TFant
Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr., was installed as North Greenville University’s next president on Fri- day, April 13, 2018 — a high note during the university’s 125th anniversary celebration this past spring.
Close to 1,000 people — including Fant’s friends and family, NGU family, and delegates from more than 22 universities — gathered in Turner Chapel for Fant’s inauguration, which marked his formal investiture as the eighth president and 20th leader in the history of the institution.
In his opening remarks at the inauguration, NGU’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees Bill Tyler read the names of all past presidents.
“God had a mission for these leaders of North Greenville University. . . . God has a mission for Dr. Fant,” Tyler said. “We’re here this morn- ing to affirm that.”
South Carolina Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant congrat- ulated the university and Fant on behalf of the state. He noted that Christian higher education contributes over $60 billion annually to the nation’s economy.
“But let’s talk about the real impact of Chris- tian higher education. We’re born with a termi- nal disease called sin. Yet there’s a cure,” Bryant said. “Te real impact of North Greenville University, and the real impact of Christian education, is the cure to that terminal sin, and that is eternal life through our Savior, Jesus
Christ.”
Kady Floyd (’18), president of NGU’s Student Government Association, welcomed Fant to campus on behalf of current students.
“Tis is a very important and exciting day that
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we have been looking forward to for many months, as we celebrate the past, present, and future of this great institution,” Floyd said.
Others bringing greetings included John White III, co-founder and president of Lifeshape; Dr. Toney Parks, senior pastor of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Greenville, SC; Dr. John Basie, pro- vost of Erskine College and Seminary; and Dr. Gary Hollingsworth, executive director/treasur- er of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
English Department Chair Dr. Cheryl Collier and Palm Beach Atlantic University Campus Pastor Dr. Bernie Cuerto shared Scripture readings from Proverbs 2 and Colossians 3, respectively.
Dr. David Dockery, president of Trinity In- ternational University, provided the inaugural address. His charge focused on three aspects of Fant’s leadership: the personal, denominational, and institutional.
Dockery affirmed his trust that North Green- ville will continue to enhance its role as a place to help students develop a Christian worldview; personal character, which involves incarnating this worldview; and genuine community, living out this worldview at North Greenville in com- pany with mutually committed people.
“Tus, [you will bring] about a holistic aca- demic institution where academics, student life, residential life, campus ministries, the arts, [and] athletics all work together within the framework of a shared mission and a coherent worldview that will help to develop a Christian spirit of service to others,” Dockery said. “On this foundational framework, a God-honoring, grace-filled academic community will become a reality.”
Dockery ended his address by asking for God’s favor on the Fants as they “faithfully lead North Greenville University to its best days ever.”
Dockery, Tyler, and Dr. Aubrey Lucas, presi- dent emeritus of Te University of Southern Mississippi, then presented Fant with the university’s President’s Medallion and Chain of Office, the official symbols of the Office of the President.
“As we celebrate our 125th anniversary, and we see all that has happened in the past, the thing I constantly come back to is that the past is always prelude for the future,” Fant said in closing. “As Christians, we are to be relentlessly optimistic — relentlessly optimistic because of the gospel and because of the hope we have. So when people ask why we are hopeful, we have the ability and opportunity to give an account- ing of the difference that Christ has made in our lives.”
Fant’s inauguration came in the midst of NGU’s 125th festivities, which also included the alumni networking event NGU Connect, a special Auxilio Spring Luncheon, Business and Breakfast at Greer for area business and church leaders, the first Presidential Ball, the North Greenville Academy and Junior College Reunion Luncheon, and Joyful Sound’s 40th Anniversary Celebration, to name a few.
NGU family and friends also joined the First Family to observe the planting of an oak tree near the Hayes Ministry and Welcome Center following the inauguration. Given by his wife, Lisa, and their children, Ethan and Emily, the tree commemorates the official installation of President Fant at NGU.
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