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What Lies Ahead
By Rachel Wegner 07
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The luncheon took place just one day after the ORU Board of Regents decided to accept the Green family's proposal in principle to give ORU $62 million, and the board's decision to make significant changes in the governance of the university. In his address to those gathered for the luncheon, Betz examined ORU's foundation, its changes over the years, its current situation and where he hopes and believes the university will go.
As he thumbed through the pages of the yearbooks that marked his time at ORU, Jay Betz found that they reflected a rich and diverse experience, firmly rooted in godly concepts. He saw photos of chapel services with speakers from far and wide, representing many walks of life. He saw the traditions and past times ORU held dear, the life and fellowship sustained by dormitory wings, the opportunities students took to reach out to others. He saw a university taking shape and becoming established. One thing that stood out to him particularly was a page inscribed with the prayer offered by the Reverend Billy Graham at ORU's dedication ceremony in 1967.
It reads,
This institution was built by the prayers and dedication and money of men and women who love God, who believe the gospel and believe the Bible as the Word of God. Let the regents, the faculty and the students be sure to understand the purpose and the objectives of ORU. Many a school that was forged in the flames exists today in smoke. May ORU produce a holy enthusiasm for the will of God. I propose you determine today to keep a personal relationship between faculty and students. Secondly, I propose that you determine this day to keep the faith of those who founded this institution. Thirdly, I propose that you determine this day to develop strong minds and bodies and high moral standards. And fourthly, I propose that you determine this day to keep an emphasis on the evangelism. To this end, we dedicate ORU.
"The question is: what's happened between that period of time and the current?" Betz said. "What is ORU's place in the world?"
With a background of both tremendous contributions to the kingdom of God and tumultuous times, Betz pointed out that ORU has had to fight to keep its founding purpose. Currently, he said, ORU finds itself in the midst of a world that needs God's truth. In an age where moral relativism and postmodern thinking threaten the Christian faith, Betz emphasized the need for students and ORU graduates who know how to go into every person's world.
"We have a situation where, if students aren't properly educated, their minds aren't sharpened and they don't understand their Christian worldview, we stand as humans and Christians to be easily manipulated," Betz said. "The university needs to emphasize that we need people out there that can not only evangelize, but defend the faith."
Betz also acknowledged that many questions remain with the situation surrounding the lawsuit against ORU and the changes that have swept through its leadership and governance. However, he expressed a sincere hope and faith that ORU was heading in the right direction.
"As far as an accountant who has a natural tendency toward skepticism can be optimistic, I am very optimistic," he said with a laugh. "I would like to see ORU recapture the image of excellence and integrity. I'm anxious to see how the university takes hold. If anything, the university needs our prayers. I honestly believe, hope and pray that the best days [of ORU] are ahead."
Betz closed his address by reading a prayer from Oral Roberts that was included in the 1973-74 yearbook.
It read,
In this moment, we bow our hearts to the living God. We lift our hands to our resurrected Lord, asking for that guidance that is above all guidance, for that inspiration above all inspiration and for that power which is without limit. We pray that Jesus of Nazareth will warm our hearts, blossom our intellects, stimulate our imagination and strengthen our bodies. As we face the future, may we never settle for less than excellence. May we be governed by an invincible spirit of integrity, inspired by a personal relationship with the living God and driven by an irresistible desire to be a whole man, to make a troubled world whole again. We ask and we believe this in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
