Throughout the school year, each academic school at Bob Jones University has been given the opportunity to host their own chapel service. The School of Education and Human Services (SOEHS) met together twice during the fall semester for a time to worship the Lord, build community within our division and hear how God can use education and human services to impact our communities, nation, and world for Christ. This year, we selected a theme of “Jesus is Lord,” the powerful reminder that as such, He is worthy of our obedience no matter how uncomfortable it may make us feel. Our theme verses, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, paired nicely with this theme, reminding us that God’s grace is sufficient for whatever task He calls us to perform.
Our first time together began with our students singing, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, a sobering call of commitment not to turn back, no matter the oppositions that are faced. Because this school chapel took place the day before our annual Washington Center Day event, Dr. Hartman, Human Services division chair, took a few minutes to answer some common questions that students have raised regarding how to best serve at the event. To conclude the chapel, students heard a brief challenge from alumnus Mr. Curtis Tomlin, who serves as the administrator of Hidden Treasure Christian School in Taylors, SC. Hidden Treasure is a Special Education school ministry that helps spiritually, academically, socially and physically equip students with special needs so that they can experience God’s best for their lives. Tomlin spoke of the blessings and challenges of being an educator, yet testified to God’s faithfulness in leading him and his wife every step of the way to prepare them for what they do today.
For our second chapel, we had the unique opportunity to hear a testimony from Tammy Buhr, the mother of Dr. ScottBuhr, chair of the Teacher Education department, who recently retired after more than forty years of service in Christian education. Mrs. Buhr walked the students through the five different ministries that she served in throughout the years. She was able to serve in a wide array of positions from preschool all the way to school leadership. She noted how each experience was used by God to prepare her for the calling that He had placed upon her life. She ended by encouraging the students to confidently follow the Lord’s leading in their lives, knowing that He will be faithful to equip them with everything they need for whatever He calls them to do.
