Convocation 2026: Living Ready for Jesus Christ to Return
A new academic year brings new classes, relationships, decisions and plans for the future. Convocation 2026 began by asking Cornerstone University students, faculty and staff a more urgent question: How would their year — and their lives — be different if they lived ready for Jesus Christ to return?
The question brought Cornerstone’s 2026-27 theme of the year, “Jesus Is Coming Again!,” directly into a profound annual tradition tied to the university’s gospel mission. Convocation calls the Cornerstone community together to welcome and dedicate new and returning students, faculty and staff to the LORD and commit the academic year to Jesus Christ.
Timely and urgent Scripture framed the gathering and its central challenge to expect Jesus’ imminent return and to live faithfully as Christ lived, honoring God in all we do. Revelation 22 proclaimed the certainty and suddenness of Christ’s return: “Behold, I am coming quickly.” In Luke 18:8, Jesus asked the question at the heart of President Gerson Moreno-Riaño’s, Ph.D., message: “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
Students and the community were challenged to prepare for Christ’s return by cultivating a faith that is real, personal and enduring. Drawing from Luke 18 and Hebrews 11, it was emphasized that Biblical faith cannot be reduced to identifying with a Christian institution, signing a confession of faith or knowing the right doctrine. Christ asks whether He will find faith when He returns — faith that trusts God enough to obey Him and remain faithful.
“What are you going to do, students? Because now it’s not your parents’ faith, your family’s faith, your church’s faith, the president’s faith, my faculty members’ — it’s yours.”
That responsibility reaches into everything students will pursue at Cornerstone. A degree, friendships, competition, a career and even recognition and achievement may be good things, Dr. Moreno-Riaño said, but none can become greater than knowing and following Christ. “Nothing compares to the beauty and the grandeur of Jesus.”
Convocation concluded with an “altar call at your seat.” In quiet prayer, students, faculty and staff were invited to assess their own faith before the LORD and ask Him to reveal coldness, remove what keeps them from hearing His call and deepen their desire for Him.
The community then stood together in worship, beginning the academic year with the promise of Revelation 22:20:
“Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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