Hopkins encourages CU community to build lives reflecting Christ at opening chapel

by Gerard Flanagan, lead writer and communications specialist, Office of Marketing and Communications

Campbellsville, KY (09/08/2025) — The word "legacy" brings up different images to different people.

Perhaps building a legacy means starting a family, becoming a social media influencer or acquiring some degree of power.

Or, as Campbellsville University's President Dr. Joseph Hopkins suggested, perhaps building a legacy means something different.

"But, when Jesus preached about building the church and being a positive influence on our communities, his principles often seem the opposite of how we think about building a legacy and what the world is teaching," Hopkins shared at CU's opening chapel for the new academic year. "Jesus offers a strategy for living the good life, the blessed life. Money, power, and influence are replaced with humility, vulnerability, and service."

Speaking to CU students and employees gathered in Ransdell Chapel, Hopkins shared about the strategy Jesus offers for living the good life, focusing on the Beatitudes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, found on Matthew 5:1-12.

"Just picture this," Hopkins said. "Jesus has begun his public ministry. Crowds are following him. People who are sick, they're hurting, they're confused, and they're searching. They've seen him heal. They've heard him teach. Now they come to listen again."

Hopkins added, "But the shocking thing, He wasn't describing the rich and the powerful or the ones who had it all together. He spoke of the ordinary, the broken, the humble people like us."

Throughout the Beatitudes, Jesus offers statements "that describe the kind of people that God smiles upon," according to Hopkins.

"I want to be one of those people," he shared.

Focusing on Matthew 5:3, where Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," Hopkins shared about his first time singing for John Van Cura, a noted vocal studies professor who taught at Baylor University for nearly 20 years.

"I had the opportunity to study with him," Hopkins noted. "In this moment, I was going to show him what I had learned and all that I had accomplishedI was proud of that piece, and I sang it perfectly, flawlessly. Dr. Van Cura just started to make his way up, stood next to me, and I could already tell what that man was going to say. I will never forget the words of encouragement that came out of his mouth."

His words?

"He said, 'Joseph, never, never make that sound in my studio again,'" Hopkins recalled. "It was a humbling moment. He said, eventually, you've got skills, but if you come in thinking you already know it all, and I did, you won't grow."

Hopkins realized Dr. Van Cura's advice showed him he had much work and growth to do.

"I quickly realized that I was in the way of my own progress, and it was time to submit to the rich understanding of a great master of singing," Hopkins told the CU community.

Within 18 months, Hopkins had embarked on a full-time career as a professional opera singer, thanks to a new vocal technique courtesy of Dr. Van Cura.

Hopkins shared, "I think maybe that's what Jesus meant when he said in the Sermon on the Mount, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit.' It's the people who admit, I don't have it all together. I need help. I need God. It's dependence on the Great Master, and Jesus says that's where the real blessing starts."

Hopkins shared the story of Jonnecia Bradford, who earned her Master of Social Work from Campbellsville University. In a post she made to social media, she shared about challenges she overcame during her adolescence and knowing she had found her purpose when she took her first social work class at CU.

In her post, Hopkins shared Bradford wrote these words: "This journey has been nothing but God and the people he placed in my life to help keep me going when it got hard. I still can't believe I'm here. I can't believe I'm finally done."

"Janisha, you've achieved all these great things," Hopkins noted, "and you are at this pinnacle, and yet you're giving credit to others, and you're giving glory to God. Humbling yourself in the moment when most of us, well, I probably would be boasting."

Hopkins next focused on Matthew 5:4: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." In February of this year, some members of the CU volleyball team had a flat tire and asked a lady for help. The team members learned the lady's husband had passed away the day before, and they returned the next morning with hugs and a flower arrangement.

"To our women's volleyball team, thank you for the lesson of compassion and for sharing God's love to a stranger at a very dark time," Hopkins said. "Thank you for who you are. Thank you for serving others in such an extraordinary way."

Hopkins then turned his focus to the next Beatitude, found in Matthew 5:5: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

"Here, I just want to challenge us, everyone in this room, to notice the people around us who serve with meekness and humility," Hopkins said, as he thanked CU employees who serve with humility and dedication.

"Show gratitude for those who serve and remember that these are the ones who inherit the earth. Maybe we could emulate that kind of meekness," Hopkins shared.

As Hopkins discussed the next Beatitudes from Matthew 5:6, which says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled," he told the story of Don Hawk, who at 85 chose to enroll in the barbering program at CU so he could attend alongside his grandson. Hawk served in the Vietnam War as a medic (one of his patients was Elvis Presley), was a respiratory therapist and drove trucks for a living. He's also performed music with the likes of Don Gibson, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson.

"He may be one of the most interesting individuals you'll ever meet, full of life, incredibly sharp and clearly a lifelong learner," Hopkins shared. "He is driven. This is what I want you to hear. He is driven by a desire to serve others."

Hopkins next focused on Matthew 5:7: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

A little more than a year ago, a group of CU students and employees went on a mission trip to Chapala, Mexico. The team was hosted by CU alum Cameron Talbot, founder of managing director of Oak Life, which prepares orphanage directors, caregivers and advocates to care for children who come from difficult situations. Hopkins shared Talbot discerned his calling in international ministry in the School of Theology here at CU.

Kelsey Overall, who graduated in May with a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Missions and Spanish, is currently serving at Oak Life.

"I just want you to know we're proud of you," Hopkins said. "If Cameron, Kelsey, or any of the folks from the Oak Life team are in Campbellsville, I would be honored to buy you a Chick-fil-A sandwich and to hear your story."

Hopkins next discussed Matthew 5:8: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." Hopkins told the story of BeLinda Creech, a graduate assistant for the CU swimming team, who he said, "has a heart for the success of others."

"She's invested the past few years of her life in student athletes on our women's and men's swim teams," Hopkins shared. "Belinda, I am so thankful for the difference you have made.

Matthew 5:9 reads, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Focusing on this Beatitude, Hopkins shared a story from CU's spring football game, when CU players, students, parents and those in attendance rose for the national anthem. Next to CU's Finley Stadium is HIG Field, where CU was well on its way to a resounding win.

However, while the national anthem was playing prior to the spring football game, CU's baseball team, which was taking the field between innings, stopped to stand attention for the national anthem.

"The baseball team starts running on the field when the national anthem kicks off," Hopkins stated. "Now, this is not their national anthem. They already did their national anthem. This is the anthem up on the football field, but that baseball team changed their direction, and they formed a line facing the football field, and they stood at attention in front of that flag."

The respect those baseball players showed resonated deeply with Hopkins.

"I thought about all the families, faculties, and coaches that taught these student athletes to pause and show respect," he shared. "Imperfect as this country is, and it is imperfect, imperfect as we are, this is a country that grants freedom to pray before a game. What's going on in that moment? It's respect."

Christ's eighth Beatitude is found in Matthew 5:10, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

"Right now, there are alumni from this university serving all over the world, and many are in places of persecution," Hopkins shared. "They've gone to those places for vocation, or maybe as a missionary, even just with the distinct purpose of sharing Christ's love with someone else."

Hopkins also reminded the CU community of Jesus' words in Matthew 5:11-12, which conclude the Beatitudes: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Hopkins also reflected on Jesus' words immediately following the Beatitudes, where he reminds his listeners they are the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world."

"We serve in a community where those inverted ideas are practiced and lived out in vivid color," Hopkins shared. "Thank you to the examples I mentioned and thank you to the countless others I didn't. The lesson is for every one of us to hear Christ's challenge and build a Godly base as we serve one another."

"Campbellsville University, let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that offers over 100 programs including doctoral, master, bachelor, associate and certificate programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.

Media Attachments