New School Year at Oakwood College Begins

Sept. 11, 2001, was one of the saddest days in our country's history as a concerted terrorist attack was carried out against the World Trade Center towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Three high-jacked airliners were crashed into the buildings. A fourth was crashed in Pennsylvania.

The Oakwood family was assembled for the scheduled Academic Convocation when it was President Delbert W. Baker's sad duty to read the latest bulletin stating that the Trade Towers had collapsed to the ground. A great loss of life is expected. A period of silence immediately followed President Baker's remarks. An hour of prayer followed the convocation as well as a meeting of prayer and soul-searching at 7:00 that evening as the OC family, singly and in groups, expressed their deep sympathy for our fellow citizens and their grieving families.

The Academic Convocation is the official beginning of the fall semester of the 2001-2002 school year, and the faculty and administration attend in academic regalia. The guest speaker for the convocation was religious and motivational speaker Paula McGee. Her powerful and insightful message asked the probing question: "Who answers God's prayer?" She challenged all to respond positively when God asks, "Who shall I send, who will go for us?"

A former nationally ranked college basketball player, Paula McGee is a pastor and theologian, with master's degrees from Vanderbilt University and the Interdenominational Theological Center. During this time of sadness, our hearts were directed to the God of all comfort. Our prayer is that He will draw near and even now begin to heal the hurts of our land.