What Makes an Honor Graduate?
It’s that time of year when we are making plans to attend ceremonies for ‘our’ graduate. Some of us will see ‘our’ graduate receive extra recognition for exceptional academic achievement. As you know, we had our first graduation of the Mathes Pastor Training School last week in Barahona. Let me tell you a better qualification for honor graduate than academic achievement.
Pastor Batiste has been on these pages (link). He is blind. He graduated last week. Over the time we spent with him as he completed his course of study, we learned to love and appreciate him. We were also challenged by him. In the early sessions he was very adamant about getting a syllabus just like everyone else. It took a little time for us to learn the reason.
His adult daughter is an attorney. Every afternoon when he got home from his class sessions, he would ask his daughter to read that day’s course material to him. Think about that. He spent 4-5 hours in class, heard the lectures, and participated in the discussions. He spent another block of time listening to the syllabus.
When Pastor Batiste asks questions in class, it’s usually about one verse of Scripture or another. Every one of these questions includes the chapter and verse reference. For example, he might begin, “About Acts 16:31….” We came to learn he has memorized the New Testament. That challenges me greatly when I answer his questions!
In the graduation, each pastor received an iPad containing the syllabi from their completed courses. They also received a new version of the solar Bibles in Spanish (New Testatment). Pastor Batiste was grateful as always. His question was this: When can I get an audio copy of the Old Testament? I want to memorize it, too!
Now, I have to ask: Have you sensed or expressed any frustration lately about keeping up with your Bible reading plan? Do you have a Scripture memory plan?
The goal here is two-fold. First, to challenge you in ‘hiding the Word in your heart that you might not sin against God.’ Second, it’s for you to challenge and encourage others. There will come a day when we ‘graduate’ from this life. When we stand before the Lord, I don’t think He’s going to be too concerned with our academic honors. Celebrate the season with your graduate. Challenge them to learn the really important stuff!