Convocation 2024
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” – Titus 2:11-14
On Wednesday September 4, 2024, we held our annual Convocation to formally inaugurate the new school year. The main address was given by Dr. Timothy Howard, Ed. D. Headmaster Timothy Belk gave the opening prayer and official welcome. The scripture reading, Titus 2:11-14 was read by Head Prefect Savannah Booker. A greeting from the Board of Trustees was given by Mr. Dee Silveira-Baptista.
Dr. Tim Howard spoke about living a life of purpose and meaning and to do so, one must have courage. He encouraged the students to do this in three ways:
Encouragement #1: Understand that courage is not about eliminating fear. Rather, it is about feeling the fear, resisting the fear and moving forward anyway. C.S. Lewis wrote, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point”. In other words, without courage, we cannot practice any of the other virtues. In order to “renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” as Titus tells us, we must have courage.
Encouragement #2: Keep the big picture in mind as you make each decision. Your life has a purpose that is bigger than you. God will heal you and send you as a healer. You are instruments of God’s good. When you see your life as instruments for God’s good and loving purposes, you will experience deep joy and fulfillment.
Encouragement #3: Courageously make the most of your relationships.at BTA. Getting to know others involves letting them know you. The Bible says that a good friend is like “iron sharpening iron” and that we should seek to “stir one another to love and good works”. Also get to know your teachers that have wisdom to drop and stories to tell.
Dr. Howard concluded by saying that, “students like you have blessed my life with joy and purpose. May this school year and your entire life journey be filled with the kind of courage that transforms dreams into reality and challenges into triumphs. God bless you all.”
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