VIRTUAL CEREMONY
Watch on Facebook Live
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, SEPTEMBER THE ELEVENTH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY-SIX ONE O’CLOCK, EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME
LEXINGTON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY CERTIFICATE IN AFRICAN AMERICAN MINISTRIES PROGRAM
President Charisse L. Gillett, presiding
Prelude
How Great is Our God / How Great Thou Art
Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves and Ed Cash
Swedish folk melody, adapted and arranged by Stuart K. Hine
Rev. Dr. Julio González-Paniagua
Pastor, Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Central Islip
Welcome
Rev. Dr. Charisse L. Gillett
President
Invocation
Rev. Dr. William L. Lee
Chair, Board of LTS Trustees
Call to Worship
Rev. Dr. Donald K. Gillett II
Regional Minister,
Christian Church of Kentucky
One: We come to celebrate this day.
All: We come to give thanks for God’s gifts of knowledge, wisdom, and ministry.
One: We come to acknowledge the accomplishments of these students.
All: We come to affirm and to support the work they have done during their years at Lexington Theological Seminary.
One: We come together to send them out into the world, equipped by the spirit of Christ to be ambassadors of God’s truth and love.
All: We come to celebrate this day!
Special Music
The Goodness of God
Jenn Johnson, Jason Ingram, et. al.
Rev. Dr. Julio González-Paniagua
Pastor, Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Central Islip
Scripture Reading
Psalm 1:1-3 & Jeremiah 29:11
Mr. Christian Smith
Graduate
Introduction of Speaker
Rev. Dr. Charisse L. Gillett
President
Address
“Bloom Where You Are Planted”
Rev. Kimberly Proctor-White
Former Admissions Associate, LTS
Mental Health Counselor
Presentation of Graduates
Rev. Dr. Jonathan S. Barnes
VP for Academic Affairs and Dean
Conferral of Certificates
Rev. Dr. Charisse L. Gillett
President
Benediction
Dr. Sharon Ellis Davis
Retired Visiting Professor of Ethics
Recessional
Here I am Lord
Dan Schutte
Rev. Dr. Julio González-Paniagua
Pastor, Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Central Islip
A special thanks to Ms. Dominique Highfil for all her technological expertise.
CLASS OF 2026
CERTIFICATE IN AFRICAN AMERICAN MINISTRIES GRADUATES
Chester Gipson
Sterling, Virginia
Alphonso Ravenell
Eutawville, South Carolina
Christian Smith
Lexington, Kentucky