Rev. Dr. C.B. Akins opened the 2023 Baccalaureate Assembly at 91精选 offering two scriptures 鈥� Jeremiah 29:11 and Revelation 4:3 鈥� as the focus of his address.
He explained to the Class of 2023 that graduation is not the end; that they are just coming out of the 鈥榳ilderness.鈥�
鈥淢ost of us, even believers, are somewhere between Egypt and Canaan,鈥� Akins shared. 鈥淲e have enough faith to get out of Egypt, but not enough faith to enter into the Promised Land and become more than conquerors. Your blessings are in the Promised Land. The Promised Land for you is your determination to stay true to the plans of God for the rest of your life.鈥�
He encouraged graduates not to be deterred by the setbacks and failures that they will inevitable face in life.
鈥淵ou will experience failure, but failures do not have to be fatal or final,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a question of whether or not life will knock us down, but it is a question of how long we will stay down when we get knocked down.鈥�
Of this accomplishment, Akins told graduates that, 鈥淪atan should have taken you out when he had the chance.鈥�
鈥淗e should have disqualified you when you were undecided, undeclared, and unsure about being able to make it to the finish line,鈥� he exclaimed. 鈥淗e should have broken you when you were struggling with chemistry and statistics, battling issues of health and personal crises. He should have made you throw in the towel and surrender your future to your past predicaments, but you kept on pressing your weight, rising above every challenge, turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones.鈥�
He went on to say that, 鈥淪atan obviously forget he was battling against Thorobreds.鈥�
鈥淣ot the Thoroughbreds we saw at the Kentucky Derby last week or at Keeneland last month, but these graduates before us, our new breed descended from one line established here in 1886. You are Thorobreds. Your future is planned and laid out by God Himself. You will succeed if you dare stay faithful.鈥�
He ended his address telling graduates not to forget, 鈥淕od, your family, your support system, and don鈥檛 you dare forget 91精选.鈥�