Whitefield celebrated the Class of 2017’s graduation with a baccalaureate service on Friday, May 19, in the Lower School Student Activity Center and the 20th Commencement on Saturday, May 20, at The Church of the Apostles. The graduates marched in robes and cords representing their various achievements as parents, grandparents, faculty, family, and friends looked on.
During the baccaleaurate service, Wallace Francis, Whitefield board chaplain and national director of Ambassadors for Christ, reminded the seniors to be faithful to Christ in their future endeavors, but that it won't always be easy. He shared the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace and Daniel in the lion's den as examples of individuals who were put to the test but who proved faithful to God in the midst of their trials.
Saturday's keynote commencement address was delivered by Bob Goff, New York Times best-selling author of Love Does, and founder of Love Does, a nonprofit human rights organization operating in Uganda, India, Nepal, Iraq and Somalia. He encouraged the graduates to "love everybody, but start with the people that freak you out," explaining that by expressing your faith in love, especially to those with whom you don't feel comfortable, you will draw closer to Jesus and draw others closer to Him as well.
Valedictorian Daniel Justice also addressed the congregation before the degrees were conferred to each of the 67 graduates.
Congratulations to the newest members of the Whitefield alumni family!
During the baccaleaurate service, Wallace Francis, Whitefield board chaplain and national director of Ambassadors for Christ, reminded the seniors to be faithful to Christ in their future endeavors, but that it won't always be easy. He shared the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace and Daniel in the lion's den as examples of individuals who were put to the test but who proved faithful to God in the midst of their trials.
Saturday's keynote commencement address was delivered by Bob Goff, New York Times best-selling author of Love Does, and founder of Love Does, a nonprofit human rights organization operating in Uganda, India, Nepal, Iraq and Somalia. He encouraged the graduates to "love everybody, but start with the people that freak you out," explaining that by expressing your faith in love, especially to those with whom you don't feel comfortable, you will draw closer to Jesus and draw others closer to Him as well.
Valedictorian Daniel Justice also addressed the congregation before the degrees were conferred to each of the 67 graduates.
Congratulations to the newest members of the Whitefield alumni family!