Seminary’s inaugural December graduation ceremony highlighted with “firsts”
posted on Dec 21, 2011 by T. Patrick HudsonSetting aside a day to celebrate the academic achievements of its students, Midwestern Seminary held commencement exercises on Dec. 16 in the chapel auditorium -- marking the inaugural celebration of a full-December graduation that was highlighted by two “firsts.”
Before a standing-room-only crowd, a mix of 29 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students crossed the stage and received their diplomas from Dr. R. Philip Roberts, Midwestern’s president.
The two historical “firsts” included the hooding of the initial class of Korean Doctor of Ministry degree recipients as well as presenting a diploma to Christopher F. Rucker, the first student to complete the entire online course load in the Master of Arts, Theological Studies program.
The keynote address was delivered by Roberts and was entitled, “When a little means a lot.” Using Mark 12:41-44 as his text, the Midwestern president noted that an anonymous person, the widow, made a significant impression on the Lord Jesus by her faithful act of giving. Her testimony was so significant in Jesus’ eyes that He wanted the disciples to learn from her example.
In directing the message toward the graduates’ futures, Roberts expressed three points: the widow gave what she had; she gave all that she had; and she gave the best that she had. “Little is much when God is in it,” he said. “And what little we have can count much for the kingdom when it is given to Him. In fact, the Lord prefers to have it that way, you know? If you have a talent, a resource, and now that you have an educational credential that you can use for His kingdom’s purposes, are you willing to give it back to Him? God will use it, and it is your job to give what you have.”
Noting that the graduates should give all they have toward their ministries, Midwestern’s leader told the story of Bill Koehn and Martha Myers -- Midwestern alumni that served as missionaries in Yemen for 25 years and paid the ultimate price in serving Jesus Christ. Koehn and Myers were martyred in 2002. Dr. Jerry Rankin of the International Mission Board said, “On that day in 2002, their lives were not taken because they had already been given years ago. They were given to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and they were given to Jesus to serve Him in whatever capacity the Lord would have them serve.”
Concluding His address, Roberts stated that even though the widow set an excellent example, there was an even better example for us to follow. “Who was the One watching? Who was the One who took note of what the widow had done?” he asked. “This is the One about whom the Scriptures say, ‘Though He was rich, yet for our sakes, He became poor so that through His poverty we might also be rich.’ Jesus gave what He had; he gave all that He had; and He gave the best that He had.”
Although it wasn’t technically the first mid-year graduation in school history, Dr. Jerry Sutton, Midwestern’s Academic Dean, said the only previous graduation observance held on campus in December was specially arranged for a student whose wife was terminally ill and would not live to see him graduate in May.
The Korean “D.Min.” program hosted its first seminars at Midwestern in May of 2010. It is a three-year track, and each of the December graduates transferred into the program from other schools as advanced-standing students. The 100-percent online MATS program was launched in July of 2010. While MATS had its first graduates in May, all of them had transferred hours into the program. Rucker is the first graduate to complete all of the courses required in the online format. According to school administrators, both programs have experienced significant growth in a short amount of time.
Graduates of the December class of 2011 include:
Associate of Arts, Music -- Evan B. Borthwick
Bachelor of Arts, Biblical Studies -- Evan B. Borthwick, Curtis G. Riley, Erika Joy Riley
Bachelor of Arts, Christian Education -- Rachel A. Clutter
Master of Arts, Theological Studies -- Christopher F. Rucker
Master of Arts, Biblical Languages -- Lucas W. Smith
Master of Arts in Counseling -- Carmen M. Cruz, David G. Van Bebber, Jr.
Master of Divinity -- Christopher L. Allen, Nels N. Carlson, Benjamin R. Clay, Benjamin G. Gardner, Adam G. Holt, Joseph M. Reith
Master of Divinity, Christian Education -- Carl E. Alexander, David M. Beauchamp, Abraham B. Jiregna
Master of Divinity, North American Church Planting -- Toby J. DeHay
Doctor of Educational Ministry -- Scott W. McNeal
Doctor of Ministry -- Anthony W. Auxier, Peter J. Chin, Jung O. Gu, George J. Harris, Jong L. Kim, Sangsoo “Paul” Kim, Kent McDowell, Jeremy S. Plymale, Anthony Smith, Buck S. Sung, David B. Wedekind, M. Joe Young, Sr.