By LORETTA FULTON

In case anyone missed the point, Joseph Tobias made sure they got it.

The audience in Hardin-Simmons’ Behren’s Chapel had just heard Scripture read in various languages and watched a parade of flags by students from different countries. They heard “Hallelujah” in several lanugages at once. It was a rousing way to start International Week on campus Feb. 5. But Tobias, a student in Logsdon School of Theology, brought home the point.

“We are being reminded,” he said, “that our God loves diversity.”

Joseph Tobias of Nigeria, kicked off International Week at Hardin-Simmons University Feb. 5 with a rousing chapel message. Photo courtesy Aubrie Northcut, Hardin-Simmons University. 

Tobias was guest speaker for the Feb. 5 International Week chapel service, which kicked off a week of activities on campus, including events like Taste of the World and an international soccer match.

Tobias, from Nigeria, also is an intern at Broadview Baptist Church. In his booming voice, he recalled scripture about the Israelites wandering in the desert. Their will has been broken and they ask God, “how long?”

In Exodus 3: 7-12, God tells Moses to go to Pharoah to deliver the Israelites. But Moses questions God’s calling him. And God responds, “I will be with you.”

Hardin-Simmons University students got into the spirit of International Week with a special chapel service on Feb. 5. International students such as Jesper Jiang of China, shown playing violin in top right photo. Photos by Loretta Fulton

God is not silent in the midst of pain and suffering, Tobias said, and just like in biblical days, he is raising voices to confront problems in society. He recalled the story of Leah, one of 112 girls captured by the terrorist group Boko Haram in Nigeria. Leah is the only one remaining in captivity, due to her refusal to renounce her Christian faith.

“To this day,” Tobias said, “she is still held as a captive.”

Just like Moses, most of us would say “I can not do this by myself,” when called. God knows that, Tobias said, which makes you his ideal candidate.

“God does not call the qualified,” Tobias said. “He qualifies the called.”