- For year, Regent University graduates

have walked, even danced across this patio

into their futures withfamily and friends watching.

But this year due tothe COVID-19 pandemic,

the graduation ceremonytook place virtually.

This past Saturday,

graduates were celebrated virtually

as they watched from their homes.

A week prior, each graduatereceived a box in the mail

containing surprisesto help them celebrate.

The ceremony began with a powerful singing

of the national anthem by Joy Windham

while honoring thoseserving on the front lines

of the COVID-19 pandemicincluding some of the graduates.

♪ Spangled ♪

Pat Robertson, Founder and Chancellor,

of Regent Universitypresided over the ceremony.

- Graduation and our firstvirtual commencement ceremony

in Regent's history.

- [Shawn] The keynote speakerwas internationally renowned

Author and Speaker, Eric Metaxas.

- One of my favorite scripture verses,

which I can start with now,

is, "All things work together for good."

What could be more well-knownthan that scripture,

but do we believe it.

I wanna challenge you now.

Do you believe it?

All things work together for good

for those that love the Lord.

- [Shawn] Regent offers135 degree programs

and concentrations in itseight graduate schools

and undergraduate program.

It has one of the top-rankedonline bachelor and master's

degree programs in the country.

This year, an estimated2,200 undergraduate

and graduate degrees were conferred,

making the class of 2020

the largest in RegentUniversity's history.

Graduate reflections were given

by Sabrina Matera Ozorio Estrella.

- Dr. Robertson, thankyou for instilling us

a principle of integrity,

for cultivating our spiritual growth.

- [Shawn] Darvin Muentesreceived his Bachelor of Science

in Marketing degree, and says regardless

of the circumstances, Godstill has a plan for them.

- It is very important that we celebrate

the monumental achievementthat we've done.

I've worked really hard for my degree,

and so I still wannabe celebrated somehow.

We have to push forward under adversity.

And here the the Lord has presented

a way for us to pushforward under adversity.

We're the only class that's gonna say,

"Hey, we had a virtual graduation.

"And guess what?

"We're out in the world,and we're doing the thing

"that we were called to do."

- [Shawn] The graduates were charged

to fulfill Regent's missionof Christian leadership

to change the world.

- The apostle Paul, inwriting about the troubles

of his time,

said,

"In all these things,

"we are more than conquerors."

What are you facing?

Well you're facing a virus thathas decimated the economies

and the lives of everybody on this globe.

The Lord, Jesus, said,

"All authority is given under me

"in heaven and Earth."

And when you go into thisworld as our graduates,

I want you to know thetheme today is you are more

than conquerors through him that loves us.

(uplifting music)