JACKSON, Tenn. — Dec. 14, 2019 — Two hundred eighty-seven students graduated from 51社区 during two fall commencement services Dec. 14 at West Jackson Baptist Church, where Gary Carter delivered the commencement address.
Carter retired earlier this year as Union鈥檚 senior vice president for business and financial services after 28 years and currently serves as special assistant to the president. His address was entitled, 鈥淕oad Forth.鈥�
Carter spoke on the life of Saul of Tarsus, whose name was later changed to Paul, a persecutor of the early church who later became a believer. Carter read from Acts 26:12-14, where Paul was imprisoned and had the opportunity to share his testimony.
Verse 14 reads, 鈥淎nd when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 鈥楽aul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.鈥欌��
Carter explained that a 鈥済oad鈥� is a long, slender piece of stick sharpened on one end that a farmer used in training a young ox to prod, give direction and keep it in line. In this passage of Scripture, he said, it seems it is used as a metaphor.
鈥淕oads are for our good,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey are in our lives to benefit us, to guide us and give us direction, so that God鈥檚 plan can be fulfilled in our lives.鈥�
Why did Jesus make this statement to Paul, Carter asked? The simple answer is because Saul was acting like a stubborn ox that was kicking against the goads by refusing God鈥檚 direction and guidance. The three main goads that God used in Saul鈥檚 life, Carter said, were the Word of God, the Holy Spirit and the early believers themselves.
Carter spoke of the people God has used as a goad in his own personal life, including teachers, coaches, family and colleagues. Carter encouraged graduates to think of the people who have been 鈥済oads鈥� in their lives and take time to thank them. He also challenged graduates to be a goad in the hand of a mighty God to influence their families, coworkers, fellow church members and community.
鈥淭here are probably a thousand ways to be a goad in God鈥檚 hand,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淲e just need to submit ourselves to him so we that can be used for his kingdom purposes.鈥�
Maylissa Charmant of Burlington, Massachusetts, was one of the graduates who received her degree, as well as the academic excellence medal in nursing. Charmant was part of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and had previously received a biology degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Throughout Union鈥檚 rigorous 15-month program, Charmant maintained a 4.0 GPA, which she said she accomplished through the support of her family and friends, discipline, sacrifice and a lot of studying. Charmant is thankful for professors like Christina Davis, assistant professor of nursing, who supported students both inside and outside the classroom.
鈥淣ursing in general is hard, but if you鈥檙e dedicated and you use the resources that they give you and you keep that line of communication open with your professors, you will succeed,鈥� Charmant said. 鈥淵ou just have to put in that extra effort and it鈥檒l be worth it. This was the best decision I have ever made.鈥�
Sallie Norman of Henderson, Kentucky, graduated with a music education degree. Norman became convinced that Union was the right place for her after she and her mother, who is also a teacher, made a campus visit and met with faculty like Ann Singleton, university professor of special education. They knew they wanted Sallie to learn in an environment from people like Singleton.
鈥淭his is just a really special place that I am so thankful for, and I definitely would not be who I am today if I did not have Union in my life,鈥� Norman said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very thankful for it and all that it鈥檚 given me the last four and a half years.鈥�
Union鈥檚 undergraduate ceremony was held in the morning, with the ceremony for associate, Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and graduate degrees in the afternoon.