Convocation 2025: Consecrated to Christ, His Word, and One Another
At Cornerstone University, prayer and the gospel are the heart of our community. Convocation 2025, our annual “coming together for a special purpose,” prayerfully dedicated 52 new student leaders and 51 new faculty and staff to the Lord and affirmed the Cornerstone University Confession of Faith, our sacred Biblical foundation.
Jesus’ supremacy was proclaimed from John’s gospel: “I am the bread of life … the light of the world … the door … the good shepherd … the resurrection and the life … the true vine and the way, the truth, and the life,” this year’s theme (John 6-15). Colossians 1:12-18 exalted Christ as Creator and head of the church, while Revelation 5:9-13 lifted hearts to heaven’s worship: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.”
President Gerson Moreno-Riaño welcomed everyone, calling the community to reflect on consecration — setting apart our lives for God’s sacred purposes and posture of trust, saying,
“What a beautiful opportunity we have here at Cornerstone, for this Christ-centered community to commit itself and set itself apart and be known for God’s glory as a place where we encourage and motivate each other to love and to do good works for each other and for others.”
He acknowledged unseen challenges ahead — academic pressures, personal struggles, and discouragement. “Some of you carry big burdens that no one else knows about,” he said.
The answer: Matthew 11, “Come to me … I will give you rest. Let me guide you. Let me teach you. Learn from me.” From Hebrews 11, we must have complete trust that God is who He says He is and will do what He promises. A.W. Tozer’s “The Pursuit of God” was recommended to inspire a deeper hunger for the Lord, alongside David’s longing in Psalm 42:1: “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul thirsts for you, O God.” Psalm 119 was also highlighted as a lamp, a light, and a source of strength in trials.
Praying together and for each other during this time is one of the most beautiful expressions of community at Cornerstone. Students, faculty, and staff prayed together in small groups, focusing on three charges of consecration: our work and our learning, to grow in our knowledge and love of God, and to love one another and do good works through the knowledge and love of Him.
“Consecrating your life begins with giving the small things to God, whether that is school, work or even your health,” said Elijah Pleune (’27), a pre-med student and CU President’s Fellow. “Once you begin to see how God can transform things both big and small, you truly see His hand at work. God works in so many different ways all you can truly do is trust in His plan and hold on tight.”
“It is such a blessing to be able to gather together in this place,” shared Cecily Fager (’26) who is studying exercise science. “For this upcoming year, it is my prayer that we continue to come together with the focus of glorifying God. I pray that we would be a campus that encourages each other to grow in our relationship with our Creator, and that we would be filled with such immense joy that we are not able to contain it within our campus borders. I would love to see us continuing to encourage one another and spread this Good News with those around us at school, and where God places us outside of school, remembering that it is not by our own power that people’s lives are changed.”
The community was also urged to spend time in the Confession of Faith document provided featuring nine core Biblical truths: the greatness of the Triune God, the authority of His Word, the dignity of biblical marriage, the reality of human sin, Jesus Christ as God’s Son and perfect Savior who fulfills God’s covenant, the power and promise of the Holy Spirit within us, and the church as Christ’s body awaiting His return. These shared beliefs reflect God’s redeeming work from creation and the fall to Christ’s redemption and the hope of restoration.
Cornerstone begins the year not just as a university, but as a praying family of believers — a place where Jesus is at the center of all that we think, say, and do.
Explore Cornerstone’s Christian worldview, Confession of Faith, or our distinctive programs, or contact admissions@cornerstone.edu.
