[See also You're Never Too Old to Learn]

53 Graduates From Ambassador Bible Center

Aug. 13, the largest class yet graduated from Ambassador Bible Center. Including three students who received their diplomas early before leaving to serve on the United Youth Corps project in Ghana, 53 students graduated.

Christopher Stewart, ABC student body president, encouraged the class to be doers of what they had learned. The ABC Chorale, directed by Ken Shoemaker of the class of 2000, performed "We Will Be Your People" by Don Phillips and "We Are Not Alone" by Pepper Choplin, along with a piece not in the program, a round of"Row, Row, Row Your Boat" to lighten things up.

UCGIA President Clyde Kilough gave the graduation address. He related a story from Robert Fulghum's book It Was on Fire When I Lay Down on It about a professor who was actually willing to tackle the question, "What is the meaning of life?" The professor's answer was to hold up a little fragment of mirror he had found as a young boy during the war, and explain the game he had developed of reflecting light into dark places with his little mirror.

The professor said he had discovered that in life, he was not the light, or the source of the light, but was to be a mirror to shine light into dark places.

Mr. Kilough told the ABC graduates that they also were to reflect the light of Jesus Christ in the world. Now they would go out and do the things they had learned. He presented each of them with a fragment from a single mirror, and said he hopes they will carry it with them to remind them to shine in dark places and that they are all part of something bigger.

Mr. Kilough said that the Church's budget allotted to ABC is the Church's gift to them."How you reflect that is your gift to the Church. You may be the only Bible someone sees," he said.

The Ambassador Award of Excellence was presented to Jessica Schultz and Eduardo Elizondo. The Council of Elders Service Award was presented to Stephanie Healey and Jason Nitzberg. UN

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You're Never Too Old to Learn

by Janet Treadway

This has been an amazing year for ABC student Mariet Horjus from South Africa, who turned 80 in January. She never dreamed that she would have the honor of being the oldest student to attend ABC.

She didn't just attend but had perfect attendance, was on time for every class every day and she involved herself with many of the activities and service projects. The home office staff and students alike were warmed by her smiles and upbeat, energetic and positive attitude.

With the encouragement of her daughters and her granddaughter, Laura Gabrielides, who also attended ABC this year, Mariet made the bold decision to attend ABC. After she made the decision to attend, many blessings from God made what seemed impossible an awesome reality. In fact, Mariet calls it a miracle!

She says she has learned so much from her experience at ABC, but most of all her relationship with God has deepened. Mariet holds the record for being the oldest student to attend ABC at the age of 80.

So don't let age hold you back from this wonderful experience, because you are never too old to learn.

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