By Ariel C. Emberton, student news writer, Office of University Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – “You are in the world, but you don’t have to be of the world,” Dr. David Peoples, pastor of Jabez Missionary Church of Lexington and first vice president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, said at Campbellsville University’s chapel service Sept. 11.
He read from John 16:33 and talked about how the passage showed freedom, fact and faith between us and Christ. “There is a freedom. If you don’t want the peace of God then you don’t have to receive it,” Peoples said. Forcing people to accept God’s peace was something Peoples said he wouldn’t do; they have to make that decision for themselves.
Regardless of what we do, God is always waiting for us, he said. Peoples said if people choose to accept the peace of Jesus then they will be filled with a voluntary peace that will carry them in their darkest hour. Peoples said the devil gets angry when people recognize the peace of God.
Peoples said it is a fact that tribulations will be a part of everyone’s lives, but they can have peace if they desire it. He challenged everyone to be of good cheer and to understand that He knows your struggle. “I got somebody who knows who I am,” Peoples said.
Students may be faced with exams, car problems, only have $10 to their name and surviving off of peanut butter and Ramen noodles but should still “smile and be of good cheer,” he said. Peoples talked about how God loves everyone and wants them to turn themselves over to him. “It is a fact that there will be tribulation but there will also be peace,” Peoples said.
“This world is a temporary inconvenience on the way to a permanent improvement,” Peoples said.
Peoples received a standing ovation following his sermon.
During the service, Dr. John Chowning, executive assistant to the president for government, community and constituent relations, took everyone back to Sept. 11, 2001. He talked about hearing the devastating news of the attack on the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon. A moment of silence was held in memory of the 3,000 people who lost their lives 18 years ago.
Campbellsville University is a widely-acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 12,000 students offering over 100 programs of study including Ph.D., master, baccalaureate, associate, pre-professional and certification programs. The university has Kentucky based off-campus centers in Louisville, Harrodsburg, Somerset, Hodgenville and Liberty with instructional sites in Elizabethtown, Owensboro and Summersville. Out-of-state centers include two in California at Los Angeles and Lathrop, located in the San Francisco Bay region. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.
Campbellsville University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award certificates, associate, baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the status of Campbellsville University.