Spring semester is often a pivotal season for college students. The initial excitement of a new academic year has settled, and students find themselves facing real decisions, deeper questions, and growing responsibilities. It is in this formative space that truth matters most.
This semester in Evangel chapel, I continued with my series titled Reality Checks from the Gospel of John. The messages centers on the moments when Jesus speaks with unmistakable emphasis, beginning His statements with the words, “Truly, truly, I say to you…”—a phrase He uses twenty-five times found only in John’s Gospel. These declarations serve as moments of clarity, cutting through confusion and calling listeners to align their lives with the reality of heaven.
One of the most compelling of these teachings appears in John 8, where Jesus says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus reveals that freedom is not found in self-direction or autonomy, but in abiding—remaining rooted in Him, His Word and ways.
Our students are learning that abiding in the one who is Truth shapes how they see themselves, their purpose, and their future. In a culture that encourages constant reinvention and shifting definitions of identity, Jesus offers something far more secure: freedom that flows from truth that does not change.
Dr. Darla Rakes
Ambassador to Donors & Students