North Greenville University celebrated its 116 years of existence on Wednesday, Sept. 17, with a Founder’s Day chapel service on the northern Greenville county campus.
NGU president Epting and Blackaby.Richard Blackaby, author, international speaker and president of Blackaby Ministries International, was the keynote speaker at the chapel service.
Blackaby enchanted the captive chapel audience as he urged students to not be content with their current spiritual life.
Blackaby drew upon scripture and his own life experiences to illustrate the Christian’s need to continue growing in devotion to God. His primary illustration detailed his children’s journey from riding the kiddie rides at the amusement park to riding the thrilling roller coasters: Once a Christian takes the next step in his walk with God, there is no going back to the kiddie stuff.
While much of his sermon was entertaining and contained much humor, Blackaby made it clear that one’s personal spiritual condition is a serious matter. He stressed that there is always room for improvement in one’s spiritual life.
Blackaby – who has authored and co-authored several books including “Putting a Face on Grace,” “Spiritual Leadership,” “Hearing God’s Voice” and “Experiencing God Day by Day” – is one more in a long line of Christian speakers who have celebrated North Greenville’s Christian heritage.
A former senior pastor, Blackaby served as president of the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary from 1993 to 2006. He was also managing editor and contributing author for The Blackaby Study Bible. He has written articles for numerous magazines and journals, and maintains an extensive speaking schedule.
He and his wife Lisa are the parents of three children. Two of them, Carrie and Daniel, are students at NGU.
Blackaby also spoke to scholarship donors at a luncheon immediately following chapel. In his speech, he expressed his passion to see God’s purpose at NGU to be fulfilled.
Founder’s Day celebrates the establishment and Christian heritage of North Greenville University. The institution was originally formed in 1892 as a high school dedicated to providing educational opportunities for mountain-area students.
In 1991, the college reaffirmed its basic commitment to quality education in a biblically sound, Christ-centered environment becoming a four-year liberal arts college in 1992. The college awarded its first bachelor’s degree in 1994. The school transitioned from college to university status in 2005, as well as opened the T. Walter Brashier Graduate School to offer graduate degree programs.
The university currently offers more than 40 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.