Commencement Service

Jeff writes:

Last Sunday our principal Ezekiel Ivihi decided to open the new school year with a special commencement service. In the past years we did start the year with such a service, but in reality it was not truly different from any other church service with the exception that the principal delivered the message.
This year we had a full choir (with special shirts/blouses sewn for the occasion by several CLTC ladies), a sermon and the principal's message. It was a real event, and since Melanesians are more event-oriented than time-oriented (like most Europeans and their descendants), it was very meaningful. Each group involved knew its role, and things ran like clockwork.

We heard a powerful message from Romans 2 by Dr. Kofi Annan. He and his wife Faustina are here as guest lecturers from Ghana. Kofi is also director for Pioneer's Africa. There was much joyful singing, a couple of choir numbers, dedicatory prayer for all aspects of the college work, and followed by the principal's message. Afterwards the new students and the staff enjoyed light refreshments together.
For those of you wondering, the service started at 10:00 a.m (However, everyone was supposed to be there by 9:30.) It ended around 1:00 p.m. Now that is an EVENT!
God was certainly glorified, and we were charged up as well. It was a wonderful way to start the new school year. I hope this becomes a tradition.