Job, Your Life, and Your Business,” that contains Scripture references to help guide them throughout their summer and future careers.

Before launching into his main message, Prevo shared his favorite aspect of being at Liberty: engaging with the student body. Whether cheering alongside them at sporting events, inviting them to his suite at football games, or talking with them around campus, Prevo and his wife, Carol, have enjoyed their time with students.

“I love interacting with the students because you’re full of joy and action and love,” he said.

Prevo demonstrated that during the Convocation, walking around the arena, selecting students at random and asking them where they’re from before handing them boxes of donuts.

During his message, he took them through multiple verses from Psalm 119 that explain how the Bible is a “flashlight” that shows Christians the way to walk. At one point, the whole arena went dark.

“That’s why the Word of God is important because it’s a flashlight. … You’re going to be going home for the summer, and if you’re not careful, if you don’t remember what you’ve been taught here, if you don’t remember what your pastor has taught you, if you don’t remember what God says you ought to do and how to handle life situations, some of you may stumble,” he said. “You may fall away from what you know is good, what you know is right.”

Prevo said a flashlight also drives away fears of darkness.

“As you go down the path of life you’re going to be scared sometimes,” he said.

He compared knowing and reading the Bible to turning the flashlight on to light the way ahead.

“You’ve got to turn the light on before it’s useful, before it will help you.”

Prevo then shared the story of God’s faithfulness throughout his own life and ministry.

“At the age of 26, God, through his Word, through His flashlight, through the Holy Spirit, began to show me that the path for me to go down was to go to Alaska,” he said.

But when he shared with his ministry friends about his calling, some told him he would never be known by anyone if he moved there. He did not let that deter him from answering God’s call.

“What matters is ‘Does God know you and do you know God?'” Prevo said, explaining that recognition from man should not be a believer’s motive.

He encouraged listeners to focus on obedience to where the Lord is leading and trusting in His plan for their life.

“Do what God’s showing you right now. He might not show you all at one time what the future holds for you. … Just stay on that path,” he said.

Faithfulness in the little things, he said, resulted in situations where his influence in ministry became far reaching, including preaching in front of thousands and meeting multiple U.S. presidents.

“If you stay on the path, God will continually reveal His will and His way for your life,” he said.

Prevo then read from Deuteronomy 30 about the life and blessings that can come after turning to the Lord. He asked the students if they are choosing life and blessings by immersing themselves in the Word of God.

“Are you making the right choices in life?” he asked. “How are you going to know the right choices in life unless you look at God’s Word?”

“Even though you may stumble, and you may fall along life’s way, I want to remind you that there’s a God up in Heaven who loves you and He wants to come and help you get on the right path,” he added.

Prevo explained that Christians are not alone. The Holy Spirit is in believers, guiding and helping them in their pursuit of godly living.

“You have a Helper. Don’t forget that,” he said.

In closing, as he has done with every message during his tenure, he presented the Gospel and implored those who do not know the Lord to make a decision to follow Jesus Christ. He said he wished he could personally pray with every student, so he came down from the stage and once again walked among the students and chose one male and one female to be representatives of the whole student body. He prayed individually with the two students, asking God to protect and guide them in the summer months ahead and for the Bible to become the main guide in their lives.

Prevo’s time as interim president will be marked by his bold, steady leadership through a difficult time in the school’s history, included the challenge of navigating a pandemic that impacted universities around the globe. He will also be known for his firm commitment to teaching the Word and allowing it to guide all of his work at Liberty, the constant encouragement he offered students, faculty, staff, employees, parents, and all members of the Liberty community, and his dedication to the founder’s original vision as he advanced the mission of Training Champions for Christ.