2025 Cornerstone Lecture Series: Roach, Caturan & Sadler Lead the Charge

Every fall, the Hardin-Simmons University community gathers for the Cornerstone Lecture Series. Designed to reconnect the campus community with the founding Christian mission of HSU, Cornerstone has become more than a lecture — it’s a spiritual anchor that challenges students, faculty, and staff to align their lives with Christ’s calling. 

The 2025 series unfolded over three days in Behrens Chapel Auditorium and online, drawing students into a journey from the foundation of faith to discerning personal calling, to the courage of long-term witness.  

Guiding that journey were three distinct voices: John Roach, Phil Caturan, and Samuel Sadler. Together, they delivered a sequence of messages that were as diverse as they were unified, blending intellect, passion, and vision into a compelling call to discipleship. 

Day One: John Roach — A Faith That Holds   

John Roach opened the series by reminding students that authentic faith is not built on abstractions but on lived reality. He spoke candidly about doubt — urging listeners not to fear their questions but to see them as opportunities for deeper trust. 

“Faith isn’t about pretending certainty,” Roach emphasized. “It’s about learning to lean into God when certainty is absent.” 

His message wove together the head and the heart, stressing that the Christian life demands both thoughtful conviction and daily consistency. For students navigating college pressures and big life decisions, Roach’s words served as both reassurance and a challenge: to let their faith bear real weight in the ordinary.

Day Two: Phil Caturan — Ambition Reframed 

On the second day, Phil Caturan built on that foundation by shifting attention to calling and ambition. With engaging stories and candid exhortation, he drew a contrast between ambition for the self and ambition for the Kingdom. 

“God hasn’t called you to settle for comfort,” he declared. “He’s called you to significance. And that significance comes when your gifts and your faith intersect with the needs of the world.” 

Caturan pressed students to discern their unique gifts, take risks, and embrace sacrifice in pursuit of a life that matters. His message sparked energy and reflection in the room, inspiring many to see their futures not as personal projects but as opportunities to live out God’s mission. 

Day Three: Samuel Sadler — Faithful for the Long Road 

The series concluded with Samuel Sadler, whose focus was on perseverance and witness. In a culture that often prizes popularity and quick wins, Sadler offered a refreshing counter-vision: endurance. 

He reminded students that much of Christian influence happens not in grand gestures but in steady, relational faithfulness—living with integrity in friendships, classrooms, and careers. “The world doesn’t just need your moments of brilliance,” he said. “It needs your daily consistency.” 

Sadler’s lecture left the audience with hope and courage: a reminder that even amid cultural shifts, the calling of Christ remains, and so does the promise of God’s faithfulness. 

Lasting Impact for HSU 

For students, the 2025 Cornerstone Lectures were more than inspirational moments — they were a call to action. Over lunches, in residence halls, and even on social media, conversations continued long after the final amen. Faculty and staff noted how the series once again set the spiritual tone for the semester, uniting the campus around shared values and renewed vision. 

By livestreaming each session, HSU also extended the reach of Cornerstone, ensuring that alumni, families, and friends could share in the experience. The ripple effect, much like the message itself, promises to last well beyond those three days.