Visitors from General Conference present "Wholesome Relationships in the Digital Age"

by Jyremy Reid, Student Writer/Photographer

Oakwood had the pleasure of having Willie and Elaine Oliver speak to the students for Chapel on September 12. The Olivers are the directors of the Department of Family Ministries for the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters.

"Begin with the end in mind," Oliver said.

The aim of their presentation entitled, "Wholesome Relationships in the Digital Age," was to encourage students to trust God's plan for their lives (Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.")

Willie and Elaine Oliver gave the students the analogy of a flight plan, saying that a clear destination for the future is absolutely necessary, as well as a compass, otherwise known as the Bible, for guidance. God has a plan for our lives and we need to be open to that plan. When thinking about our future relationships, we also need to write down the things we want in and out of them too. Writing these goals down will help ensure what we really want in life. "Begin with the end in mind," they said.

Above all else, the Olivers warned the students to guard their hearts and minds. We as Christians are to be careful about what goes into our brains. There are two natures that humans possess: righteous  

The Olivers in prayer with a student at the close of their presentation.

and carnal. The nature you feed, is the nature that will win. Therefore, we should abstain from sexual immorality and all other unscrupulous things. "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." - Proverbs 4:23

In closing, the Olivers again indicated for the students to follow the compass that God has given to them. God wants everyone to prosper, for He has given us a hope and a future. Don't go around God's plan. By following God's special idea, we will rise to success. Guard your heart, so you can experience that joy and pass it on to the next generation.  

Sonia Paul, Verneice Wright and Kezia Philips (director and staff of the Career Services and Testing Department, in colorful garb, above) started Career Awareness Week with a Career Carnival on the lawn in front of Cunningham Hall on Tuesday, September 17.

On Wednesday, September 18, representatives from the following organizations interacted with our students in the Blake Center Mall during the Annual Career Fair:

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - People working toward peace among Muslims, Jews and Christians in the 21st century can look to the past for a prime example of a society that thrived when the energies of those three great faiths were harnessed in the cooperative work of peace and prosperity, says Jacob Bender, producer of the award-winning documentary "Out of Cordoba."

Bender will lecture in Huntsville and attend at screening of his film on Thursday, September 26, 2013, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., in Oakwood University's McKee Business & Technology Building, on Adventist Boulevard N.W. at Wynn Drive N.W.  The lecture and screening are free and open to the public.

Bender, who is Jewish, uses the documentary to trace the lives and influence of two of the most important 12th century Western philosophers: Maimonides, who was Jewish, and his contemporary, Averroes, the great Muslim thinker, scientist and religious scholar. Both men lived, wrote and taught in Cordoba, Spain.

Read reporter Kay Campbell's article in The Huntsville Times/al.com.

Construction is almost finished on the OU outdoor pavilion near the campus' Unity Pond, sponsored by the $50,000 grand prize winnings from this year's "Retool Your School" HBCU campus improvement contest, sponsored by The Home Depot®.

Due to weather reports and other factors beyond our control, Volunteer Day has been rescheduled for Wednesday, October 2.  Join us between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. as, together, we will do the final cleaning and sprucing up of the pavilion's surrounding area (i.e., light landscaping, plant trees, and install picnic tables, benches, lights and ceiling fans).    

Oakwood wishes to say "thank you" for your support as one of the winning 340,000 votes! If you voted at least once toward our victory, we want to "Reclaim  Your Name" -- by inscribing your individual name as a "donor" at "your" outdoor pavilion. If you haven't done so already, send your individual name and email address to us at pr@oakwood.edu. Each name must be associated with a separate email address, please.