University of Mobile a life-changing experience for many students

he thing I love most about the University of Mobile, and the thing I will never forget it for is that I was saved after I came here. Before coming here I didn’t know anything about Christ, but now I know who He is and who He is to me,” said one University of Mobile (UM) student in a video presentation at the beginning of the University of Mobile’s report to the annual meeting of the Alabama Baptist State Convention.
   
Pointing out that changed lives “to change the world” is why UM exists, UM President Mark Foley said following the video, “When UM was founded in 1959–60, we didn’t have to define Christianity. Now, we have to show what that really means.
   
“The reason UM exists is to be distinctively Christian and change lives to change the world,” he explained.
   
Foley said it is yet to be seen what God can do with a university that is totally committed to Him. In order to “see what God can do” UM is seeking “intercessory prayer warriors” to be part of its prayer force, which will be led by Linda Breland.
   
“We are looking for people whose ministry is intercessory prayer and who are interested in seeing miracles occur at UM,” said Foley.
   
UM plans to enlist 1,000 people by the end of spring 2004 to commit to pray for UM and its specific needs. Currently more than 350 are praying daily for the university. More than 70 of those are from the Philippines.
   
“We hope to have an army of prayer warriors lifting up UM every day. I believe we’re going to see miracles from God,” said Foley.
   
At a luncheon sponsored by UM during the Tuesday session of the convention, Cecil Taylor, dean of the UM school of religion, inducted Bill Yarber into the Order of the Shophar, an award established by UM to honor pastors for their service to the Kingdom.
   
“I’m still not over the shock,” said Yarber, pastor of First Baptist Church, Arley. “I don’t deserve it. In my high opinion of UM, I view this as a very valuable award. I’m just speechless,” said Yarber as he received congratulations from various Alabama ministers.
   
Yarber and his wife, LaQueta, have served churches in Leighton, Sheffield, Selma, Fayette, Birmingham, Jasper and Montgomery. He then retired and served as an interim pastor for a short while before coming out of retirement to serve as pastor of First, Arley, in Winston Baptist Association.
   
An excerpt from his nomination said: “In Walker Association, the name of this man is synonymous with all that is loved and respected in a pastor. He truly loves the Lord and honors and respects His Word by preaching it with compassion but without compromise. I am convinced that it is in no way an exaggeration to say that along with David of old, he is truly a man after God’s own heart.”
   
At the luncheon Foley addressed the 230 in attendance reiterating his points made earlier from the convention platform.
   
“I refuse to be satisfied with mediocre Christianity. We will take UM to a place it’s never been before. We are not satisfied to say ‘God, we can’t because,’ and start listing the reasons why. We will be distinctively Christian. We will find what we do well and promote it. We will blend our enrollment, reaching out beyond this state. We will continue to improve our facilities. We will see the fruits of this prayer force,” said Foley.
   
UM has begun construction on a 101-bed residence hall that will be open fall 2004. It is the beginning of six new residence halls that will be built during the next few years. UM will also build a music/theater building to host performances by students in UM’s Center for Performing Arts.
  
Foley concluded the luncheon by saying, “God said, ‘Ask, knock, shake the tree down’ in the Foley-paraphrased version. We’ll see what God will do with a school sold out to Him. We will honor God and we will change the world.”