Written by Ben Evans \/\/ Photo by Edgar Cardiel<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abundant Living hosted its biannual retreat at Harding University for the first time in its 18-year history. The retreat was dubbed \u201cHeaven and Nature Sing\u201d 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\u2019s Centennial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Abundant Living program exists to keep our alumni connected with the University,\u201d Castleman said. \u201cWe want to foster community between our retirement- aged alumni.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019Neal and lectures on grandparenting and faith. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sanderson has served as a worship leader for Abundant Living\u2019s retreats since their beginning. He works in ministry in Memphis, but he has deep connections to Harding\u2019s history. Sanderson\u2019s father, Dr. Lloyd O. Sanderson, collaborated with Florence Cathcart to write the University\u2019s alma mater, and he has continued his father\u2019s legacy by writing the alma mater for the Harding School of Theology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne 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,\u201d Sanderson said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Josh Mellor, a vocal music education major, said he wants to communicate to others the significance of worship. \u201cWhat we\u2019re putting together is like a joint song leading chapel,\u201d Mellor said. \u201cWe\u2019re sharing stories about songs. I just want to really share that the worship that we\u2019re sharing is important to us.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Worship is one way students and alumni can connect during the spiritual retreat, Mellor said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think [it\u2019s important] to show the intergenerational connection with praise to show that it\u2019s not something that has been lost in this younger generation,\u201d Mellor said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sanderson said remembering the legacy of Harding and wanting to better its original vision is important for both seniors and students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen we\u2019re 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,\u201d Sanderson said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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