In his Dec. 6 commencement message to North Greenville University graduates, Michael Thomas Whitson urged them to be available for God to work through them.
North Greenville alumnus Michael Thomas Whitson, pastor of First Baptist Church of Indian Trail, N.C., was the keynote speaker for NGU’s winter graduation service on Dec. 6.Whitson is pastor of First Baptist Church of Indian Trail, N.C.
NGU awarded degrees to 165 students in its undergraduate and graduate programs.
Whitson listed five attributes of a person who wants to be used by God: Be obedient, remove every hindrance out of life that would keep you from serving him, place yourself at his disposal, be in constant prayer, and live under his anointing.
Whitson, a native of Brevard, N.C., received his associate in arts from North Greenville Junior College in 1977 and his bachelor of arts from Furman University, and he attended Erskine Theological Seminary.
He previously served as pastor at River Falls Baptist Church in northern Greenville County and Groveland Baptist Church in Taylors.
Since becoming pastor of First Baptist Church, Indian Trail, in 1983, he has baptized more than 5,000 people, and total church membership has increased from 446 to 6,258.
At the conclusion of Whitson’s address, the university awarded him an honorary doctor of Christian leadership.
In addition, in a surprise for NGU’s first lady Gretchen Epting, the chairman of the board of trustees, Arnold Emory, awarded her an honorary doctor of Christian leadership.
“Thank you for everything,” Epting said after receiving the award. – NGU