Mitchell Tolle
Dr. Carolyn Dirksen
Trip Lee
Dr. Mike Hayes
Phil Wickham
Lee University’s winter Convocation, a time of spiritual revival and community worship for students, faculty, and staff, will begin Sunday with a message from Lee University’s president, Dr. Paul Conn. Services will conclude Thursday morning with musician, singer, and songwriter Phil Wickham.
“Convocation is an important spiritual emphasis week carried out each semester to help us keep our focus on God at Lee University,” says Campus Pastor Dr. Jimmy Harper. “We are fortunate to have a wonderful variety of speakers each semester, but beyond that, the utmost importance of the week is what takes place in the hearts of those who attend. We want to give God time to do His work in our lives.”
Pastor Mitchell Tolle will speak on Monday evening. Mr. Tolle is the senior pastor, alongside his wife, at Man O’ War Church in Lexington, Kentucky. He and his wife spent many years using their gifts of both watercolor painting and words to share God’s Word across the nation. After 10 years, they set aside their careers to focus on their place within the church.
Dr. Carolyn Dirksen, Lee’s director of faculty development, will speak on Tuesday morning. Dr. Dirksen has worked at Lee University since 1968, where she has served as professor, department chair, and vice president for academic affairs. She received the Lee Excellence in Teaching Award in 1972 and the Excellence in Scholarship Award in 1992. Lee University’s new female dorm, Dirksen Row, was recently named for her and her husband, Dr. Murl Dirksen.
Lee University will welcome back the multi-talented rapper, author, and pastor, Trip Lee, for Tuesday evening’s service. He has released five albums and authored two books and aims to declare the goodness and glory of Jesus Christ through his writing, teaching, and performing. He has also started Built To Brag, an organization that seeks to engage a young, multicultural audience with biblical truths in powerful ways.
Lee's Dr. Mike Hayes will speak on Wednesday evening. Dr. Hayes, a Lee alum, currently serves as the vice president for student development and as an assistant professor of educational leadership. He sponsors the Student Leadership Council and oversees the on-campus Summer Honors program for high school juniors and seniors.
Convocation will conclude Thursday morning with Mr. Wickham. Originally from California, Mr. Wickham has been leading worship services since he was 12 years old. He has released nine albums and has led worship at places such as the Christian summer festival “Soul Survivor,” among others. He draws from influences such as Rufus Wainwright, Coldplay, and Keane to create a unique sound not typically found in worship music. Wickham will also host the student event U-Church that evening.
Weeknight convocation services begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Conn Center with overflow in the Dixon Center. Services will include live worship led by LeeU Worship.
Morning services begin at 10:40 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday and will also be held in the Conn Center with overflow in the Dixon Center.
The university encourages all students and welcomes guests to attend and participate in Convocation. For those unable to attend, livestream viewing will be available at https://livestream.com/leeu.
For more information, contact Campus Ministries at 614-8420.