By Whitney Knight
MACU became the first-ever institution to hold graduation inside the new Oklahoma City Convention Center downtown with exercises held on May 1. More than 500 graduates were celebrated in the university’s 70th commencement ceremony.
After an opening foreword from MACU Board of Trustees member Jeff Russell and a special music performance by award-winning musical artist Gaby Sampedro, President Dr. John Fozard introduced Rev. Jaime Cervantes as the commencement speaker.
Cervantes, who currently serves as campus pastor at First Church in St. Joseph, Mich., and oversees local missions and outreach initiatives, left graduates with an inspiring word and hope for their promising futures. “As I prepared and prayed for these graduates, the Lord put Proverbs 3:6 on my heart. It’s a passage that came to my mind over
and over again. It reads: ‘In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.’”
Cervantes stressed that the most important word of the Scripture was “all.”
“That means in your decisions, in your affairs, in your relationships, in all facets of life, acknowledge and consult God, and He will direct your paths and lead you in the way you should go.”
He challenged graduates to turn to God not just for help but for direction.
“So often we only come to God when we need, lack or want something,” Cervantes said. “My challenge to you today is this: don’t just ask God and tell God what you want from Him, but rather get in the habit of asking God what He wants from you. Put Him first in all that you do, and He will direct your paths.”