JENNA M CK ENNEY
LUK E B O B B EY
AND R EW S NYD ER JO EL I S I M EM E
JOE L COL E M AN
K J JU GAR
President Jerry Prevo during a virtual New Student Convocation on Aug. 21. Prevo shared about his family and how he first became connected with the university through visits with Liberty’s founder, Dr. Jerry Falwell. He also shared his favorite Scripture verses, Romans 12:1-2, and used them to encourage the new students to pursue their relationship with the Lord before seeking clarity regarding their futures. “We are going to encourage you to renew your mind first of all by reading the Scriptures and memorizing the Scriptures,” Prevo said. “And we are going to have our faculty talk about how they can help you renew your mind. Why? That you can prove what is good, acceptable, and the perfect will of God.” He prayed for Liberty, its faculty, and students to be the best witnesses for Christ that they can be. Students also heard from new Student Body President Constance Schneider and Vice President Joel Thomas. On Aug. 26, the Office of Spiritual Development officially kicked off the Convocation season with the Rev. Jonathan Falwell, senior pastor at Thomas Road Baptist Church, who encouraged students during the virtual
event to start the school year off with the right spiritual focus. “This place has always been about training young Champions for Christ,” Falwell said. “And as you sit there today, whatever you might be studying, don’t ever forget that you are one of those Champions for Christ, and the only thing that will keep you from changing the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ is you. Don’t allow your journey to get sidetracked. Don’t allow your journey and your life to fall victim to the noise and the distraction that is everywhere.” He set the tone for the first Campus Community of the school year later that night when students gathered, socially distanced and masked, and spread all throughout Williams Stadium for a moving time of worship and Bible study. (Students had to register early for the weekly event, due to the limited capacity.) The Liberty Worship Collective took the stage, exciting the crowd who had not worshiped together in person since March. President Prevo also spoke under the stadium lights in his first in-person address to students. Other Convocation guests this semester have included pastors Franklin Graham, David Platt, Andy Stanley, and
Johnny Hunt. Convocation and Campus Community are streamed on Liberty’s Facebook Page. (Past events can also be viewed on Liberty’s YouTube channel.) The Spiritual Development team also wasted no time in making sure students got involved in service opportunities, another longstanding Liberty tradition. During the second week of classes, LU Serve hosted the Serve Expo, where students could participate in activities structured to educate and raise social awareness for causes in the local community. The week was highlighted by a Send Relief: Serve Experience on the steps of the Montview Student Union, where more than 450 students and faculty packed 500 kits for victims of sexual assault and their children in the Lynchburg area. Liberty’s Student Activities team also played an important role in extending a warm welcome to students at the beginning of the new school year. The staff kicked into high gear even before classes began, offering a blitz of activities as students moved into their residence halls. Welcome Week events included a Back to School Bash, outdoor movie night, bingo night, open mic, and jazz evening. On Aug. 29, students >>
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