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Regent University Celebrates Founder’s Chapel Service

Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño.

On Wednesday, August 23, Regent University celebrated its annual Founder’s Chapel – a time of reflection on the original vision and mission of the university given to Founder, Chancellor and CEO Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson ov

er a breakfast of cottage cheese and cantaloupe nearly 40 years ago.

“You’ve heard the story many times, and we should never tire of hearing it,” said Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño who reaffirmed Robertson’s vision to chapel-goers.

“In that story we hear about a man eating a simple, modest breakfast who had the faith to seek the Lord,” said Moreno-Riaño. “How many of us, when we pray for a meal, come expecting that?”

It was during that prayer that Robertson was inspired by God to buy the 200 acres of land that Regent now sits on to build a school. A graduate school, then named CBN University, which began with just seven faculty member and 77 students.

Almost four decades later, Regent continues to see record-breaking enrollment growth, welcoming more than 10,183 students into courses for the Fall Semester 2017. And though, he explained, that many followers of Christ are trained to “pray up” in the midst of setbacks, all-too important is the task of prayer in the midst of success.

“This will test our character as an institution as much as failure will,” he said.

Moreno-Riaño urged students, faculty and staff to reflect on the foundational principles of Regent – building up Christian leaders to change the world – and not to forget the Lord in the midst of the university’s prosperity.

“You cannot forget the Lord,” said Moreno-Riaño. “Not in our lives, not in our homes, our families or our churches…and we can’t forget Him as an institution.”

Moreno-Riaño said the school built for the glory of God carries “weight,” whether through online discussion boards or in the classroom. Because of this, Moreno-Riaño explained, mediocrity has “no place at Regent” and should “have no place in our lives.”

“Excellence needs to be a part of our vocabulary,” said Moreno-Riaño. “So we can proclaim the one who made us – that’s why Regent exists.”