CU Welcomes Students in First President’s Chapel of the Academic Year
Newly arrived freshmen and returning students joined faculty and staff in record numbers during the September President’s Chapel to worship and explore this year’s theme—Christ the Greatest Influencer.
After warmly welcoming the new class of 2026, graduating seniors, juniors and sophomores, Cornerstone University President Gerson Moreno-Riaño explained, “This year’s theme is based upon your university’s mission to educate and prepare students to be influencers in the world for Jesus Christ.”
The community was charged to ask themselves these profound questions: Who is first in our lives? Who is the greatest influence in our lives? Who do we trust enough to allow them to influence our behavior?
Dr. Moreno-Riaño explored Colossians 1:15-19 and the preeminence of Jesus Christ explaining, “He is the visible image of God. He existed before anything was created. He is Supreme overall. And He is first in rank and influence.”
In a global culture dominated by “influencers” and “followers” by the millions, the president encouraged students, faculty and staff to commit to pursue Jesus Christ as “the most reliable, credible, trustworthy” influencer who “demonstrates God’s great love for us” and should rank first and foremost in our daily lives.
