RBTC Sends Out 37th Graduating Class

//"Love People." —Rev. Sam Smucker, '77 RBTC Graduate

As the ceremonial notes of “Pomp and Circumstance” signaled the start of RHEMA Bible Training Center USA’s 37th commencement, 407 soon-to-be graduates filed into the Tulsa Convention Center while family and friends cheered, waved, and took pictures. Counting the Class of 2011, RBTC now has more than 45,000 graduates around the world!

Update Back-to-Back Championships for Lady Eagles Basketball The RHEMA Lady Eagles defeated Ozark Christian College 54–52 this spring to win a second consecutive ACCA National Championship. The Lady Eagles have now won six national championships in 13 years. Learn more about RBTC athletics and follow the teams by visiting athletics.rbtc.org. RHEMA Soccer Team National Runner-Up in First Season In their first year of play, the RHEMA Eagles soccer team reached the finals of the ACCA National Championship before falling to Hillsdale 3-1 in the championship game. RHEMA will continue to field a men’s soccer team and plans to start a women’s team for the 2011–2012 school year. Biblical Studies Second- and Third-Year Program Offered In recent years, RBTC instructors have observed that many believers today lack basic Bible knowledge. To remedy that, RHEMA Bible Training Center launched the RHEMA School of Biblical Studies during the 2010–2011 school year. This exciting program includes 24 courses on books of the Bible not currently covered in depth in RBTC classes. This course of study is open to anyone who has completed one year at RBTC and all second-year graduates.

Sam Smucker, pastor of Worship Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and a 1977 RHEMA Bible Training Center graduate, delivered the commencement address. He shared five practical points to help the eager graduates succeed in ministry.

Keep your eyes on the fence post. “Jesus said, ‘ “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” ’ (Luke 9:62 NIV 2011). When my dad was teaching me how to plow a field, he taught me to keep my eyes on a fence post and never look down. When I’d get to the other end of the field after doing that, I’d look back and my furrow was straight. Graduates, keep your eyes on your vision. The Bible says, ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’ (Prov. 29:18).”

Swim in your own lane. “Be yourself. You can’t be anyone else. We all have an assignment from God. Psalm 139:16 (NLT) says, ‘You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.’ Be authentic. Your gift will shine and make room for you.”

Live and minister Caleb’s way. “In Numbers chapter 13, Moses sent the spies to Canaan. They saw how good the land was. Ten said they couldn’t take the land, but Caleb and Joshua said, ‘Let’s go get it!’ They saw things different than the crowd. A positive approach to life in a negative world puts us above the circumstances of life.”

Be and remain teachable. “I see too many people who don’t ask any questions. I see people struggling in ministry who won’t ask questions. Don’t have a know-it-all attitude.”

Treasure what matters most. “Love people. Jesus is our example of loving people. He constantly drove home to His disciples that it’s about loving people, restoring people, serving people, and empowering people. And Jesus demonstrated this in His life every day.”

At the conclusion of the ceremony, each graduate walked from the hall holding a lit candle in one hand and in the other a runner’s relay baton. Each baton bore these words: “I commit today to carry the baton of revival to this generation. I will carry the banner of faith and God’s power to a lost and dying world. This is my time to do all God has called me to do!”