On the afternoon of Sunday, May 17, the Ambassador Bible College class of 2020 began the program’s first-ever virtual graduation ceremony. With friends and family joining the live webcast for a total of about 235 connections, the 18 graduating students were recognized for completing the nine-month intensive program to study the Bible.

The students this year have not had an easy road—with social distancing restrictions affecting their ability to meet, they have listened to classes virtually and recorded choir parts separately. While in-person fellowship is a large part of the ABC experience, this year’s students came together to thrive in the situation they found themselves in.

Dr. Frank Dunkle, ABC Coordinator, began the graduation ceremony with the invocation before Dylan Riess, student body president for the ABC class of 2020, followed with his discourse. President Victor Kubik then gave the graduation address, in which he exhorted students to go forth with courage as they begin their lives after ABC. Awards were presented to four students who demonstrated exceptional excellence and service during their time at ABC. Dean of Faculty Steve Myers concluded the ceremony with the benediction, before videos were shown of the students introducing themselves and sharing some plans after ABC. Interspersed throughout the ceremony were three choir songs that the students recorded separately, some in their homes and others who met by household at different times in the home office to record. Clint Porter put the separate audio tracks together to create a beautiful virtual choir piece that brought some listeners to tears. 

Dr. Dunkle noted, “The class of 2020 set an amazing example of adapting to trying circumstances and focusing on the most important parts of ABC. I especially liked how they used the virtual classroom during lunch times to maintain their morale and relationships.” Some students have since returned to their hometowns and others have pursued schooling or career opportunities elsewhere, but all completed ABC well equipped to “go forth and serve.”

Interested in learning more about ABC?
Visit abc.ucg.org to watch the ABC Experience Video, view the course catalog or apply.

You can also visit www.ucg.org/inside-united-podcast to listen to Victor Kubik’s Inside United podcast interviews with ABC Coordinator Frank Dunkle and previous ABC students.

ABC students and alumni also regularly host fundraising and information tables at Winter Family Weekend and various Feast of Tabernacles sites, both in the U.S. and internationally. Email frank_dunkle@ucg.org for more information.