Written by Ben Evans // Photo by Edgar Cardiel
Abundant Living hosted its biannual retreat at Harding University for the first time in its 18-year history. The retreat was dubbed “Heaven and Nature Sing” and took place April 9-12. The spring event previously has been held in Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Hot Springs, Arkansas, but was on campus this year to celebrate Harding’s Centennial.
Director of Abundant Living Teresa Castleman designed the event as a getaway experience for Christian seniors 55 years and older with Harding alumni in mind.
“The Abundant Living program exists to keep our alumni connected with the University,” Castleman said. “We want to foster community between our retirement- aged alumni.”
Many seniors in the program have grandchildren and relatives who are enrolled at Harding, and Abundant Living gives them a chance to connect with those students while reliving the days of their college experience. They were given opportunities to join students in activities they also did when enrolled, such as eating in the cafeteria and attending chapel.
Castleman said the event would feature ample opportunities for alumni and seniors to worship and learn together. The retreat included speakers such as NASA engineer Mike O’Neal and lectures on grandparenting and faith.
To reflect the idea of student and alumni cooperation, Abundant Living will host chapel in the Benson Auditorium Friday, April 12. The chapel is a collaboration of junior Josh Mellor and alumni Dr. Leon Sanderson.
Sanderson has served as a worship leader for Abundant Living’s retreats since their beginning. He works in ministry in Memphis, but he has deep connections to Harding’s history. Sanderson’s father, Dr. Lloyd O. Sanderson, collaborated with Florence Cathcart to write the University’s alma mater, and he has continued his father’s legacy by writing the alma mater for the Harding School of Theology.
“One of the [songs] I picked out that relates to Harding is the alma mater because this is all about the Centennial, and the alma mater was written 100 years ago,” Sanderson said.
Josh Mellor, a vocal music education major, said he wants to communicate to others the significance of worship. “What we’re putting together is like a joint song leading chapel,” Mellor said. “We’re sharing stories about songs. I just want to really share that the worship that we’re sharing is important to us.”
Worship is one way students and alumni can connect during the spiritual retreat, Mellor said.
“I think [it’s important] to show the intergenerational connection with praise to show that it’s not something that has been lost in this younger generation,” Mellor said.
Sanderson said remembering the legacy of Harding and wanting to better its original vision is important for both seniors and students.
“When we’re there for occasions like the Centennial, it allows us to remember some of those that paved the way for wonderful Christian education, and it allows us to see [students] that are in the classes when we graduated,” Sanderson said.
