Keeping with tradition, Sterling College welcomed students back with the annual Keynote Convocation held on the first Friday of the semester, Aug. 26. Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Spencer Wagley spoke to students at the address, asking them to consider what happens in life when their plans do not work out.

“We like our plans to come together. What happens when things are not that smooth? What happens when things begin to totally fall apart like a Nature Valley granola bar? When your direction totally changes?” asked Wagley.

He went on to describe plans in his life that were not what he had planned but ended in a better life situation than he could have imagined. One such plan was the adoption of his son. With a lot of help from the local community, Wagley expressed how Sterling came together to help their family supply the needs of having a baby. He described the event as the Lord providing for the plan the Lord had for Wagley’s life.

“God has a plan for you. I know it sounds simplistic. Many of you have heard it at home, at Sunday school, from your youth pastor, grandma. … But so many times in my life I thought I had the perfect plan to finally realize that God had the perfect plan for me,” said Wagley.

He quoted Proverbs 16:9, which says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

Wagley concluded with the challenge, “So what is your plan? What is your calling? Have you chosen that major or that vocation because that is God’s plan for you or have you chosen that field because of others? … Are you making decisions based on pleasing others or pleasing God?”  

Wagley’s entire speech can be heard on the Sterling College chapel podcast page, sterlingcollege.podbean.com.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.