A record 150 students graduated from Boyce College, the undergraduate school of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, May 13, surpassing the previous mark by more than 40 percent.
“We do have confidence that the education invested in them through Boyce College will prepare them whatever the job description may be as they move now into the future,” said R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Seminary and Boyce College, during the commencement ceremony.
Speaking from Romans 12, Mohler said Paul offered a job description for Christians when he wrote, “Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”
Mohler encouraged the graduates to take a stand for the gospel so the world will recognize the hope within them. He explained this commissioning sends the graduates out to take their place in a “long line of faithfulness.”
“Your graduation from Boyce College is not a down payment in order that at some point in the future you might fulfill your function and calling in the church,” he said. “This church, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ in this generation, needs the graduating class of Boyce College of 2016 to show up ready for action now. And we can tell you and testify to the fact that the Lord has greatly blessed this class with talents and callings and gifts.
“Show [your faith] to the world in order that they will see Jesus and desire him. … In so doing, you will serve the Lord Jesus Christ, you will bring honor upon this institution, who rightly honors you today, and you will show all Christians how to fulfill this job description given to us all,” Mohler said.
Boyce Dean Dan DeWitt gave a charge to the graduating class by explaining the “worldview of joyful sacrifice.” Posing the rhetorical questions listed in the concluding verses of Romans 11, DeWitt said the all-surpassing knowledge of God is the foundation of such a worldview.
“This is the theology student, the graduate sitting in cap and gown, coming face to face with their own inability in contrast to the inexhaustible ability of God,” DeWitt said. “To graduate from Paul’s seminary, students had to come face to face with their own insignificance. … [Paul] leads them from insignificance to doxology. He leads them to praise God for his abundant grace.”
Founded in 1974 as Boyce Bible School, the program began offering bachelor’s degrees as James P. Boyce College of the Bible in 1998 under Mohler’s leadership. Later, the name of the school was changed to Boyce College. Boyce was the founder and first president of Southern Seminary. Today, students can receive a variety of bachelor’s and associate degrees through formats like Boyce Online, seminary track, and dual enrollment.
DeWitt concluded his charge by reminding the graduates about their identity in Christ.
“Jesus didn’t face the cross just to give you a well-rounded college education. There’s a point to all of this, you know. It’s from him, it’s for him, and to him belongs all the glory,” he said. “So who do you think you are? I’ll tell you who you are. You are loved by God. You were purchased by the blood of his Son, sealed by the Spirit, and kept for the glory and by the power of the Father. You are called and you are sent. That’s the point of today. … You’re being sent out. That’s the whole reason God brought you here as our great school hymn states, ‘We meet to part.’”
More information about Boyce College is available online at boycecollege.com.