What pastors can say to the class of 2024

Jim Farrer May 16, 2024

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Graduation observances are important events in the life of a congregation. Many families celebrate graduations from different levels of education. In one of my congregations, the nursery school graduation boasted the largest attendance of the year.

Even high school students who seldom attend church will likely sit with grandma if she invites them on grad recognition Sunday.

With everyone's attention on the graduates and the pastor's advice for them, these ceremonies are opportunities to assure the graduates: "We've pulled for you; we've prayed for you; we're proud of you." What else do graduates need to hear?

Never doubt your uniqueness.

Each person is made in the image of God. Of the billions of individuals on earth, each has a unique fingerprint and voiceprint. Today iris identification technology takes less than one second. Personal DNA demonstrates intricately-designed creations rather than randomly-produced "blobs."

Ephesians 2:10 reassures us: "You are one of God's masterpieces." (See the New Living Translation and the Jerusalem Bible.) Good resources to explore God's craftsmanship of humans include Fearfully and Wonderfully Made and In His Image both by Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancey. Also, I Am Joe's Body by J.D. Ratcliff incorporates 33 articles, taken from the most successful series in the history of the Reader's Digest, which demonstrate the amazing physiological make-up of the body.

Church is fantastic for you.

Duke University researcher Harold Koenig, MD has overseen the analysis of peer-reviewed journal studies from 1872 to the present on religion and health, most of it concerning Christianity. His summary of the importance of religious commitment in a religious community follows: "In general, (people) cope with stress better, they experience greater well-being because they have more hope. They're more optimistic, they experience less depression, less anxiety and they commit suicide less often. They don't drink alcohol as much, they don't use drugs as much, they don't smoke cigarettes as much and they have healthier lifestyles. They have stronger immune systems, lower blood pressure, probably better cardiovascular functioning and probably a healthier hormonal environment physiologically …and they live longer." (beliefnet.com 5/06)

He also concludes: "Lack of religious involvement…is equivalent to 40 years of smoking one pack of cigarettes per day."

A massive Connecticut Mutual Insurance survey showed that the most important variable in promoting a healthy lifestyle is to be an active member of a church. Various studies have reported that committed church attendance can extend your life between three and seven years. In fact, the National Health Interview Survey which followed 21,000 people over an eight-year period demonstrated an eight-year longevity difference if you attend church more than once a week.

Seek joy over happiness.

Most people desire to be happy. Professor Martin Seligman at the University of Pennsylvania reports that billionaires and the Amish are equally happy. William Saroyan writes: "The greatest happiness you can have is knowing that you do not necessarily require happiness." Dr. Victor Frankl who tracked the hopelessness in the Nazi concentration camps discovered that what people want is not to he happy, but rather a reason to be happy. A connected relationship with the Most High God whom we know best through Jesus of Nazareth brings meaning, purpose and a deep-seated joy in the midst of the dark times of life.

Explore How … Wow … but also Why.

Science can share facts about "how" things originate, but over time these "facts" tend to change. In schools science is best taught when it leads to the joy of discovery. The telescopes and microscopes should enhance the "Wow!"

However, the Bible is the book which really concentrates on the "Wow," the awe and wonder of the world's design. Science has little clue about any "who" which caused the universe.

Science also does not deal with "why" the universe was made. St. John 3:16 reads: "God so loved the world/kosmos…" The Greek word here agape means self-giving and long-term covenant love. According to theologian Alan Jones, PhD in Sacrifice and Delight, the Latin version, Sic Deus dilexit mundum, might well be translated as "God so delighted in the world."

You have lived in a blessed era.

The evening news gives evidence now of several major wars. In addition there are multitudes of other conflicts around the globe. Thousands have been displaced from their homes by rival tribes. Gangs, governments and armies have committed abhorrent "crimes against humanity." Yes, there are reasons for deep anxiety and dread about the future. However, most of us have been unaware that we have been living under what could be termed "the providence of God."

Had you read The Wilson Quarterlyvol. IX, 1985, pp. 84-93, you would have noted author Paul Schroeder's research indicating that over a period of seventeen centuries, the longest era without a major war involving two or more of the "great powers" of that era, lasted for thirty-eight years, nine months, and five days. This was from Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo to the start of the Crimean War.

Following the end of World War II, that record was broken on May 15, 1984. Now that amazing peaceful period has been doubled to 78 years!!

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Jim Farrer is the founder of Vital Signs Church Consulting and a member of the Society for Church Consulting. A broadly-trained church consultant, Jim is also a veteran of ministry positions in Canada and the U.S., he has trained leaders from 18 denominations and led seminars and coaching sessions nationwide. His articles have been published in the Journal of Evangelism and Missions and the Great Commission Research Journal. You can reach him by e-mailing revup1@yahoo.com or calling 814 629-5211. Learn More »

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