Many students came to Harding for different reasons. Some came because it is where their parents wanted them to be; others came because of scholarship offers. And th en th ere were those that felt led byGod to choose this school.Junior Elijah Pleasant was a young man who felt that calling and knew that he was on a mission from God. Pleasant grew up in Seattle and had the opportunity to come to Harding after compl eti ng his junior year of high school. "Cod was the reason I came to Ha rdin g," Pleasant said. By his so phomore year Pleasant already knew h e wanted to be a business major, but he also decided he wanted to major in vocational ministry. Most people would think th e two majors Pleasant chose wer e polar opposites, but Pleasant felt like it was his calling. Pl easant said the reason he wanted to he a business major was because he thought it would give him skills he could take anywhere . " I 'm not learning to be a Christian [justl in th e business field; I'm learning how to b e a Christian today," Pleasant said. Pleasant learned from watching his dad, an Allstate Insurance agent, how to build relationships with clients, and that everything we do is for the Lord no matter what the profession. Pleasant said h e always thought he could be a business major and a Bible majol' because he did not think we should avoid difficult situations, but instead let the Lord triumph. "People should see a diffe rence in our life and we can use that as a d oo r to talk about Christ," Pleasant said . Assistant professor of bible, Scott Adair, director of institution of church and family, Andrew Baker and professo r of management, George Oliver, were three professors Pleasant felt were the most influential to him in both the business and Bible departments. Adair said he thought bringing theological people into the market place was great. He also thought Pleasant stood to have a much gJ'eater impact in t he business world than any preacher. "Elij ah is sure ofwho he is," Adair said. " I do not see him falling to temptations of greed or dishonesty. " Baker sa id Pleasant remjnded him of th e importance of educating studen ts for e terni ty. " Pl easant is quite the leader that does what h e is suppose to do at the highest level," Baker said. "He is the real deal." Pleasant liked to work behind th e scenes. H e was an R.A. in Harbin dorm , not for th e money, but because it put him around people. "One of my past times is to study the Bible with people one on one," Pleasant said. "Not for recognition, but for the Lord. " Pl easant said he wanted to serve the Lord and be in position to help people come to Christ. Oliver said Pleasant was very consistent at a time when consistency was hard. " If we had more people like him in the business world we would not have Enron and World Communication issues," Oliver said. Pleasant said he did not know what the Lord h ad in store, but wherever the Lord led he would follow. Roberto McGowan Students listen intently and take notes in Dr. Monte Cox and Dr. Evertt Hufford's lecture entitled "Understanding Our Muslim Neighbors" on Sept. 29 during Harding's annual lectureship week. The theme of the lectureship was "Eternity in Our Hearts: Studies in Ecclesiastes." Noah Darnell 166 academics
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