• Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • About
  • Home

Pathway

Missouri Baptist Convention's Official News Journal

  • Missouri
    • MBC
    • Churches
    • Institutions & Agencies
    • Policy
    • Disaster Relief
  • National
    • SBC Annual Meeting
    • NAMB
    • SBC
    • Churches
    • Policy
    • Society & Culture
  • Global
    • Missions
    • Multicultural
  • Columnists
    • Wes Fowler
    • Ben Hawkins
    • Pat Lamb
    • Rhonda Rhea
    • Rob Phillips
  • Ethics
    • Life
    • Liberty
    • Family
  • Faith
    • Apologetics
    • Religions
    • Evangelism
    • Missions
    • Bible Study & Devotion
  • E-Edition

More results...

BOLIVAR – U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt addresses Southwest Baptist University graduates at the 2015 commencement ceremony here. Photo courtesy of Southwest Baptist University.

Blunt challenges 571 SBU grads

May 27, 2015 By Charlotte Marsch

BOLIVAR – Southwest Baptist University graduated 571 students at the spring commencement ceremonies held Thursday, May 14 and Saturday, May 16.

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt delivered the commencement address at the undergraduate ceremony. Prior to being elected to the United States Senate in 2010, Blunt served as Missouri’s Secretary of State, in the U.S. House of Representatives, and as president of SBU from 1993 to 1996.

He challenged students to cherish and protect the American right to religious freedom, as well as to build their lives on Gospel truth. “Southwest Baptist University is a place where you come and learn not just how to make a living, but where you can come and learn how to live a life, and particularly to live that life on the life framework of the Gospel,” he said.

He encouraged students to embrace the exciting time in which they are living and to look forward to all of the possibilities, opportunities and advancements that the future holds.

“I think that we live in a very exciting time,” he said. “Part of the excitement is that we can’t predict what the world will look like in the next few decades, but it is a world that has lots of potential opportunities for us.”

The graduate ceremony commencement address was given by J. David Taylor, who graduated from SBU with a master of physical therapy in 1998 and currently serves as associate professor of physical therapy at University of Central Arkansas. In June, he joins the department of physical therapy at the University of Arkansas.

Taylor encouraged students to resolve to serve the Lord with their lives, citing the biblical story of Ananias, who was called by God to minister to the Apostle Paul shortly after his remarkable conversion on the road to Damascus. “I have a meaningful question to ask of you: Are you prepared to serve God, and will you make the choice to serve God?” Taylor asked. “Your decision to serve God is indeed your choice.”

“Do not allow the things of your past to stop you from serving God,” Taylor said. “Look ahead, not back.”

Comments

Featured Videos

Lick Creek Fellowship - A Story of Cooperation

A declining rural church faced closure after years of dwindling attendance and aging members. But after the doors closed, a small group stepped in to build something fresh from its legacy. Watch this video to hear this story of cooperation and new life.

Find More Videos

Trending

  • The blessing of staying

  • Amendment on role of women in pastoral ministry fails to achieve 2/3 vote

  • Citing challenges overcome 100 years ago, Iorg urges Southern Baptists to choose cooperation

  • Churches partner to start children’s Bible club

  • ‘Stand together’ for the sake of reaching nations, Chitwood tells SBC messengers

  • MBU sports team focuses on more than athletics

Ethics

FIRST-PERSON: Liberty for all – a Baptist distinctive

Baptist Press

As the echoes of Fourth of July fireworks fade and we turn our attention to the week ahead, Southern Baptists also will take a moment to celebrate a key freedom that Americans have long enjoyed and that Baptists have continually sought to defend.

Religious liberty ‘the best blessing’ America has, Baptist immigrants say

Baptist Press

More Ethics Stories

Missouri

Resolutions due 60 days before MBC annual meeting

Staff

Resolutions must be submitted in writing to the Committee on Resolutions at least 60 days prior to the first session of the annual meeting. Persons submitting resolutions must certify that they are messengers.

Copyright © 2025 · The Pathway