Script - Gathering Chapel 24

--- author: Keelan Cook date: 2024-08-22 tags: script, Gathering Chapel --- # Script - Gathering Chapel 2024 ## Worship :::info *Have the band on stage when we begin.* ::: ### Opening - Welcome to our annual Missions Gathering Chapel. - This one will look a little different. We've got a number of elements that you don't normally see in a chapel. In fact, we've got a whole lot to get through today. I'm going to do my best to keep us on time. But, all of it is designed to point us toward a priority here at Southeastern. - It's a longstanding tradition here at Southeastern that we use this chapel every year for a special purpose. - You see today, we celebrate the Great Commission, and our role as a seminary in helping you find your place in that mission. - Now, join us as we worship our God. :::info *Hand off to Caleb and the band. The band will play two songs. Then we will have to two testimonies back-to-back. The band will play another song.* *Caleb and full band are staying up during the testimonies and may play keys behind them.* ::: ### Song 1 - *I Believe* ### Song 2 - *Only a Holy God* :::danger *Kill livestream for security.* ::: ### Testimony 1 - Claire ### Testimony 2 - Dave :::success *Return to livestream* ::: ### Song 3 - *God of Revival* :::info *Keelan walks back up after the band plays the last song.* ::: --- ## Segment 1 ### Explain the CGCS - **You hear us say it all the time, being a Great Commission seminary means every classroom is a Great Commission classroom.** - But it also means we have an entire ministry center dedicated to creating an environment where every, single student is faced with the question, "Where are you going?" How are you going to fulfill the Great Commission? - That's what we do in the Center for Great Commission Studies. - We don't just want every classroom to be a Great Commission classroom, **we want every student to be a Great Commission student**. - In order to do that, we want to issue to you today two things: a challenge and a commitment. - #### **First, our challenge to you today is this: adopt a posture of openness to the Great Commission.** - By God's providence, you all find yourself in a truly unique place, whether you're an on-campus student or you're watching this from a distance. Being part of the Southeastern family is a unique thing. I think it changes the way we approach the question of calling. - Shift your posture toward one of openness. Ask questions like: Why not be a missionary? Why not be a church planter, a replanter, a pastor, a counselor? - There are many pathways to obeying the Great Commission, to making disciples among the nations. **Our biggest mistake, your biggest mistake, is failing to put your feet on one.** - A posture of openness to the Great Commission, that's our challenge. - If that's the challenge, then what's our commitment? :::warning *Run Great Commission Pathways Slide* ::: - #### Our commitment to you is that we will help facilitate that process. - My encouragement to every student at Southeastern is to think about their time here as a journey toward discovering that pathway. - Not in some mystic, feeling in your gut kinda way. This is not about a thin understanding of calling. We want a thick understanding, a deep theology of calling that will support you even when ministry gets hard. Because ministry will get hard. - This comes through intense, prayerful study of God's word, through genuine counsel from your local church, and by allowing us in the CGCS to facilitate a process of asking the right questions. - Last year, we introduced our Great Commission Pathways initiative. It's an intentional effort to provide help to every Southeastern student as you think through your own ministry calling. We do that in several ways... - **First, we provide coaching and counsel.** We are open for any student on campus or at a distance to schedule some time to just sit down and say, "Here's where I am on my journey, what are my next steps?" *We call these GO meetings, and you can sign up for one today as you walk out of chapel. Or, you can go on our website at any time and start this process.* - **Second, the CGCS is your connecting point to our denominational sending partners.** Pathways is the way we connect you with those partners, like the IMB, NAMB, state conventions. - **Finally, we create opportunities** for you to live out a ministry calling now -- opportunities for you to engage in real missions now in order to help you discern what future ministry looks like. *You'll hear more about our mission trips this year in just a bit.* - That's us: That's the Center for Great Commission Studies - The whole reason we exist is to mobilize and equip students, faculty, and staff in fulfillment of the Great Commission. To serve you all in that way, and in doing so, to serve Christ and his church. ### Intro Steven - Right now, I have the privilege of turning over the stage to a colleague, and not just any colleague, but to my pastor. - I know Dr. Wade's heart for the nations. I hear him preach about it week after week, and I get to see him lead our church toward the nations. I am excited about the word that he has for us today. - Join me in welcoming the lead pastor at Faith Baptist Youngsville and Professor of Pastoral Ministry, Dr. Steven Wade, to the stage. ### Sermon: Steven Wade :::info *Dr. Wade ends sermon and the video begins to play as he exits.* ::: --- ## Segment 2 ### Mission Trip Video: Bakers in Madagascar :::info *Keelan walks up as the video is ending.* ::: ### Mission Trip Announcement - This year, some of you will have the chance to join Nathan and Tessa in Madagascar as we go to share in their work. - At Southeastern, we have an expectation that every student will go on a mission trip. - #### **We do a ton of work to remove any barriers as well.** - Every CGCS mission trip is also a class. That means you get 3 credit hours for going. And guess what, you get that credit free of tuition cost. Every mission trip class comes with a 100% scholarship for that course tuition. - But we don't just give tuition, we also subsidize the cost of the trip, meaning the plane tickets, housing, meals, etc. are quite a bit cheaper for you. Southeastern has generous donors who know how important it is that every student get to experience at least one mission trip. So they've paid, in advance for a portion of every ticket, every hotel room, every meal. - #### **And last year, man, you all really showed up.** - In fact, for the last couple of years, we've seen unbelievable student involvement in our mission trips. - Last year, over 100 of you chose to use your spring or fall break, or some time over the summer to engage in Great Commission ministry somewhere in the world. - It was a phenomenal year. :::warning *Run Trip Slide Roll* ::: - #### **And this year, I'm excited to say, you have even more opportunities to go than you had last year.** - We are going to London, New Bedford, Mass., Clarkston, and Las Vegas. We have two trips to Central Asia this year, one to the east and one to the west. We're going to South Asia, and back to Southeast Asia. We've got trips to New York City, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Dallas, Texas. And finally, we'll be taking a trip to Madagascar to work with Nathan and Tessa from the video you just watched. - That's 12 different locations, 12 different mission and ministry opportunities, to serve with your classmates alongside church planters or missionaries all over the world. - And spots are limited. The London trip this fall is already full. And the trip to New Bedford only has a couple of spots left. If you're interested in going over Fall Break, you've only got a few days left sign up. - We're headed to big cities and to some really remote places. We're taking you to see and experience lostness in some of the least-reached places in the world, so that you have the opportunity to share the hope that is in you, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. :::warning *Run All Locations Slide* ::: - **Southeastern, We are going.** - The question I pose to you this Gathering Chapel is... **where are *you* going?** - Which one of these places are you going to take the gospel to this year? ### Trip Promotion and Giveaway *Interest form slide* - Now, many of you, if this is not your first Gathering Chapel, may be wondering what's coming next. :::warning *Run Interest Form Slide* ::: - The last couple of years at the Gathering Chapel, we've had a gift for every student who filled out the mission trip interest form. And yes, we're able to do that again this year. Hundreds of you expressed interest in at least one of our missions trips last year at the Gathering chapel, and I'm hoping to see a bunch of you do the same today. - So, go ahead and get out your phone. On the slide behind me you will see a QR code. That QR code leads you to an interest form for our mission trips this year, and I want you to fill out. - If you are interested in a mission trip this year, and you fill out this form before noon Wake Forest time tomorrow, you will get an additional $100 stipend off whichever trip you choose this year. **And, one of you will win a drawing for a completely free North American mission trip or half off the cost of one of our international mission trips.** - If you are remotely interested in a trip, you really should fill out this form. ### Meet and Greet - And now for the last thing: - As you walk out those chapel doors today, you'll walk into a meet and greet with many of our professors and other leaders for this year's trips. Go ahead and introduce yourself, ask questions, let them know you might be interested. - Well, and since we're just giving away a bunch of stuff away today, visiting tables and talking to professors about their trip allows you to sign up for a another drawing to win a whole set of travel gear. It's a nice bag too. In fact, it's the one I use to lead trips. - Don't miss an opportunity to find out even more about our trips as you leave today. ### Conclusion - Now why would we do this? - Why would our missions center spend so much effort planning trips and turning them into classes? - Why would supporters of this school sacrifice their own money just so you can afford to go? - Because we want you to experience what Dave and Claire were talking about in their testimonies a few minutes ago. - We want you to experience first hand, on the field, a glimpse of what it's like to give your life for the Great Commission. :::info **Pray to close** :::