Rebecca Sneed/HLGU communications
Hannibal – Hannibal-LaGrange University (HLGU) welcomed students back to campus on Jan. 7. Then at chapel the next day HLGU’s eighth President, Anthony Allen, brought the message at the first service of the year.
The passage was taken from Luke 18:18-30 where a rich young ruler asks Jesus what he must do to have eternal life. Ultimately, he walks away saddened because he loved the material more than the eternal.
“The bottom line is that the rich young man wanted eternal life, but not enough to give up his wealth and follow Jesus,” said Allen. “Whatever Jesus was offering him was going to cost him his possessions and pride. He wanted eternal life as an add-on to what he already possessed.”
Then Mark’s Gospel records these most penetrating and challenging words, “Then, looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me’ (Mark 10:21). Jesus loved this young man and invited him to come and follow Him. Jesus wanted this young man to enjoy His company, His presence. Jesus invites us to follow Him, to know the Word of God and the fellowship of the Spirit. We are a part of a larger extended family, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, working together to see His kingdom extended throughout the earth. We take great comfort in knowing that this new life we have in Him is abundant both here and now, but also promises life everlasting.”
Allen did well to make everyone mindful of putting the Lord first as the new year is taking shape, as following Him and enjoying His presence and blessings in our lives is most important.
The Lord’s blessings upon HLGU have indeed been rich already this year. Despite the uncooperative winter weather, there is energy present in all those on campus, especially from graduating seniors and the excited group of transfer students who have been added to the numbers.
“It appears that the spring 2014 semester at Hannibal-LaGrange will again have a strong enrollment,” stated Ray Carty, vice president for enrollment management. “While not all of the extension campuses have reported, for total enrollment, our on-campus resident student population is a bit larger than last year during the spring 2013 semester. The student enrollment is comprised of students from 26 states and 27 counties.”