For the first Tuesday morning chapel of the Spring 2017 semester, President Randy Lowry updated students on the campus’ construction and made some special announcements about the upcoming year.
Lowry announced that the new engineering building is now open, but it is still incomplete. The new parking lot adjacent to it is neither open nor complete, but those in charge of the project found a way to expand the lot by 60 parking spots. The construction team is scheduled to pour the asphalt once the weather warms up.
Transitioning into his chapel message, Lowry shared an anecdote that stressed the importance of unity. He announced that the upcoming chapels will be geared toward achieving a sense of community.
“Jesus calls us to be a community unified,” Lowry said. “People on the outside don’t understand it. We begin to have that community by having respect for one another.”
He told an anecdote similar to that of the Good Samaritan in order to emphasize that, despite our differences, we are all part of God’s creation, and must respect one another in order to achieve the sense of community.
Lowry warned that the following chapel speakers might present issues the student body might not feel comfortable talking about, let alone agree with. “The key,” Lowry emphasized, “is respect.” Scheduled keynote speakers include Christian musician Moriah Peters and former NBA star Magic Johnson.
Lowry also spoke of controversial issues as situations that needed addressing.
“We will respond to difficult moments because it’s the right thing to do.” In having diverse chapel speakers, Lowry hopes this will help the student body understand multiple viewpoints, have respect for others and build a community centered on the idea that we are all part of God’s creation.
“God created the Democrats and Republicans, the Alabama and Clemson fans, the gay and the straight, the black and the white, the Christian and the Muslim. We are all one.”
Photo courtesy of Lipscomb University