TBC/TCS Graduation Ceremony, May 22, 2026.

Added: 2026-05-24

[00:00:20]Heat. Heat.

[00:00:43]Let's do Hallelujah.

[00:03:22]Do you?

[00:04:22]blue.

[00:05:32]Heat. Heat.

[00:07:16]Heat.

[00:07:37]Heat.

[00:07:41]Heat.

[00:07:59]Heat.

[00:08:31]All right, let's pray. Dearly father, Lord, we're thankful for this happy occasion that brings us all together tonight. And Lord, we pray from the onset of these exercises, Lord, that we acknowledge thee, Lord, for we meet together in thy house, Lord. Uh this is a ministry of thy church. And Lord, it's of your grace, Lord, that we're all here tonight. And Lord, uh we're thankful for the uh milestone that these have reached. We're thankful for every family. Uh we're thankful for every friend and Lord, we pray that everything that's done tonight, Lord, it might be for your honor and for your glory. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

[00:09:11]And if you would remain standing, please. Welcome to the 2026 graduation exercise Tabernacle Christian School and Tabernacle Bible College. And it's time to sing. If you'll take the living him there close by. 4 534 is the page number. 534.

[00:09:28]We'll sing stanza one and stanza number four. It is so sweet to trust in Jesus.

[00:09:34]534 in the living him knowing. We'll sing on stanza one. Lift you together.

[00:09:41]So sweet to trust in Jesus. just to be at his word. Just to rest upon his cross to the strength of the Lord. Jesus, Jesus, how I prove and Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus.

[00:10:14]All for trust him.

[00:10:20]I'm so glad to trust precious Jesus and I know that will be the end. Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him.

[00:10:45]How I praise him more and more. Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus. Oh, and thank you. And you may be seated.

[00:11:09]So good to see you tonight. I'll just give a welcome and then we'll continue on. Thankful for all the faculty this year. God has really blessed us with great professors and teachers and we're so thankful for each one. What God has done, his protection this past year.

[00:11:25]It's been a wonderful thing to see. Most importantly tonight, I want to congratulate our graduates and those uh receiving rewards tonight. I thought today students I thought that uh the diploma you'll receive the uh all that you'll receive tonight they'll have one single name on that but it represents so many other people here at Tabernacle and the family and friends and your pastor and your church family and we're thankful for that. So we're here tonight to celebrate you and we're excited about it. I want you to enjoy yourself tonight. Enjoy one another and hope you can make some precious memories tonight.

[00:12:05]Enjoy it. Enjoy it. And uh and I'm thankful to be the pastor and the president here of the ministries. God's been mighty good to us. We're thrilled of all he's ever done here and what he's doing now. We're excited. I want to pray once again and then I will step out of the way and we'll continue on with our gift. Dear Father, we sure love you. We come to you thanking you for loving us.

[00:12:29]Lord, what a wonderful night. This is a night of celebration. Tonight we come together with family, friends, church family and faculty, staff, volunteers.

[00:12:40]We come together for one individual that we love and that is the one that's graduated or the one that is receiving a reward tonight. Lord, the days ahead of them, they'll need guidance. They'll need you certainly to lead them. I'm glad the Holy Spirit does just that. And I pray they'd always be sensitive to the Holy Spirit in all they ever do. Lord, bless their endeavors as they give their whole life, all they have unto you. And through Jesus Christ's holy, precious, lovely name we pray tonight. Amen. And amen.

[00:13:35]Pastor D, Pastor Benton, Dr. Wallace, faculty and staff, we the class of 2026 would like to thank the administration, faculty, and staff of Tabernacle Christian School for the influence they have had in our lives and our education.

[00:13:47]So, in gratitude and appreciation to Tabernacle Christian School, the class of 2026 is presenting a donation of class funds to buy a wireless laser color printer for the school office.

[00:14:17]I would like to recognize the student and family who has spent his elementary, middle, and high school years of learning at Tabernacle Christian School.

[00:14:26]This award is presented to the Clark family. On behalf of the Clark family, Seth, if you will come, Seth and his family have been a part of our ministry for the past 13 years. We are truly thankful for being given the opportunity to minister to the Clark family. While the student will receive a certificate, it is rarely a testimony of those who have made the sacrifice so their child could receive a Christian education.

[00:15:04]The Lydia Award is presented to a young lady that demonstrates the character qualities spoken of Lydia as willing to serve the needs of others rather than her own desires. She is willing to be a servant leader who is willing to give of herself for the good of others. The recipient of the 2026 Lydia Award is Miss Ashlin Lasano.

[00:15:44]The Timothy Award is presented to the young man who demonstrates the character of qualities of steadfastness, fastness, demonstrating a teachable spirit who is willing to lead others by his example.

[00:15:56]He is willing to stand alone if necessary to do what is right. He reflects the qualities that Paul spoke of regarding Timothy's character and testimony. The recipient of the 2026 Timothy Ward is Seth Clark.

[00:16:37]The Harold B. Sitler award is presented to a young man from the varsity basketball team. It is given in recognition of not only skills in basketball, but more importantly for good sportmanship, team spirit, character, Christian character, and a consistent godly testimony. The recipient of the 2026 Harold B. Sitler award is Elliot Todd.

[00:18:09]It threw a broken far. You can make your purpose known. Then I thank you, Lord, for heartaches that have come my way.

[00:18:23]And though I don't understand, Lord, help me rest in your hand and work your plan in me. And though at times I fear, let me be still. Let me be still and hear your voice in the night. In the quiet of the night.

[00:18:44]Lord, I need your heart. I need your love.

[00:18:50]Send your holy power from above.

[00:18:57]I will stay true. The sometimes I falter. I will pour out my heart to you.

[00:19:02]At this altar I make, I will not forsake, I will be true.

[00:19:19]If through the trials you sin, your glory may be seen. Then dear Lord, please give me strength and grace to rise a new.

[00:19:33]You are the p and I am the clay. Mold me and made me in your own way. After the fire, purify and refine me so that I your vessel may be holy vessel be.

[00:19:53]Lord, I need your heart. I need your love.

[00:19:59]Send your holy power from above.

[00:20:06]I will say true of songs as I falter. I will pour out my arm to you at this altar I make.

[00:20:14]I will not forsake.

[00:20:19]Lord, I need your heart. I need your love.

[00:20:25]Send your holy power from above.

[00:20:32]I will say true as I falter. I will pour out my heart to you at this altar. I make I will not forsake.

[00:20:45]I will be true.

[00:20:46]>> I will be true.

[00:20:48]>> I will be true.

[00:20:52]>> I will be true.

[00:20:54]>> I will be true.

[00:21:00]>> I will be true.

[00:21:29]Good evening everyone. Thank you all for being here. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Natalya Gomez. I started attending Tabernacle Baptist College 5 years ago. That seems like a lifetime ago, and yet time has flown by.

[00:21:43]I was born and raised here in South Carolina. Since before I was born, my parents brought me to church. The Lord saved me when I was 6 years old. I'm thankful he saved me at a young age because I was a terror of a child.

[00:21:54]Before I got saved, I hated going to church. I would wake up many mornings and ask my mom, "Is it church day?"

[00:22:00]Hoping she'd say no. The only thing I did like about church was Sunday school and seeing my friends. That all changed on October 3rd, 2009, the absolute best day of my life. On that Saturday evening, my brother and I were racing each other inside the house. For some reason, I thought lying on the kitchen floor sounded comfortable. I looked out the window. I remember it being really dark outside. Never before had I felt so lonely and afraid. The Lord spoke to my heart and said, "You're not saved."

[00:22:28]I began to think about how many times I had disobeyed my parents and had gotten in trouble. For the first time, I fully realized that I was a sinner deserving of hell. I knew I had to ask Jesus to save me right then and there. I walked into my room and all I remember saying was, "Lord, I just don't want to go to hell." When I finished praying, I had complete assurance that the Lord had saved me.

[00:22:51]>> In my senior year, I still wasn't sure what the Lord wanted me to do. I knew I wanted to work with kids, but I didn't know where to go to college. One Sunday after I graduated, I asked the Lord to open and close the right door. That night, my mom mentioned attending tabernacle for at least a year. I realized that the Lord had answered my prayer. That semester, I began helping at our church's day school. I realized that I enjoyed teaching, so I decided to take education classes. Around my sophomore year, my parents encouraged me to finish and get my degree. Here we are four years later. If it were not for the Lord, I know I wouldn't be here today.

[00:23:28]He has guided me and given me strength every step of the way. There were so many times I was overwhelmed and discouraged with school and just life.

[00:23:35]But the Lord has always been faithful.

[00:23:37]>> His goodness and joy always outweighs the troubles we face. To thank everyone who has helped me these past five years would take more time than we have. Lord has filled my life with so many wonderful people. However, I want to thank my parents for all their encouragement and support.

[00:23:52]Because I'm not techsavvy, my mom had to help me a good bit with Google Classroom and printing many external courses.

[00:23:58]Thank you, Mama. You'll receive many crowns in heaven for that. Thank you, Josh, Gabby, and Bella, for being awesome siblings and for making my life interesting. Thank you so much, Dr. Wallace, for all you've done to help me graduate. I don't take it lightly. I would like to thank all the teachers I've had over the years. Again, that would take a while. However, I wanted to name at least a few. Thank you, Miss Dawkins, for making class a blast.

[00:24:22]You're amazing. Thank you, Mrs. White, for pushing us to do our best. I've learned so much from you. Thank you, Dr. Gatlin, for reminding us that all things work together for good to them that love God. Thank you, Dr. and Mrs. Smith, for your kindness towards me. A fun fact about Dr. Smith is that he calls me cousin or c. It's because we're related by marriage. I'll never forget something you said, Mrs. Smith. Sometimes what you think is the worst thing that ever happened to you turns out to be the best thing. The worst thing was not college, by the way. Lastly, I'd like to thank Pastor Benton and Tabernacle Baptist Church for your love and service for the Lord and for providing and maintaining Tabernacle Baptist College to prepare um students like me to serve him.

[00:25:03]>> I'm excited about what the Lord is going to do in years to come. There are many more people I could thank, but for time's sake, I'll end there.

[00:25:11]Thank you all for coming tonight and celebrating with us graduates. I hope you all have a good night.

[00:25:45]Okay. My name is Kyle Hendrickson. I came to the Lord also at a young age in Sweet Valley, Pennsylvania. I got saved up in a or on on a hill in a basement in an old log cabin church, praise the Lord, called Living Word Baptist Church.

[00:26:01]My mother uh was teaching a a children's class. It was a Wednesday night, the Gopher's class. And well, anyway, well, she was teaching about the Lord dying on the cross of Calvary for our sins and the blood he shed for us. And uh I rose my hand at the end. She gave an invitation and two young men, the Thomas boys, took me out in the hallway and led me to the Lord right there in the basement of the church. Praise God.

[00:26:27]Anyway, well, I was called to preach in Newport, Pennsylvania at a revival meeting and um I felt at that time and still do a feel a great burden for the people of Pennsylvania. So, I um started online college and such. And I've been doing college too long now, only six years.

[00:26:49]And um I needed more structure. So, I came down here to tabernacle. And it was everything I was looking for. You know, a buddy and me, we visited down here in a like a Easter egg yellow Chevy Spark.

[00:27:02]Both of us got out of there. We were like 6'2 each of us climbing out of this big car, this tiny car. And man, alive.

[00:27:11]We look goofy, but they still let us come to school here. Praise the Lord.

[00:27:16]And um I'll tell you what, I I chose to attend this college because it was a King James only Baptist College that preaches good doctrine. Amen. Amen. They still sing the hymns. They even sometimes sing the Psalms. Amen. And they still are firm on on witnessing and preaching. Praise God. My father, he said, he said, "You know what kind of school you want to go to?" I said, "I I don't know. I'm looking around." He said, "Figure out what kind of preachers are coming out of those schools, and is that the kind of preacher you want to be?" And I I thought the preachers here at Tabernacle were were a good lot. I said, "I'd like to be one of them."

[00:27:54]Amen. Well, glory.

[00:27:57]>> There is a The most special thing I learned here while at school is to draw closer to the Lord. Amen.

[00:28:07]just learning how to trust on them even when times got rough and times got hard.

[00:28:12]And they do they do they do that sort of thing all the time. Amen. To draw closer to his mercy, his truth, his his grace and his leading hand. Here is where I learned how to street preach and act like a fool on the street. How to door knock. Amen. I made a lot of friends who are going in the same direction of ministry as I am. That's been a great blessing. And I might have to shrink this down. I'm I'm adding to it. I think but God, he provided every step of the way and he made it possible for me to start and to finish college. Amen. I'd like to u thank a few people. But first, I'd like to thank the Lord for being faithful and being wonderful for saving my soul and just being kind to me. That was a big thing I learned also is how kind the Lord is even to us. What is man that thou art mindful of him? Oh, but I'd also like to thank my my grandma and my brother Jesse for taking care of me um while I've been here and their family also. They did a good job. Amen. Fed me good. And uh especially when I had car issues. I'd like to thank also the marvelous people at my home church, Victory Baptist Church in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. And uh they they've supported on me and prayed for me the whole time I've been here. I'd like to thank Amanda, my fiance, wherever she is. um to embarrass her. And uh everyone look at her. Look, look. I'd like to thank her. She's been real sweet. We've been long distance these four years and she still thinks I'm nice. Anyway, I'd like to thank also the friendly people at East Side Baptist Church in Greenville, Tennessee. They've also been taking good care of me, praying for me, and just treating me like one of their own. I'd like to thank my co-workers at Lowe's. Um, they've also treated me like family and they've been real sweet to me. I'd like to uh thank the church here and the staff, the college for just taking me in and being friendly and wonderful. Loved it here at Tabernacle. Love Tabernacle Baptist Church. And um I I hope Tabernacle does the best. I I hope they grow and get better every every day and every year.

[00:30:22]Amen. Amen.

[00:30:24]When I first arrived here in Greenville, I must admit I was bitter. I didn't really like it here. Mainly because of the traffic lights and the traffic and the noise, the ambulances and the I mean there those are good things ambulances are. The other things I don't know about. But the Lord, he corrected me and he humbled me. He showed me that I needed to love the people here.

[00:30:47]Basically, he said, "How can I use you anywhere and everywhere if you're not willing to to love where you're at?" And I said, "All right, Lord." you know, you're you're right. You're right again.

[00:30:55]He's always right. But anyway, I can gladly say I love the people here in Greenville and especially the people of this church and this school. Thank you so much for your hospitality and kindness and you have been a great investment in my life.

[00:31:45]Complete in thee no work of mine. May take dear Lord the place of thine. Thy blood hath pardon bought for me and I am now complete in thee. Yay, justified, oh blessed thought and sanctified salvation wrought. Thy blood hath part for me and glorified I too shall be complete in thee. No more shall sin. Thy grace hath conered rain within. Thy voice shall be the tempter flee. And I shall stand complete in thee. Yay justified.

[00:32:37]Oh blessed thought and sanctified salvation rod. Thy blood hath pardon bought for me and glorified.

[00:32:48]I too shall be complete in each one supplied and no good thing to me denied since thou my portion Lord will be I ask no more complete in thee. Yay justified oh blessed thought and sanctified salvation rot. Thy blood hath pardon bought for me and glorified.

[00:33:21]I too shall be.

[00:33:24]Dear Savior, when before thy bar, all tribes and tongues assembled are among thy chosen will I be at thy right hand complete in thee. Yay justified.

[00:33:42]Oh blessed thought and sanctified salvation brought. Thy blood hath pardon for me and glorified.

[00:33:53]I too shall be.

[00:33:56]Thy blood hath pardon for me and glorified.

[00:34:06]I too shall be.

[00:34:24]Before the throne of God above, I have a strong and perfect plea, a great high priest whose name is love.

[00:34:49]Whoever lives and pleads for me.

[00:34:54]My name is brave on his hands. My name is written on his heart. I know that while in heaven he stands. No tongue can bid me thenart.

[00:35:14]No tongue can bid me then.

[00:35:21]When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within upward I look and see him there who made an end of all my sin. My name is Savior died. My sinful soul is counted free.

[00:35:51]For God the just is satisfied to look on him and pardon me.

[00:36:02]To look on him and pardon me.

[00:36:09]Behold him there. The risen lamb my perfect spotless righteousness.

[00:36:19]The great unchangeable high I am the king of glory and of grace. Born with himself I cannot die.

[00:36:34]My soul is purchased by his blood. My life is hid with Christ on high. With Christ my savior and my God. With Christ my savior and my God, one with himself I cannot die. My soul is purchased by his blood.

[00:37:06]My life is with Christ on high. With Christ my savior and my God. with Christ my savior and my God.

[00:37:34]That was wonderful, men. That was great.

[00:37:37]That's very good. I enjoyed that.

[00:37:43]Wonderful. We These guys are in our college and we're thankful. We're certainly proud of them, of course, being here in the college and young ladies as well. So, we're thankful for that good talent. I love We I reminded of our chapel services. The guys were singing. We enjoy chapel service here Monday night, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. And we just have church and I appreciate all those that has filled the pull pit for us and it's been a blessing to able to I myself preach but listen to many others. This time I want to take a moment to abbreviate from where we are right now. I think this will be right.

[00:38:20]uh as a pastor and president of the ministries here there is a load a lot going on in all the ministries and one man cannot do that you surround yourself uh with those that are the best at what they do and uh and I I appreciate I want to say first of all I appreciate uh Dr. Johnny Wallace. He has been such a blessing to me, my the school, the staff. He has worn many hats, the school administrator, and then also the college dean. And I thank God for him. And what I want to do at this time, we have made a plaque for him. We sure to show our love tonight. And I would ask, would you please let's all stand and let's give a good applause. Hand clap to Dr. Wallace.

[00:39:16]Amen.

[00:39:24]This appreciation award to honor Dr. Johnny Wallace for your faithful years as college dean and school administrator. Thank you, Tabernacle Baptist Church, Tabernacle Baptist College and School. We sure love you.

[00:39:37]You like to say anything? You certainly do that.

[00:39:49]>> I look at students who graduated and who are graduating.

[00:39:55]I often tell my students, I love you.

[00:40:00]I've cried with students in classrooms.

[00:40:03]I've apologized to students in classrooms.

[00:40:06]My heart goes out to them and I look at them.

[00:40:11]People asked and left at me. I've been in education in some form since I was six years old, either in school or teaching school of some sort. I thank God that he allowed me to serve here at tabernacle.

[00:40:25]There comes a time. I tell people right now, Ecclesiastes chapter 3 is what I'm looking at. To everything, there is a time and a season.

[00:40:35]I thank all the staff members that I've worked with. They've been there, got me through times when I felt like I wasn't going to make it. I'm thankful for Dr. Benton. There are times when I'd say, "I need to talk to you." And I'm like, "You really don't want to see me." And he says, "Come on in." And we sit and we talk. He's been a friend. He's been a pastor. And I love him. I'm thankful God sent him to us. And I just thank God for Tabernacle Baptist Church.

[00:41:05]>> Wonderful.

[00:41:12]You may be seated. You may be seated.

[00:41:15]Thank you so much for that.

[00:41:17]Dr. Wallace, he'll he's not getting off that easy now. He'll be on the campus here teaching school. But uh I would have we have a new college uh dean. I'll introduce him in just one moment. And then also we have a new school administrator and brother Caleb Whims is here. Brother Caleb, would you please stand? Would you ride? Let's give Brother Caleb a hand. He'll be our new college, our new school administrator here. And his dear wife is here tonight.

[00:41:40]Thank you, brother. And we're excited.

[00:41:42]He's got a lot of great things. that his energy, his ferveny, his his love and care for our Christian school is something I am really enthused about, excited about taking us to another level, and I'm so excited about that. In saying that, that brings me to this point here. Uh, tonight's speaker would be Dr. John Hinkle. I have known John Hinkle for many, many years. I was actually his pastor for a few years in Tennessee and he he pastors now Dependent Baptist Church in Inman, South Carolina. We love him and his precious family here. They are a blessing to us and we're glad that he's going to be on the campus. He'll be our new college dean. He has already stepped in shadowing Dr. Wallace this past semester and he's really doing a great job and I'm excited about it. I begin to pray.

[00:42:31]Dr. Wallace came to him about it was his time, another season for him, another chapter. And I began to pray about that.

[00:42:38]And Dr. John Hegel just has such a love.

[00:42:40]He is a student of the Bible, preacher, pastor. He loves people. He loves students, young people. He's got energy, ferveny, a fire about him, zeal, and with all of that, he has good Bible knowledge, and it will take us forward as well. And we're excited about that.

[00:42:55]So tonight, I want to introduce to you Dr. John Hinkle as he comes for our speaker tonight. Give him a hand if you would.

[00:43:06]Well, good evening.

[00:43:10]>> Good evening.

[00:43:12]>> Yeah. Usually takes two or three times.

[00:43:14]That's all right. That's all right.

[00:43:17]Well, what an evening. It's been a good evening already, hasn't it? The Lord is uh is moving tonight. And I love I love the uh the atmosphere. I remember when we graduated some years ago back in 2013 and and the excitement that surrounded graduation. Um, one of the verses that kept kind of going over my mind back then was uh the the verse in Proverbs where it says, "A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul." And I remember standing there and I just remember those the the words that uh that our president was speaking and I just thinking about all the effort all the time, all of the things that were put into uh getting to where I was and uh so thankful that God had gotten us that far. Starting you're like, man, this is never going to end.

[00:44:03]And then all of a sudden you're at the end of it and you're like, where did the time go? Uh what a special special time.

[00:44:10]I I want to say also I appreciate Dr. Wallace. uh man wears many many hats has wore and uh to to think that he's still well this might be up for debate a little sane is he is he still sane maybe I don't know I don't know how he feels about it but uh at any rate uh what a trooper keeping things going what a blessing and been extreme help to me always uh available for answering questions and and giving some direction where we need it and what a blessing that's been looking forward to working with him even a little bit further. So, praise the Lord for that. Uh when uh Dr. Benton talked to me uh several weeks ago about doing what I am doing right now and and uh preaching tonight's uh challenge, I began to think about what it is that uh after 30 years of ministry I could impart that would be a blessing to our graduates. Uh we have uh some that are graduating high school, some that are graduating college, uh some are receiving awards. I tell you, um, a lot of diversity.

[00:45:14]But as I began to pray about it, and the Holy Spirit began to speak, I I came away with something so simple that you could almost step over top of it.

[00:45:24]Something so simple that if you're not careful, you you'll just kind of pass by it. Uh, I I want to t draw your attention to Matthew chapter 17 if you have your Bible with you. If not, I'll read some passages to you here in just a second. But Matthew chapter 17 is where I I'm going to read one verse to start.

[00:45:42]And then I'm going to tell you that one thing, that nugget of truth, especially to our graduates here today. If I could part anything unto you, it would be this. The Bible says in Matthew 17 verse number one, the Bible says, "And after six days, Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart.

[00:46:07]I'm going to let you dwell on that for just a moment. I'm going to pray. I'm going to ask the Holy Spirit to be our preacher tonight and allow uh allow us to glean something from a passage that sets before us. Father God, we come before you this evening. I'm so thankful to have this privilege to stand before these people here tonight and to proclaim the wonderful and searchable riches of your word. understanding, Father, that we as human beings don't do a very good job of it at best, but that the Holy Spirit would have his way tonight to speak the message as he decides. We seek to not resist his direction and leadership this evening.

[00:46:43]And we're just praying, Lord, that you would speak to every single heart as we impart the truth most necessary to us at this moment. Father, we pray your blessing that the name of Jesus be glorified above all things. We ask this now in the name of Jesus. Amen. And amen. What is the nugget of truth? What is that one thing that colors everything that you do? Everything that you will do. Not just talking about the ministry that you have ahead of you. Not just talking about uh uh maybe the the class that you're going to teach or or the church that you're going to pastor. I'm talking about the same thing that that colors how you deal with your family.

[00:47:21]I'm talking about that thing that makes a husband who he ought to be. the thing that makes a wife who she ought to be.

[00:47:27]Who make children what they ought to be.

[00:47:30]Uh makes a a good faithful church member or a deacon possibly. Uh maybe a school administrator, a teacher. What is that one thing that I can impart to you today that I found in this passage? Something that's been a part of my life for nearly 30 years of ministry. It is this. I think every single last one of us ought to be able to and should find a place where we can meet God.

[00:47:57]>> Find a place where you can meet God.

[00:48:02]>> Well, I tell you what, I have learned uh over the course of time as well as through reading God's word that there were people who had a place where they would meet God. It doesn't always look the same. It's not always called the same thing, but it is a place where you can meet God and do business with him, >> where he can change your life. If I was going to give a title to tonight's message, it would simply be this. Uh the uh the ministry of the mountain. The ministry of the mountain. I tell you, there's a mountain ministry out there that is lifechanging. And we're going to see that here in just a moment. But what does the scripture call these places that we can meet God? I believe you could see some different different scenarios and different names. If you were to go to Genesis chapter number 35, uh that place where you meet God would be called an altar. Jacob formed an altar and he called it Bethl, the God of Bethl, God of Bethl. And it was a place where he could not only meet God, but he could wrestle with God. You know, when he met with God, uh I I believe you'd have to agree with me that at that particular time, Jacob came away changed, didn't he? He was no longer called Jacob. He was called Israel.

[00:49:11]Well, if you were to go to the book of Proverbs, chapter 18, verse number 10, that place where you could meet God was called the high strong tower. Here's what the scripture says. The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and is safe. Oh, I tell you what, when it comes to meeting with God, the high tower, the the strong tower is what his name is. What if you were to go to our passage Matthew chapter 17? What is the place that you can meet God in Matthew 17? It's the mountain of God. He says, "After six days, Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John, his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart. It was transfigured before them, and his face did shine as the sun, and his reignment was white as the light.

[00:50:00]And behold, there appeared unto him Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter and said unto Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here."

[00:50:09]Well, I wish he'd have stopped right there, don't you? I wish he'd have held up right there, but he didn't. He He like in normal Peter fashion took it to the next next step. He said, "It is good for us uh uh uh uh to be here. If thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him." And when the disciples heard it, what did they do?

[00:50:44]They fell on their face and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and he said, "Arise, be not afraid." And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no man save Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, "Tell me or tell them tell tell the vision to no man until the son of man be risen again from the dead." I tell you one thing I have learned in 30 years of ministry, 30 years of dealing with people, 30 years of living.

[00:51:15]Obviously, I'll be 50 uh coming up in the month of July. So, so the one thing I have found as a father, as a parent, as someone who's graduated Bible college, graduated high school, and has been in ministry, it has been important for me to have a place where I can meet God. Where I can meet him daily, where I can meet him uh uh uh uh multiple times a day. You say, "Well, why is that?"

[00:51:40]Because we all understand in this room, life's hard, isn't it? Life can get real hard. In fact, in fact, I like what Job said. Man is born of a woman is of a few days and what?

[00:51:51]>> Full of trouble, not just a little.

[00:51:54]>> But it comes at us from all directions.

[00:51:56]You no longer come out the birth canal.

[00:51:58]You get smacked in the face and on the backside. It comes from all directions.

[00:52:03]>> I want to tell you, it only gets worse after that, doesn't it?

[00:52:06]>> I tell you what, things in life get tough. People will treat you like you don't deserve. Oh, I tell you what, you've heard the old preacher say, "A ministry would be wonderful if it weren't for what?

[00:52:20]>> The people." That's right. It is both the most exciting thing because when you see people's lives changed, there is nothing better.

[00:52:27]>> That's right. I tell you what, I I I uh if I could express a bit of in uh holy envy, if there is such a thing, it has been my desire to to to uh uh to be an instrument in God's hands to see people's lives changed for the good, for his sake. And and when I hear people talk about Dr. Wallace and the difference that he's made in their lives, boy, that's what we want. That's where we want to go. And I tell you what, the same thing that is a blessing in life can also be one of the most challenging people, right? Well, what about uh things don't go the way that we plan. Now, now I know brother Kyle's got a church he's going to plant and he's going to follow the Lord in that. I don't know what everybody else is doing.

[00:53:08]Maybe you're here this evening and you're graduating, but you have no idea what God's will is for your life. I know we have some teachers here and and there's some preachers and that sort of thing, but uh I know this sometimes life doesn't take the course that we thought it was going to. I think of Joseph, the guy who had bookends of dreams, mega major wonderful dreams and a throne and everything in between was a train wreck.

[00:53:34]>> I tell you, you pull out one part of Joseph's life and you look at you're thinking to yourself, what a failure. I mean, can you imagine being sold into slavery? Can you imagine being betrayed by your family? Can you imagine being being thrown in jail for for for no reason whatsoever, telling the truth, and then uh uh then staying in jail, being forgotten all of those things.

[00:53:58]There's a saying that uh the saying goes this way, uh a curve in the road is not the end of the road unless you don't make the turn. In Joseph's life, what happened was every time God threw a turn into his life, he simply followed. He simply obeyed. He could have gone off the cliff and it could have defined his life for the rest of his life. Listen, you and I, I I'm I'm 50 years old and we're still going through it. I I think of uh George Mueller, 70 years of ministry said some of the hardest times in his ministry were at the end of his ministry.

[00:54:33]Why is it why is it necessary for all of us to have a place where we can meet God? Because in my life, meeting God on a regular basis is what's kept me in the ministry. It's what's kept me married to the woman I have and and the uh being the parent to the children I have. It's what's going to keep us where we're supposed to be. It's it's that meeting with God. Well, I tell you what, if you don't have a place where you can meet God, you need to find one. I I suggest on top of a mountain. Now, I'm not saying I'm not giving you this this wisdom so you could go to the mountains on the weekend. That's not what I'm saying. What I am saying though is that as this mountain was precious to the disciples, it was a place where they could meet God. It's the exact same place you can too. And you can have your life changed as well. Why is the ministry of the mountain so life-changing? Couple real quick things and I'll I'll be done. Number one, because it's a place of seclusion.

[00:55:34]The mountain ministry is a place of seclusion. You know, there's sometimes you just need to get alone. Notice there were only a few of the disciples that were invited to even be there. James and Peter and John, where were the other disciples? Now, personally, I think that was a bit of a crowd. For me, it'd just be me and Jesus. It's a place where you get secluded. uh what you're doing is you're you're eliminating distraction.

[00:56:00]You're eliminating the voices. I mean, think about David when he was about to fight Goliath. Uh it's 1st Samuel chapter 17. And he was out there and uh he had to quieten quite a few voices in order to do what he was actually about to do. He had the voices of his brothers. Uh he nothing but mischievousness.

[00:56:18]He had to quiet the voices of Saul. Saul said, "You can't do it." Then he had to deal with the giant, too. All of these voices, I tell you, when I get to that mountaintop, and I'm tell the mountain top sometimes looks like a track there in Inman, there's a the high school has a a track, an oval track, and sometimes that's my mountain. That's my lifechanging mountain because that's where I meet God. Sometimes it's as I walk around the church building uh that the church that I pastor, sometimes it's walking around the uh the auditorium, that's what my mountain looks like.

[00:56:51]That's what that's what my lifechanging experience looks like. like and here's what I need to do. I get alone and I exclude all of the influences around me.

[00:57:01]I tell you what, uh not everyone's invited and they shouldn't be. It ought to just be you and it ought just be the Lord. It's not just a place of seclusion. It's a place of elevation. I know you can worship the Lord anywhere, but the imagery is what I'm after here. As you get higher, what do you do? You get closer.

[00:57:22]>> As you get higher, you get closer. We're talking about intimacy. We're talking about being high on that mountain. Oh, I tell you, go getting closer to the Lord with every step you take. It's why it's so life-changing cuz God's there. And anywhere God is change your life if you'll get alone with him. These That's why I say these things right here, they color every part of my life. They color parenthood and and uh uh being being a spouse. They they they cover uh being a student. I'm telling you what, when I was in Bible college, it's one of the fastest places you can you can begin to uh Wayne when it comes to your relationship with the Lord. You're in the Bible so much you miss the one who wrote it. You're studying theology and all of these things doing tests and busy and all that stuff. And sometimes you spend more time doing than being, especially with the Lord. So elevate, get on that mountain, seclude yourself, become elevated. In other words, get closer to him. You know, it's also a place of vision. That's why it's life-changing. I want you to notice something. When Jesus took these guys up on the mountain, verse number two, the Bible says at that moment, he was transfigured.

[00:58:34]He was transfigured before them. His face did shine as the sun, and his reignment was white as the light.

[00:58:40]Listen, they saw Jesus in a way they had never seen him before. Hey, the mountaintop will do that for you. that mountain place that that lifech changing spot that you get alone with God uh enables you to see him in a way that changes your life. Oh, I tell you what, when it comes to uh uh this vision, it helps us to see him clearly.

[00:59:03]You know what I need to see in Christ? I need to see the powerful God that he is.

[00:59:08]There's going to be students for you teachers that is going to eat your lunch. I have some daughters that are teachers and I hear stories about it all the time. Plus, I have kids. They they eat your lunch, too. Both figuratively and physically.

[00:59:24]Yeah. I tell you what, even when it comes to the high school students, again, I I have no idea if if you know what God's will is for your life. We do know it was to graduate. Check. We hope.

[00:59:34]Check. Right.

[00:59:36]We'll see here in a few minutes.

[00:59:39]Yeah. Well, well, my point is this is that uh you know, it's important for a young person who's just graduating college to get along with God.

[00:59:46]>> Yes, sir.

[00:59:47]>> That's where I find out what his will for my life is. That's where I find out what what kind of a God he is and how I can trust him. And how, you know, I think about this all the time. Sometimes it seems like the world's in control.

[00:59:58]Sometimes it seems like the wicked one's in control. And then when you get alone with God like Asaf in Psalm uh 73, he said, "It wasn't until I went into the house of the Lord." Then understood I their way. Oh, I tell you what, there have been times when I went in drowning.

[01:00:14]I mean, just feeling absolutely overwhelmed. And I I voiced I was pretty transparent with the Lord saying, "God, if you don't do something, I'm done. I'm going to quit." And I'm telling you what, the sweet voice of God speaking peace into your soul. Oh, there's nothing like it. You don't want to leave the place. That's how wonderful it is to be on that. That's why it's so life-changing. It's also verse five, a place of communion. Verse number five says, "And while he yet spake," that's Jesus yet spake, or I'm sorry, Peter yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud, God showed up. God spoke. Can you imagine hearing the audible voice of God? Now, I have heard him in a way in my very soul that if it was audible, it would not be any more impressive. That's how definite God sometimes speaks to you. And oh, I tell you what, when you're in that place when it's just you and God and you're elevated, you're getting closer, you're secluded, you're you're getting a vision of who Christ actually is, and he speaks to you, what does he say? He says, "I got this. You can trust me. I've never failed." Do you know it's impossible for the Lord to fail? Do you know it's impossible for him to to uh uh to turn back on his people? He's going to supply our need every single time. And he says, "Listen, you trust me this time, you'll see you can trust me again and for bigger things than what I've just done for you." Communion. The last thing I want to use a word that is not usually used in the everyday vernacular of most human beings, but because us preachers like to have things worded a certain way in the outline. The last thing, verse number six, genulection.

[01:02:00]Genulection. How many in the room know what genulection is? Okay. The only reason I know is because I I went to a thesaurus and I found it. Genulection to genulect is that point when the knee touches the ground. You know what we're talking about, right? Bowing. You know what we're talking about in this passage? We're talking about worship.

[01:02:22]Listen to that place that I go where I'm alone with God. I'm elevated. I'm closer. We're commuting. And I see him more clearly than I ever have. Here's what happens. I find myself worshiping.

[01:02:34]>> You'll notice in verse number uh um what is it? Verse number six, he says, "And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face." They fell on their face before the Lord. I'm telling you what, these disciples came down from this mountain different than they went up.

[01:02:52]>> Do you remember Moses when he came down off the mountain? Remember what happened to his face?

[01:02:56]>> Shown like the sun. Oh, I'm telling you what, the one thing, the one thing, let's keep it simple. I made you get so complex with things. But at the end of the day, my dad used, he was from the military. He said, "KISS, K I SS. Keep it simple, stupid.

[01:03:18]You need a place that you can get alone with God.

[01:03:21]>> May whatever you do, not know yet, maybe you do. You've graduated high school.

[01:03:28]Your whole world's in front of you. I don't want to ask you, what do you want to do with your I want to say what does God want you to do with your life? Those who are graduating Bible college, what a world ahead of you now. Now, I like what brother Kyle said. He learned how to trust the Lord here. He learned how to have a relationship. May that continue. Find that place where it's just you and God. Father, I pray that you would be with our students. God, would you help them? God, would you inspire them? And father, I pray that you would continue to show them that you are so faithful, that you can always be trusted. May you be honored and glorified by our lives as we seek to serve you. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

[01:04:17]And now for the part which these people seated on the two first two rows have waited for. For the presentation of the high school diplomas, will the graduating class of 2026 please stand?

[01:04:31]Upon the recommendation of the administration and the successful completion of the graduation requirements, I am honored to present the following students as graduates of Tabernacle Christian School. Seth Harrison Clark.

[01:05:17]Ashlin Lucia Lesano By the power and authority vested in me as pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church and as the president of Tabernacle Christian School, I now pronounce you graduates. You may turn your tassel.

[01:06:02]seat.

[01:06:10]>> For the presentation of the certificate of biblical education, will the candidate please stand?

[01:06:17]Pastor Benton and fellow faculty members, upon the recommendation of the faculty administration and upon the successful completion of graduation requirements, I am honored to present the following student with certificate of biblical education from Tabernacle Baptist College. Caleb Jeremy Chisum Somebody needs glasses in the building.

[01:07:24]Wonderful.

[01:07:26]By the power and authority vested in me as pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church and president of Tabernacle Baptist College, I now pronounce you graduate.

[01:07:36]You may turn your tassel.

[01:07:39]You may be seated. Thank you, brother.

[01:07:46]for the presentation of the associate of theology and Bible. Will the candidate please stand?

[01:07:53]Pastor Benton and fellow faculty members, upon the recommendation of the faculty and administration and upon the successful completion of the graduation requirements, I am honored to present the following student with the associate of theology and Bible from Tabernacle Baptist College. Gary Dean Coats Wonderful. Please stand, brother coats.

[01:09:01]By the power and authority vested in me as pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church and president of the Tabernacle Baptist College, I now pronounce you graduate.

[01:09:11]God bless you. You may turn your tassel.

[01:09:15]>> Amen. Amen.

[01:09:22]for the presentation of the Bachelor of Science and Elementary Education. Will the candidates please stand?

[01:09:30]Pastor Benton and fellow faculty members, upon the recommendation of the faculty and administration and upon successful completion of the graduation requirements, I am honored to present the following students with the Bachelor of Science and Education from Tabernacle Baptist College. Natalia K. Gomez.

[01:10:47]Stephanie an Rose Hello.

[01:11:15]All right.

[01:11:41]By the power and authority vested in me as pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church and president of Tabernacle Baptist College, I now pronounce you graduates.

[01:11:51]You may turn your tassel.

[01:11:54]Congratulations. Congratulations. May be seated.

[01:12:02]for the presentation of the Bachelor of Theology and Bible. Will the candidate please stand?

[01:12:08]Pastor Benton and fellow faculty members upon the recommendation of the faculty and administration and upon successful completion of the graduation requirements. I am honored to present the following student with the Bachelor of Theology in Bible from Tabernacle Baptist College. Kyle Shane Hendrickson.

[01:12:52]How's it?

[01:13:37]Wonderful. By the power and authority vested in me as pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church and president of Tabernacle Baptist College, I now pronounce you graduate. Congratulations.

[01:13:49]You may turn your tassel.

[01:13:54]Seated.

[01:13:57]Wonderful. Isn't that great? What a special moment this is for each and everyone here. Not only our graduates, but for all the family and friends. So wonderful. We come together tonight.

[01:14:08]Today marks an ending and a great beginning. I'm reminded of Paul. Paul mentions to us which he hath begun a good work. Got is a work, but it's a good work. A good work. He will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

[01:14:28]Few things I thought of quickly. Go out with confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ. Stand firm for the truth. Lead with humility.

[01:14:39]Love people right where they are. Lead them to Jesus. And give God your all.

[01:14:46]We're proud of you. Everyone around you is here tonight just for you. We're so proud of you. Love you. Tabernacle will be here for you in the days ahead.

[01:14:54]Anything you may need from us. We'll continue to pray and cannot wait for what the future lies ahead for each one of you. Thank you again. Let's all give them a hand again if you would.

[01:15:16]Well, you've been sitting for a while.

[01:15:18]Let's stand, please, and we'll sing the school song, school, and written back in the 60s.

[01:15:26]It's inside of your program cover if you'll find that and if you need the words and we'll sing it together singing faithful I will ever be to the halls of learning always in my memory there will be a tender yearning to be all you taught to be and to follow Jesus.

[01:16:01]My tabernacle Christian school noble and remain standing please for the benediction.

[01:16:19]Let's pray.

[01:16:22]Father, we come to the end of this service, but just the beginning >> for the lives and the ministry that you have for these students.

[01:16:32]Lord, we're thankful for them.

[01:16:35]And my prayer is that what we have tried to instill into them to teach them that they'll go out of this building tonight determined in their hearts to serve you to the best of their ability.

[01:16:51]Whether it be a pastor, a missionary, a business person, a teacher, whatever their vocation may be, my prayer is that it would honor you and you would be pleased and that we would do our best to tell the world about Jesus Christ.

[01:17:14]>> Lord, would you bless the families tonight? We're thankful for them.

[01:17:18]Thankful for the church, the college, the school, and the occasion that brings us together. Give us safety as we go our way tonight. And we'll thank you and we bless you in our prayers in Jesus name.

[01:17:29]Amen. Remain standing.

[01:17:45]Hallelujah.

[01:18:09]Wow.

[01:18:32]Down.

[01:18:35]Heat. Heat.

[01:18:56]Hallelujah.