The 2023 Institute Commencement Ceremony was held this weekend and celebrated 20 undergraduates and six graduate students. 

The ceremony included students from multiple walks of life, but they all carried a similar story of God's nearness as they chose to submit to learning God's word and applying it to their lives. Alumni Chris Cameron of Genovations Media and Professor Laurie Kagay helped produce a video to be shown to guests and families so they could hear reflections from all graduates. 

The ceremony also included a speech from the traditional undergraduate class, Emily Marotta, and an honorary speech from an adult learner, Scott Sherrod. 

Emily Marotta gave the student address and spoke on "how she would never have thought" her life would look like it does now, rich in friendships and ministry trajectory. She said, "Being rooted and grounded in love gave me far more than I could have asked, hoped, or imagined. I know that we will hold these diplomas with a confident acknowledgment that investing in a biblical education is the best and most life-giving choice we can make." 

To graduate from the Institute is a tremendous accomplishment. By graduation, students have read 180 books and written nearly 800 pages of paper material. They've spent 20 weeks or more abroad on missions as part of their education. They're graduating already integrated into their occupational field, which for this year's graduates included education, accounting, film, IT, community service/nonprofit work, pastoral ministry, maternal health (midwifery and lactation), construction and development, and third-world development work. 

This group of graduates was exceptional in that they included individuals who have been a part of our ministry for more than a decade but have foregone full-time education to participate in building GOD International, its schools, third-world development efforts, and business partners. Through challenging circumstances, marriage, parenthood, childhood illness, and launching careers, these individuals have kept their hand to the plow, never giving up on a biblical education. Celebrating that fact made it a very moving ceremony. 

Honorary speaker and non-traditional undergraduate Scott Sherrod noted he hadn't put on a graduation gown since 1977. Still, when he and his wife saw the absolute passion for God's Word and his mission in the lives of their sons, they sold everything and moved to Nashville to learn the Word, despite all challenges of doing so later in life. With tears filling his eyes, he quoted Psalm 1. " What's the benefit? [Scripture says] it's like a tree planted by water that yields its fruit in season, and its leaves do not wither. This tree that God has planted here has given its branches that don't just go here in Nashville. They go all over the world. And people have taken up this fruit of this place as a result of the teaching and the education that has been received from learning the Word of God. [This is] a place of refuge. [This is] a place for people to find hope."

In the commencement address, President Garner noted the uniqueness of the depths of relationships that he has with students graduating. As both a professor and President, Garner noted that it's been a great privilege to know each student's story, know their family, and be present for their failures, successes, hopes, and gifts. "I remember the faithfulness of God in the faces of these graduates. And I can testify to the very special presence that God has given us, to give people such a hunger to go after something that's real, a real education in God's word, one that is tempered up and against the maturation that exists when a person gives time over to what it is that they're learning and what it is that they're experiencing."

Garner also quoted 2 Corinthians 3, highlighting Paul the apostle's words, "you are our living letters." "You are the commendation, and the accreditation, that legitimizes a ministry of the Spirit. And I know how legitimate it is, based upon the fact that through your Biblical education… it's made you tender-hearted, compassionate people who are willing to listen, to learn, to keep growing and humility, and to be someone who's available, and who recognizes the power of being a friend."

Thank you to all those who celebrated these graduates alongside us. For those of you unable to attend, please enjoy the recording of this special day. 

Graduates

Finally, Congratulations to our graduates! Below is the script read at the ceremony, which gives context to the various types of learners who achieved their degrees. 

This first group of graduates is very special. They were in the first group of students and staff in 2004 when The Institute began. Our ministry and college exist today because of the sacrificial service of people like Skylar and Amanda. While they came here to learn God’s word, they chose, to put the needs of others above their own. Skylar served by setting up internet servers for the other students and staff. Amanda served as a primary teacher to the children of teaching staff, and GOD ministry participants, so they too, could teach and learn. They were a part of the generation that helped build what you now see. They were instrumental in the development of GOD International, our mission efforts, and especially the creation of the GOD Preschool and The Academy for GOD. And yet, because they desired to serve God and please him, they never gave up on their biblical education. 

Skylar Aaseby, Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies

(Derek Bargatze, Bachelor of Arts in Community Development) 

Amanda Davis, Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies 

This next group of graduates have likewise played a special role in the development of GOD International, its programs and even the development of our business endeavors and partnerships. They came to The Institute as young students, but are graduating as parents of multiple children. They are leaders in business, and indispensable parts of our ministry and development efforts. They have likewise served our ministry sacrificially while earning their biblical education, slowing down their degree progress when necessary but never taking their hand off the plow and looking back. 

Grace Aaseby, Bachelor of Arts in Community Development

Canaan Kagay, Bachelor of Arts in Community Development 

Jeremiah Watson, Bachelor of Arts in Community Development

This next group of students comprise graduates who did something very few people choose to do: they went back to school. The following individuals came to the Institute, having already accomplished a bachelor's degree, and in one student’s case, having extensive military experience. But at our college, they found something special, a way to know Jesus for themselves in a way they hadn't before. So this group started all over again, and because they did, they carried out their studies amid launching careers and parenthood. 

We are so proud of this group of students who did what Nicodemus couldn't, who chose to undergo a new birth, a transformation of mind, even when other systems already told them they were done.  

Kyle Becker, Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies 

Kristin Bennecker, Bachelor of Arts in Community Development, Magna Cum Laude

Chelsea Carver, Bachelor of Arts in Community Development, Magna Cum Laude 

Elise Gerard, Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies (second Institute degree) 

Stefanie Nsubuga, Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies 

Scott Sherrod, Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies 

Matthew Webb, Bachelor of Arts in Community Development 

Our traditional undergrad students came to be a part of everything all these fine folks, our faculty and staff, our president, and the staff of GOD International, have built. When President Garner started this ministry the Lord told him “Go to Nashville and I’ll send many more in your place.” We are so grateful for the many more who are continuing to come and be trained as laborers for the kingdom of God. 

Brittan Botzum, Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies 

Jesse Grooms, Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies  

Chelsie Kagay, Bachelor of Arts in Community Development 

Emily Marotta, Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies  

Austin Milliron, Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies 

Gabrielle Parker, Bachelor of Arts in Community Development 

Walt Reynolds, Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies, Cum Laude(ie) 

Masters Graduates 

This group of individuals were also part of some of those initial classes of students, from 2004-2006, and have likewise played a major role in building what we now see -- from the Academy for GOD, to The Institute, our third world development efforts, the Community Church for GOD, and the business endeavors that support our ministry and give jobs to our students. 

Alongside building all of that, this group of students has done so with the conviction that they have to build according to God’s design. The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians, “Let each one take care how he builds... fire will test what sort of work each one has done” (1 Cor. 3). These graduates put themselves voluntarily into the testing. They want to know what they’re doing in their daily lives is according to the Scriptures, and to test every work, to know it is pleasing to God. We are very proud of our biggest class of graduate students to date! 

Rylan Aaseby, Masters of Arts in Theological Studies

Chris Cameron, Masters of Arts in Theological Studies, Summa Cum Laude

Stephen Ownby, Masters of Arts in Missiology, Magna Cum Laude

Matthew Parker, Masters of Arts in Missiology, Magna Cum Laude

Alison Sherrod, Masters of Arts in Missiology, Magna Cum Laude