MOBILE, Ala. – A single hand reaches out and rests on the smooth granite surface of The Great Commission Globe. Then another. And another. One by one, students place their hands on the globe — not just in tradition, but in commitment. In calling.
Each August, this moment unfolds at President’s Commissioning on the University of Mobile’s Great Commission Lawn. New students gather, place their hands on the globe and dedicate their college years to Christ’s calling.
Four years later, at commencement in May, those same students return as new graduates to touch the globe again – ready to take their next step into the world as Kingdom leaders.
The Great Commission Tradition
This two-part ceremony is The Great Commission Tradition, one of the University of Mobile’s most cherished traditions. Established in 2017, it embodies the Christian university’s mission since its founding in 1961: to multiply Kingdom leaders for the glory of God and the good of the world.
University of Mobile President Charles Smith describes it as a full-circle moment.
“We are sending University of Mobile graduates out into the world to live out their calling, for Christ and His Kingdom,” Smith said. “The Great Commission Tradition is a visual representation of that mission.”
(Click here to watch a video about The Great Commission Tradition.)
President’s Commissioning
For incoming students, the first touch at President’s Commissioning represents the beginning of a journey — a commitment to seek knowledge, deepen faith and grow in their calling. The ceremony is a moment of reflection and anticipation, a reminder that their time at UM is not just about earning a degree but about preparing to make an impact for Christ.
“I remember what it was like when I touched the globe for the first time at the beginning of my freshman year,” said recent graduate Molly Grace Watkins. “I was full of uncertainty as far as what the next four years would hold for me, but I knew that the Lord would direct my steps and bless this next season of my life.”
Over the next four years, students experience academic growth, spiritual formation and deep community. They serve on mission trips, lead worship, disciple others and prepare for careers where faith and vocation intertwine.
Equipped to Go
Then, at graduation, they return. One by one, they step forward once more, hands pressed to the globe — this time, as equipped and empowered leaders. The second touch signifies readiness, a sending out to fulfill Christ’s Great Commission command to go into the world, share the Gospel, and make disciples of all nations.
For many, the act of touching the globe as graduates is emotional. It marks the end of a transformative chapter and the beginning of a new one. But the mission remains the same: to go into the world and make a difference for Christ and His Kingdom.
“From the time I touched the globe for the first time up until the last time, I was constantly reminded that every opportunity and experience I was able to be a part of would further my future and my impact for the Kingdom,” said Watkins.
“The last time I touched the globe at graduation was truly an emotional experience. The culmination of the last four years all came to a close, and I was about to head out into the world. The Great Commission Tradition was the perfect bookends to my college life – the best beginning and impactful ending to my UM experience.”
Living the Mission
As hands meet the surface of the globe year after year, the tradition continues — each touch a testimony to the university’s unwavering commitment to Christ’s command to go and make disciples of all nations.
And with each graduating class, the University of Mobile sends out another generation of leaders, ready to change the world for the glory of God and the good of the world.
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered university pursuing excellence “For Christ and 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 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.