Graduation 2009: May 9, 2009

Dr. Dino Pedrone, Rev. Vince Griffis, Mr. Chris Seavey

The Class of 2009

Senior Chris Dorais with Rev. Jerry Traister, Chairperson of Board (Class 1967)

Dr. Dino Pedrone, President (Class 1967)

Naomi and her parents from Sri Lanka

(L-R) Daniel Rathmell, Church Relations (Class 1973), his wife, Terry Robertson, Elizabeth Robertson, Mary Knapton (class 1950), Roger Knapton (class 1950), Dr. Dino Pedrone (1967), Terry and Elizabeth's two sons.

Members of the class of 1967 (and adopted 1968 member)
(L-R) Suzanne (Sisson) Griffis (1967), Vincent Griffis (1967), Walter Schlundt (1967), Jerry Traister (1967), Dino Pedrone (1967), and Janice (Weatherbee) Chandler (1968)

Graduation 2009 went very well on Saturday, May 9, 2009. A new group of Alumni have gone out of the halls of our fine college. The Sun never sets on PBTS, PBC, Davis Alumni and it so true in seeing the students that are leaving the college to go out into the world. There were many special events that happened during the ceremony. During the ceremony an award of Trustee Emeritus was awarded to Rev. Gordon Hay (Class 1954). Also a first for Davis College was the conferring of Honorary Doctorates.

The New York State Education Department has authorized Davis College to grant honorary doctorates. The Doctor of Divinity degree is conferred on individuals who have distinguished themselves in Christian ministry and leadership. Their life and service in ministry exemplifies the college's mission of impacting the world for Jesus Christ. Today the college honors two distinguished servants of the Lord with the Doctor of Divinity degree.

The two people that received them were Vincent Griffis and Terry Robertson.

From the program the bios of each:

Vincent W. Griffis spent most of his formative years on the campus of Davis College, graduating from PBTS in 1967. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Calvary Bible College, a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology from Rhode Island College and a Master of Business Administration from Southeastern Massachusetts University. He is presently a doctoral candidate (Ed.D.) at Boston University. Vincent has served as headmaster of the Christian School of Greater Fall River, Massachusetts and was also the director of Rain Forest International School in Cameroon. Currently, he is serving as a Scripture Use Researcher with Wycliffe Bible Translators, examining how much use is made of the vernacular Scriptures in Cameroon. Vincent is married to Suzanne, and they have four children and one grandson. Griffis Hall in the Chatlos Building is named after his father who was a faculty member and administrator at PBTS.

Terry M. Robertson was raised in Alabama where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Samford University in Birmingham. He earned a Master in Religious Education degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He now serves as the Executive Director and Treasurer of the Baptist Convention of New York with offices in East Syracuse, New York. Terry has pastored churches in Alabama, New Jersey and New York and also served as the Director of Missions for Frontier Baptist Association of Buffalo. His passion is the church and reaching the lost with the Gospel message. He is actively involved in. church planting responsibilities in the central New York state region. Terry is married to Elizabeth, and they have three children and one grandson.

After receiving his honorary Doctorate of Divinity the now Dr. Vincent Griffis gave an address to the Graduating Class. He addressed them about the troubles that they will face, but to continue on. He gave wisdom from the Scriptures about the importance of prayer in a believers life. How we don't do it enough, but it is so critical.

After Dr. Griffis spoke the degrees were handed out as a new group of Alumni entered the school history. The ceremony concluded with a prayer of dedication and the singing of the Alma Mater.

Commencement 2009 on Saturday, May 9, 2009 with Vincent Griffis

(L-R) Suzanne (Sisson) Griffis, Dr. Dino Pedrone, Vincent Griffis (Homecoming 2008)

This Saturday will be the Commencement for the class of 2009. Reverend Vincent Griffis (class 1967) will be the Commencement speaker this year in the Robb Activity Center. Vince is the son of the late Dr. Paul Griffis (class 1932). If you are in the area come by the college and wish the class of 2009 God speed as they head out into the world. Remember the words of our Alma Mater:

On the banks of Susquehanna
In God's chosen place
Stands our dear old Davis College,
Subject of His grace.

Davis College, how we love you
And your teachers dear.
We will all pray daily for you
Though we're far from here.

[to be sung by graduating class]
We must part now, for He calls us
To a wider field;
And though we are loath to leave you,
For His sake, we yield.

Davis College, don't forget us
As we go our way;
And while we are in His service,
For us, won't you pray?

Pray that the Graduating class will be in the service of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Remember them and all the past students, current students, and future students of the college that their lives would be testimonies of what Christ has done and what He is doing in their lives.

As 2 Timothy 4.2 says, "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." May that be my prayer for the class of 2009 that each one of them is ready to use the Word for God's Kingdom. Whether by preaching, teaching, or just living life.

1st annual "Pray for Davis College" day UPDATE

An Update:

Some prayer requests: The College would like prayer:

- For new and returning students
- faculty traveling during summer
- upcoming academic year
- summer projects and events taking place on campus.

Also keep Dr. Pedrone in prayer as he starts his first year as President of Davis College

Remember also there is a Facebook Event group if you would care to join:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=739850180#/event.php?eid=23077619459

1st Annual "Pray for Davis College" August 7

I created an event on Facebook entitled 1st annual "Pray for Davis College" day: Praying for our Alma Mater.

On August 7, 1871 the founder of Davis College, John A. Davis, was born. Starting this year, August 7, will be a day of praying for the college he founded in 1900. Lift up the needs of school as in prepares for the new school year and for the administrators, faculty, staff, students. Each and every day the school should be lifted up for godly wisdom and protection from the evil one. It is training the next generation of Christian leaders. So this August 7 remember the school that John A. Davis founded for the glory of God. Invite others to come and pray. There is power in prayer, because we serve a Lord who DID NOT stay in the tomb!

Remember the College throughout the day of August 7, 2008 this year. Put it on your prayer lists for that day, but also remember the college ANY & EVERY Day, because Satan wants to seek and destroy those who walk in the light.

To join the group on Facebook (if you have an account go here)

Tell other Alumni and Friends about it and keep the College in your prayers. There is power in prayer, because of our Risen Savior answers prayers!

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." ~ 2 Timothy 2.15

The Alma Mater

As graduation approaches here on campus and my four years at Davis College comes to a close I have started thinking about the words of our Alma Mater.

On the banks of Susquehanna
In God's chosen place
Stands our dear old Davis College*,
Subject of His grace.

Davis College*, how we love you
And your teachers dear.
We will all pray daily for you
Though we're far from here.

[to be sung by graduating class]
We must part now, for He calls us
To a wider field;
And though we are loath to leave you,
For His sake, we yield.

Davis College*, don't forget us
As we go our way;
And while we are in His service,
For us, won't you pray?


*The name where Davis College is now began as P.B.T.S. and after we became a college it became Practical Bible in place of P.B.T.S.
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It is not known when it was exactly written, but it was written by Irene Major Clark who was a corresponding secretary at PBTS during 1917-22. The term Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother" and it has been a part of colleges and universities for close to 1000 years. The tune that is used is that of "Annie Lisle." ""Annie Lisle" is the name of an 1857 ballad by Boston, Massachusetts songwriter H. S. Thompson and published by Oliver Ditson & Co. It is about the death of a young maiden, by what some have speculated to be tuberculosis, although the lyric does not explicitly mention tuberculosis, or "consumption" as it was called then. The song might have slipped into obscurity had the tune not been adopted by countless colleges, universities, and high schools worldwide as their respective alma mater songs" (wikipedia.org). It was first used for Cornell University as an Alma Mater musical score in 1870 and it was adopted by our PBTS and it continue to this day.