Special Announcement from Washington DC posted by John Sorensen on Mar 27, 2015

D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship

Beton Lecture Hall Dedication 

Washington, DC

Dedication.  That’s why we have gathered.  To “dedicate” this space.  This is not an open house, or a party.  It is a dedication.

Often, when we think such thoughts, we imagine a dedication to be a time to say some official sounding words that honor a purpose, or a person.  And there is a sense of that tonight.  But for us, as believers in Jesus Christ, there is a grander dimension.

Not only are we dedicating this lecture hall, here at the D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship, to a common purpose, but we are dedicating ourselves to its cause; which is Christ’s great cause of sharing the Gospel with everyone on earth.

When we see it in this light, the synonyms for “dedication” jump to life.

Commitment:  We could never achieve what we are not committed to.  We have been entrusted with a great cause, so then we must not be cavalier in our dedication.  A lifetime is not too long for such a purpose.

Diligence, Resolve, Perseverance:  Everyone can start a race, but few finish it.  We are not defined by what we accomplish in the easy times, but in the hard.  You’ve heard it said that “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.”  And that may be.  But the truth is that when the going gets tough, the tough find out that they are tough.  It is in that moment that they are defined as such.  Without great difficulty, there is no real victory.

Zeal, and Drive:  We might say Passion.  And I think we could add Love.  If you aren’t passionate about reaching the world for Christ, if we cannot truly say that we love those who are in need of our Savior, then no dedication will make this space have impact on our world.  In contrast, if we do love as Christ loves, then we can certainly see this space have impact for the cause of Christ and for His glory.

All of these synonyms are certainly characteristics of Conrad Arthur Beton, and his dedication to this country, and to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  He was a patriot.  And a servant of Christ.

My prayer would be that we would be dedicated to this grand cause with as much drive and zeal as this great man.  May it be that in our generation, it would come to pass that the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be heard by every person on earth.  And this Center, and this Lecture Hall, would be used by God toward that end.