On the Road: Liberty holds summer Convocations in Texas, North Carolina

This month, Liberty University’s Office of Spiritual Development has taken a campus favorite cross country with “Convocation on the Road,” providing LU students, alumni, and members of the local community the chance to experience a Liberty Convocation service right in their own backyard.

Members of Liberty’s executive leadership joined the Liberty Worship Collective in Raleigh, N.C. (June 20), and Dallas (June 13) to lead a time of worship and deliver a word of encouragement.

In all, over 2,500 registered for the two events.

 “It was great to see the Liberty crew down here in Texas and to be with fellow alums that I haven’t seen in several years,” said Rodney Ashby (’93), a former member of the Flames Baseball team who attended Convocation on the Road at First Baptist Dallas Worship Center.

President Dondi E. Costin spoke at the Dallas event, challenging those in attendance to live extraordinary lives for Christ. Chancellor Jonathan Falwell shared how he has seen the blessing of God on Liberty over the years.

Falwell and Vice President of Spiritual Development Josh Rutledge were featured speakers at The Summit Church (Capital Hills campus) in Raleigh. In his welcome, Rutledge said the ultimate purpose of the events was to provide viewers a glimpse of the work done weekly on campus to advance the Great Commission through the university’s mission of Training Champions for Christ.

“If it’s really about (our mission), then at the end of the day, tonight is not about you at all — it’s not about me; it’s not about (Liberty’s) founder, Dr. Jerry Falwell; it’s not about our Chancellor; it’s really not even about Liberty University,” he said. “Because if you’re really going to have a mission that is Training Champions for Christ, then you have given away (personal pride) right at the beginning. It’s always been for Him.”

Jonathan Falwell shared his experience growing up as the son of Dr. Jerry Falwell, who followed God’s will to build Liberty on land that was previously cow pasture. Falwell, who also serves as senior pastor at Thomas Road Baptist Church, preached from Judges 6, comparing the life of Gideon with that of his own and every other believer.

Just as Gideon felt unworthy of the calling God had given him to deliver Israel from the powerful Midianites, modern-day Christians may also feel inadequate to fulfill God’s will in their lives, he said. Falwell urged the crowd to place their full trust in God’s perfect will.

“The same God who took a piece of ground that was nothing and made it into the university we experience and see today — it was not done by a man or even a group of people. It was done by God and God alone — that same God wants to raise you up to change the world. The only thing stopping God from doing what He wants to do in you is not God; it’s you.”

Falwell also encouraged Christians to follow Gideon’s example by trusting God’s provision in dire circumstances, positively impacting the lives of others through godly leadership, and giving God the ultimate credit for any victory in life.

He concluded by emphasizing the important role each believer plays in changing the world for Christ.

“God has not called you to just simply be a person in the crowd,” he said. “God has not called you to be just another one of the people doing what you do. As a follower of Jesus Christ, God has called you to shine the light wherever you are, to be a champion for Him so that in everything you do, people will see you and notice you. It’s not because of what you do, but because they see something different that is in you. What they will see will be unmistakable and it will be the hand of God.”

Rising junior Gaius Aristidle, who is currently serving as an intern with The Summit Church, said Friday’s message provided much-needed encouragement as he faces a challenging time in his life.

“It was powerful,” he said. “It’s been a long time since I had that kind of worship, so this was a way to reconnect with Liberty and have the excitement to go back on campus. Even though we didn’t have as many people (as a typical Convocation at Liberty), it was really powerful to see how those people were worshipping God.”

For Liberty alumna Wendy Warlick (’18), her favorite part of the evening was singing New Life Worship’s “Great I Am.” She regularly attends The Summit Church and said she was grateful for the chance to reconnect with her alma mater at her home church.

“I just love it. Convo is my happy place, and (seeing) Liberty Worship Collective was amazing,” said Warlick, who earned her graphic design degree later in life and whose son graduated from Liberty this past year.

After the events, individuals had the chance to connect with staff from the Alumni Relations Office, the Office of Spiritual Development, and Flames Club, as well as meet university leadership.

Convocation is held on Wednesday and Friday mornings during the academic year and is the largest weekly gathering of Christian students in the world. For more information on Convocation and other Spiritual Development programs at Liberty, visit Liberty.edu/OSD.