FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5/27/98

CONTACT:

Robyn Florian
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Greenville College
(618) 664-2800, ext. 4536

 
GREENVILLE, IL—"Graduates beware of the great passion exchange. This is when we exchange God’s will for our will. We mistake what God has done for us, as our own doing. We credit what is a God given gift, to our own abilities."

With these words, Dr. Greg Nelson, Contemporary Christian Music producer for inspirational favorites Sandi Patty, Steve Green and Larnelle Harris, shepherded the largest graduating class in the history of Greenville College towards lives devoted to imitating Christ’s example of servant leadership.

"Servant leadership isn’t necessarily about worldly position. It is about people responding to the power of the presence of God’s grace in our lives," said Nelson. "How many leaders in the Christian arena have we seen who started out with a clear vision and then abandoned the gospel for a lesser thing?"

From the insightful book, The Leadership Lessons of Jesus by Bob Briner and Ray Pritchard, Nelson identified elements of leadership which include a calling, passion, preparation, perseverance, example, action, practicality, vision, people skills and caring. "These qualities notwithstanding, we must also understand what is at the core of true servant leadership. . . .

In the context of the Christian life, if anything we attempt apart from Christ is doomed to fail, then authentic servant leadership must be born out of total devotion, without compromise to the cause of Christ." To further illustrate a believer’s divine dependence on Christ, Nelson advanced audience understanding through a communication medium in which he has experienced repeated success.

He shared these words from "A Chasing of the Wind," a song he wrote with partner Phil McHugh,

Nelson admonished the class as he closed the ceremony, "Graduates of Greenville College, people need the Lord, and you can make a difference in their lives and in this world. You can powerfully lead the way to the Cross with leadership exemplified in your devotion to Christ.

In Matthew 5:16, the first verse I ever memorized says, ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they will see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.’"

As Steve Green recognized "People Need the Lord" with his well-loved vocal performance of this song, many in the Christian music industry recognized the talents of its writer and producer, Greg Nelson. His commencement address followed a special conferral in honor of Nelson’s commitment to servant leadership as Greenville College bestowed on him the Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Music.

"Greg Nelson, because you have been faithful; because you have used your very special gifts to honor the One who gave them; for the inspiration you have provided to millions; because you have continued to grow in service to God’s Kingdom; for the way your life and work challenges talented young people everywhere; because, to use the title of your song, ‘We Are So Blessed’" I confer upon you the degree of Doctor of Sacred Music," declared Dr. Robert E. Smith, President of Greenville College.

Greenville College is a four-year Christian liberal arts school with about 1,000 traditional and adult students. Founded in 1892, it is affiliated with the Free Methodist Church.

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