UM Chapel Speaker William Smith Highlights Faith, Leadership and Service

MOBILE, Ala. – “Take heart. The world is full of fears, but Jesus has overcome them all.”

That’s the message shared in Chapel at the University of Mobile on Feb. 11 by guest speaker William Smith, senior fellow of the Conservative Partnership Institute.

Smith oversees CPI’s Magnus Fellowship and engages with CPI’s partners on Capitol Hill and in the executive branch. With over 20 years of experience on Capitol Hill, Smith has built a reputation for identifying and training the next generation of conservative staffers.

While at UM, Smith also met with students interested in gaining internships in D.C. His son, Will Smith, is a freshman at UM majoring in computer information systems and cybersecurity and serves as a UM Ambassador.

The Good Shepherd

Jeff Sessions, former U.S. senator from Alabama who later served as U.S. attorney general, and his wife, Mary, joined UM students, faculty, staff and Board of Trustee members for the weekly Chapel service in Ram Hall.

In an auditorium filled to capacity, Smith centered his message on Psalm 23 and Christ’s role as the Good Shepherd.

“The Christian life is not all calm streams and green pastures,” Smith said. “For every fear we have, God has a calming solution through His Word. The calming solution is found in Jesus.”

He urged students to find a local church community and build their life around that community.

“You’re not alone in your fears,” he said. “This is what your church family is for, to help bear your fears and struggles. Please do not bear them alone.”

He said life is full of unexpected tragedies and trials.

“The question is how we respond to them. We should respond with recognition of God’s sovereignty,” Smith said.

College Internships at Capitol Hill

Previously, Smith met with students interested in internship opportunities in government. He said the best way to get started in government service is by securing an internship while in college, and CPI can help make that happen.

CPI was created in 2017 by former U.S. Sen. Jim Demint to grow and support the conservative movement. It provides a home base and networking hub for conservative lawmakers and staff in Washington.

“We believe it’s cool to be conservative,” Smith said. For interns, “we can help you build your resume, build your social media profile, and build the right interview skills.”

Smith said his team is “the CPI headhunters. We go around the country looking for the next group of stars – people who want to change the world, people who want to shake it up.

For information about CPI and college internships, visit cpi.org.

About the University of Mobile

The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered university pursuing excellence “For Christ & His Kingdom.” With a vision to “Multiply Kingdom Leaders for the Glory of God and the Good of the World,” the university honors God by equipping students for their future professions in an environment where they are known.

The university was founded in 1961 and is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention. Located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama, on a campus of over 880 acres, UM offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Learn more at umobile.edu/um-info and connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.

Kathy Dean

Kathy Dean uses her passion for storytelling and “playing with words” to share the stories of people, place and purpose that make the University of Mobile unique. As associate vice president for university communications, she manages media relations, edits the TorchLight alumni magazine, and oversees university communications. A former award-winning journalist, she is a two-time recipient of the Baptist Communicators Association grand prize for feature writing. Kathy and her husband, Chuck, live with three extremely loud miniature schnauzers.