North Greenville University held its spring commencement ceremony in perfect weather in Melvin and Dollie Younts Football Stadium on May 7.

More than 4,000 spectators watched approximately 300 undergraduates and graduates receive their diplomas. South Carolina Baptist Convention interim executive director-treasurer Richard Harris was the keynote speaker.

“You graduates are a very elite group. This is a big deal,” said Harris. “You are graduating from North Greenville University, one of the finest Christian universities in America.”

“In the world’s population, only 6.7 percent have a university degree of any kind. In America, only 19 percent have bachelor’s degrees, 8 percent have master’s degrees, and only 2 percent have doctorate degrees,” said Harris.

Harris referenced Hebrews 12, which commands believers to strip off everything that hinders them from fixing their eyes upon Jesus.

He shared lessons he learned through his life and ministry, including maintain an attitude of excellence, live each day with an attitude of gratitude, be a learner, maintain personal integrity, and study the Word of God.

“If you don’t remember anything else I’ve said today, at least remember to seek first the kingdom of God,” Harris said.

Harris retired after 29 and a half years of ministry with the Southern Baptist Convention’s Home Mission Board/North American Mission Board in 2010.

During his time with NAMB, he led mass-evangelism efforts for 16 years, church-planting efforts for 10 years, and NAMB missionaries for three-and-a-half years. Harris provided leadership to NAMB as interim president from August 2009 to September 2010.

A native of Kentucky, Harris is a graduate of Cumberland University in Williamsburg. He earned a master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky State University in Richmond and received his master of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

At the conclusion of his address, Harris received an honorary doctor of Christian leadership degree, which was presented by NGU interim president Randall Pannell and Beverly Hawkins, chairperson of the NGU board of trustees.

In a special moment during the ceremony, the family of the late Brent Elrod was recognized.

On Oct. 10, 2013, word reached the campus that a member of the NGU family had died in a hiking accident. Elrod, a student who was preparing for a lifetime of ministry, slipped and fell to his death at Wildcat Ranch Falls in Marietta, S.C.

As a student, Elrod served with the student life staff. He was committed to serving the Lord by serving students out of a heart of love and compassion. He was a student leader at his home church, Mt. Airy Baptist Church in Easley. As a university student, he served as youth minister at Pathway Church in Powdersville.

“His spirit lives in the lives of those he touched during his years at the university, many of whom are here today to share in this graduation ceremony. Brent had planned to be a part of this graduating class,” Pannell said.