Zambia Hunt

22 February 2025

On Saturday, I had the privilege of awarding 180 graduates their recognition for completion of their studies. During the commencement, I gave the following address:

Distinguished guests, faculty, families, and most importantly, graduates of the Class of 2024:

The Psalmist writes of David, ‘With upright heart, he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand’ (Psalm 78:72). This beautiful picture of leadership – combining the integrity of heart with skillful hands – captures exactly what we see in you today. Just as God took David from the sheepfolds and transformed him into a shepherd of His people, He has been shaping you through your time at CABU.

Today marks not just the end of your academic journey but the beginning of your legacy. As I look at each of you, I don’t merely see graduates with diplomas; I see living testimonies of gospel transformation. You embody what we’ve prayed for, worked toward, and believed God would do through CABU.

You came to us as students, but you leave as servants of Christ whose integrity has been tested and proven. Your commitment to honesty isn’t just a value you learned – it’s become the bedrock of your character. In a world hungry for authentic leadership, you stand as men and women whose lives preach louder than your words.

Your time here has deepened your love for Christ and His church in ways that will shape future generations. We’ve watched you develop not just knowledge of Scripture but wisdom that flows from making God’s Word the compass of your life. You’ve learned to rightly divide truth – yes – but more importantly, you’ve learned to fearlessly proclaim it and faithfully live it.

The sacrificial love we’ve witnessed in you – for God, for His people, and for the lost – reminds us of Christ Himself. Your passion for souls isn’t limited to evangelistic programs; it overflows in everyday conversations, in your prayer sessions, and in your willingness to go wherever God calls.

But perhaps what moves us most is seeing how you’ve embraced the heart of a servant. Your greatness isn’t measured by the titles you’ll hold but by the towel, you’ve learned to use. You’ve understood that true leadership in God’s kingdom often looks like kneeling to wash feet.

As you leave this campus, you carry with you a commitment that stretches far beyond these walls – a commitment to see the Great Commission fulfilled in every village, town, and city across Africa. Your horizon isn’t limited to your local church or even your nation; your vision embraces a continent in desperate need of Jesus.

Class of 2025, you are more than graduates; you are disciple-makers. You are more than degree holders; you are servants abandoned to God’s purposes. You are more than alumni; you are answers to prayer – living proof that God is raising up an army of leaders who will serve His purposes in this generation.

Go forth with confidence, not in your training, but in the God who has called and equipped you. Africa awaits your impact. The church needs your leadership. The lost yearn for your message. And we believe that through your faithful service, countless lives will be transformed for the glory of God.

May your lives continue to exemplify what it means to be a CABU graduate – men and women of unquestionable character, passionately in love with Christ, sacrificial in your service to others, and unwavering in your commitment to God’s mission in the world.

Congratulations, Class of 2024. Go, with God’s blessing, be willing to spend and be spent, and transform Africa for His glory.