Every academic year, Palm听Beach Atlantic University听(PBA)听begins with a convocation chapel service.听Returning students and faculty听members听welcome the听incoming听class to their new physical, academic, and spiritual home for the next four years.听
Convocation mirrors commencement, with faculty members attending in their graduation regalia.听This听academic tradition听dates back to the 12th century and is meant to demonstrate scholastic status,听achievements,听and听to inspire current students.听At PBA, it is also a sign of听respect for听the new students,听demonstrating听how committed the faculty members are to their听fields, with听the intent听to pass down that passion to the next generation.听听
Conquering Distractions and Uncertainty听
During the service, PBA President Dr. Debra A. Schwinn cautioned the freshman class that the year ahead may have overwhelming moments. She stressed that school, work, friendships, and even social media will fight for their attention. However, she advised students, when staring down what may feel like an uncertain path, to turn to scripture. 听
Every year at PBA, the president chooses a verse she believes will help guide and unify the students, faculty, and community. The verse听of听this听school year, John 15:5, says: 鈥淚f you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.鈥�听Dr.听Schwinn reminded听the student body听that this听scripture is听not meant听to听discourage听them;听instead, it should be听viewed听as a reminder that with Christ听they听never have to carry anything alone.听Dr.听Schwinn told the students to stay close to Christ in crisis, calm, and听celebration;听He听longs to be in every part of their lives.听听
鈥淎s you remain in Him, I pray your life bears fruits that last long after your time here at PBA,鈥� said听Dr.听Schwinn.听听
Three Spiritual听Pursuits听听
During听Convocation, students also heard from听Provost听Dr. Stephen Johnson, who encouraged them to听Pursue these three goals this academic听year:听Pursue Abiding, Pursue Community, and Pursue Calling.听
When听admonishing the students to听pursue听abiding, Dr. Johnson听highlighted the verse of the听year,听which听reminds Jesus鈥�听disciples to听stay connected听to him听every day.听
His second point, Pursue Community,听was centered around John 15:12,听鈥淢y command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.鈥澨鼶r. Johnson underlined the importance of听remembering:听Jesus听is love听and听gave us an example of how to care for one another.听听
Dr. Johnson concluded听with听Pursue Calling.听听鈥淚t is from a deep well of intimacy with Christ,鈥� he said,听鈥渢hat听you will change the听character听of your heart, impact those around you, and refine your calling.鈥�听
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Laura Bishop,听executive vice president of advancement, encouraged the students to take听advantage of the gift of a journal each student received听as they left听that day.听听
鈥淭ake time to听write听in this journal, she said,听holding one up for all to听see. “I听look back at my听journal听from听college,听and听I听am amazed at the many things God was teaching听me during that听precious听time.鈥�听
To learn more about Chapel at听PBA, click听here.听
