Azuza Pacific dean addresses
1996 Ambassador University graduates

Presiding over the ceremonies was Russell K. Duke, newly inaugurated as the sixth president of the university, who congratulated the graduates for "making it through a difficult but rewarding year."

Lester C. Blank Jr., founding dean of the Haggard School of Theology at Azuza (Calif.) Pacific University, who was introduced by AU board of regents chairman Joseph Tkach Jr. as a "beloved brother in Christ," delivered the commencement address. He admonished the 1996 graduating class to "take the high road and dare to be passionate, committed change agents."

Referring to Mark 8:34-39 as the foundation of his message, Dr. Blank urged his audience to make use of "four stones"--integrity of relationships, modeling Christian character, building priorities on service and resolving not to shame Jesus Christ--to build the high road upon which they will "travel as Christian examples."

"The future is bright," Dr. Blank said. "Dare to dream new dreams like Walt Disney did. When he came up with the idea [for Disney World], his investors said it couldn't be done. Yet Disney persisted, saying, `If you can dream it, you can do it.' Or, as the Bible puts it, `Where there is no vision, the people perish."

Brad Marshall of Brisbane, Australia, Ambassador student-body president, delivered a discourse in which he quoted American President Calvin Coolidge:

"What we need is not more knowledge, but more character." He challenged the graduating class to commit to "give back what we've been given; make a difference; create a vision for the future."