Global University has completed its 15th year of existence and we could not be more excited. In just 15 years, God has used GU and its ministries in mighty ways. As we celebrate our US graduates this month, we also remember the other momentous graduations that have occurred in this last year in places like Malta, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Curacao just to name a few.
In the 2014-2015 cycle, 1,108 graduates from around the world received their with a graduate level, undergraduate level, or Berean level degree or certificate from Global University.
The largest and perhaps the most historic graduation took place late in 2014. When we first began Global University – Cuba in 2010, the vision was clear but there were many obstacles we had to overcome. Even though only 110 miles separate Key West, FL from Havana, but it might as well have been on the other side of the world. Not only that, but The Cuba Assemblies of God wanted to see 3,000 students enrolled.
We persisted. We knew that God was calling us to train the Cuban people. We contacted the Cuban government, and through the incredible efforts of our staff on the island we received permission to start classes. Our representatives in Cuba worked tirelessly to make sure they were in accordance with Cuban educational regulations.
We also needed a way to get our materials to our new students. We developed a plan to simultaneously scholarship a student and send them a Kindle e-readers loaded with Spanish GU courses. It was a lofty endeavor, so we called upon the support of our generous Global supporters. We could not have done this without them. Together, we slowly began to raise the funds needed to scholarship the Cuban students. We quickly bought the e-readers and sent them to Cuba as funds came in.
Enrollment began to grow exponentially and we were soon sending e-readers down by the thousands. Now in 2015, we have sent a total of 4,500 Kindles down to Cuba. The last enrollment numbers state that over 3,000 students are studying at the degree levels and 1,000 are studying at the CS level. That’s 4,000 students, 1000 more than the goal set at the beginning of the project.
In December, 2014, we held our first graduation ceremony in Cuba. Over 400 students graduated from Global University – Cuba. This is the largest degree level graduation ceremony in the history of Global University anywhere in the world!
And the impact is already being seen in mighty ways. Neighbors and those in the community where the graduations took place were so impressed by the numbers and the joy of the event, they began to inquire who these people were and why they were so excited. Plus, 412 new students immediately enrolled to take the spots of the one’s that had just graduated.
Cuba is a shining example of God’s incredible sovereignty, but we did not start Global University – Cuba or any of our other ministries so we could have one graduation and be done. Our work around the world is continuous, just like the work of God in each of our lives. He has given us this opportunity to minister on a global scale and we will honor that call.
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
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