Bryan Bargen shares with MLC Class of 2015 how to live lives of selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love
Mountain Lake Christian (MLC) Commencement speaker Bryan Bargen shared with the seven members of the graduating Class of 2015 the steps needed to reach the ability to live lives of selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love; agape love, or love at its ultimate. A love that describes the kind of love Jesus has for his Father and his followers; one that never fails and is laid out in 1 Corinthians:13.
Bargen, the father of MLC senior Caleb Bargen, listed four thoughts that assist in attaining that level of love in his message during Commencement exercises held Saturday afternoon, May 23, at the Alliance Church in Mountain Lake.
That quartet included:
* Your lives and your work in this world matter. You and your work are an expression of God in the world. All called to use our gifts, talents and abilities – and when that is done, God’s presence is evident.
* Serving God in this world is wanting to want what God wants – above all else. This brings God’s presence, power and good to all that you do.
* Doing this helps lay down the heavy burden of having to have your own way.
* If the above is done, then you are free; empowered to lives lives of unconditional love. And people will see God’s love in your lives.
In addition, in preparation for his address, Bargen spent an hour in discussion with each individual graduate – along with spending time as chaperone on the Senior Trip. His idea behind these interviews was to demonstrate first-hand to the seven graduates that extraordinary lessons can be learned from ordinary lives.
* From Mikkala Pearson, Bargen learned that the senior had volunteered in nursing homes since the age of 10, and is now a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
* Bargen revealed that Caitlyn Smith had told him that she had longed dreamed of becoming an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – and is now working to attain that goal.
* Bargen learned a bit about Melanie Adrian from her Grandpa Ben Adrian. That information included the fact that she can do almost anything out on the farm. From Melanie, Bargen found out that Melanie is also a good teacher, having taught Daniel Nelson the ins-and-outs of running a skid loader.
* Elijah Stoesz shared with Bargen that, growing up on a farm, eventually led him to learn to find joy in farm work.
* German foreign exchange student Finn-Lukas Hoppe pointed out to Bargen that – during this past year at MLC in Mountain Lake (living in rural Butterfield), Minnesota, the United States – he has learned a great deal of things about himself.
* Aaron Walzak explained to Bargen what it was like to be the little brother – to five older sisters. Walzak also noted that he found a loving community in Mountain Lake.
* As far as Bargen’s own son Caleb Bargen – the youngest of four – the elder Bargen confessed that the one-hour one-on-one was probably the best discussion the two had ever had. He also learned that, while Caleb is a clean-up neat freak – Elijah Stoesz is even more organized.
Bargen stressed to the graduates that they are surrounded by family and friends; people who have had the privilege of watching them grow and mature.
He closed by telling the seniors that each have been shaping influences on each others’ lives during all their school years together. And, that, for their lives, from graduation on, as each goes into the world, they will not have the same relationships as in the past, and time together could become infrequent. Bargen urged each of the seven to take one thing they admire about each of their classmates and remember that; hold onto that as a way of remaining close to one another.
Pianist Ginifer Simon welcomed the graduates to the stage with the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance.”
The Praise and Worship opening was presented by Aaron and Nikki Petersen.
Matt Johnson, MLC Board Chair, shared the Welcome and Opening Prayer.
The MLC Choir sang two selections during the exercises, “Alleluia” and “He Never Failed Me Yet,” featuring senior Melanie Adrian as soloists, along with underclassmen Danica Dick and the duet of Dustin Klassen and Melissa Lohrenz.
A quartet of seniors – Melanie Adrian, Mikkala Pearson, Elijah Stoesz and Caitlyn Smith – looked back at their years at MLC during Student Reflections.
During the Parent Recognition video, prepared by Janell Bargen, each graduating senior presented his or her parents or host parents with roses – and a can of Mountain Dew Throwback – the class “soda.”
Board Chair Johnson recognized Melanie Adrian as the Valedictorian of the senior class, and Elijah Stoesz as salutatorian. He also awarded two scholarships – both to Melanie Adrian – the Florence G. Peters Memorial Scholarship and the Cottonwood County 4-H Livestock Production Scholarship.
Board Chair Johnson, along with Vice-Chair Wayne Klassen, awarded the diplomas to the graduates.
A Prayer of Dedication was given by Steve Dick.
Graduating with High Honors were Melanie Adrian and Elijah Stoesz, and with High Honors, Caleb Bargen, Mikkala Pearson and Caitlyn Smith.
Class Favorites include the tulip as the flower and Philippians 4:8 NASB as verse – “Finally, brothers and asisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
Below is a photograph gallery from the exercises:
