When Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary & Graduate School asked college alumni to share advice with the Class of 2024, they didn’t disappoint! Check out these words of wisdom for graduates who will soon join the LBC | Capital family as alumni.
“Congratulations graduates! The advice I have is to feed yourself truth. You are leaving the LBC bubble where your faculty and staff reminded you of truth every day. The world wants to tear you down with lies; don’t let it! One of the ways I found myself believing lies was through comparison. Don’t worry if you are the only one in your major who doesn’t have a job secured, don’t worry if you don’t get married within a few years of graduating, don’t worry if you don’t feel prepared, don’t worry because the Lord’s got you. Everyone is on their own journey. Do not compare yourself to anyone. Only compare yourself the truth of God’s Word!”
—Myranda Kemrer (’18)
LBC Director of Alumni Relations
“As a two-time graduate (BS in Bible/Pastoral Studies and PhD in Leadership) and a marathon runner (over 30 full marathons completed over the years), my counsel would be to ‘run through the finishing line,’ balancing scholarship with self-care to devote your energy best. I often recall Hebrews 12:1-2 where we are challenged to ‘run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to the Founder and Perfecter of our faith.’ By the way, the word for ‘race’ here is ἀγών (agon), from which we get our word ‘agony.’ Clearly this is not a sprint, and God provides the energy to finish well!”
—Barry Davis (’77 & ’23)
“The last couple of weeks are the hardest because you’ve worked extremely hard for four years to reach this moment, and you want so badly to be there. The senioritis is all too real. The best you can do to finish the climb to the top is take the last few days, especially the week where everything is due day by day. Take care of yourself, don’t fall into the temptation of pulling an all-nighter, you’re at your best when you’re well rested. Take time to be with friends; these are the final weeks you’ll see them on the regular basis you have for the past four years. Soak it all in, you’ve accomplished something great. Take time to reflect on everything you’ve overcome to reach this point and the people who’ve influenced you over the last four years. Remember the heartaches and struggles and the wisdom they’ve brought you. Congratulations Class of 2024, you’re about to turn the page to a new chapter, all together.”
—Gabe Hall (’21)
“First, finish well. I know that recently some have scoffed at the value of an undergraduate degree. I wholeheartedly disagree with the scoffers. A degree tells me as a prospective employer that you can learn and at a high rate. Most of your career will involve learning and I need to know that you can handle the challenge and complete the work with excellence. Finishing well is also a demonstration of your character. You cannot afford to have someone question your character, especially in ministry.
“Second, you got your degree by proving that you are right in your thinking, theology and position. Congratulations on your degree, but in ministry don’t waste time proving that you are right. People expect that you are right. They really want to know if you care about them. I have hired many ministry positions in my career with this mindset. It was gratifying to see that institutions finally got that message and built that mindset in their graduates. I hope that as you finish you begin to frame that mindset, if you do not already possess it.
“Finally, when I graduated from LBC I was a ‘fat’ Christian. I am not referring to the freshmen 15. I knew that I had taken in more spiritual food that I could absorb. The exercise of my faith had not kept up with my consumption of spiritual food. That feeling left me thinking that I could coast in my personal time with God. My basic testimony in this is simple: ‘Don’t come this way!’ I was wrong, you need time with God every day. You need to exercise your faith every day. I have a close friend who, if he feels he is negligent, puts himself in unique and uncomfortable spaces to exercise his faith and dependency on Christ. If you find him preaching on a random street corner, please know that he is strengthening his faith as a disciple and disciple-maker of the Most High God. Congratulations on your degree. May God grow, shape and equip you for the ministry He has in store for you. May you live a life of faith for the glory of God alone!”
—David Arrell (’85)
“Take your time after graduating. You will think that you have to get a plan and everything has to be finished so you can go right into your career, but take your time. Rest and take care of yourself because you may not understand just how much change will happen when graduating and how much that will affect you mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Take your time to rest and recharge to be able to step into the next chapter ready and full of God!”
—Kayla Smith (’23)