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NewsMay 21, 1995

When the Rev. Cecil Barham searched for the right message to deliver to Cape Central High School seniors at tonight's baccalaureate ceremony, he asked, on his knees, for spiritual guidance. "I was praying to find what I should speak about and it came to me," Barham said. "I decided I should speak about the pursuit of happiness. For today's youth, it's not something so easily attained. For some, it's not usually recognized until it has passed them by."...

When the Rev. Cecil Barham searched for the right message to deliver to Cape Central High School seniors at tonight's baccalaureate ceremony, he asked, on his knees, for spiritual guidance.

"I was praying to find what I should speak about and it came to me," Barham said. "I decided I should speak about the pursuit of happiness. For today's youth, it's not something so easily attained. For some, it's not usually recognized until it has passed them by."

Delivering the speech will take on added importance for the Rev. Barham, pastor of Bethel Assembly of God Church in Cape Girardeau.

"My son Aaron is one of the seniors who will graduate," he said. "It will be a real pleasure being able to do this."

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The baccalaureate will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Cape Girardeau. The event is sponsored by the Cape Ministerial Alliance.

Barham said that he hopes to weave into tonight's message personal insight from his own experiences rearing his son and working with youths at his church.

"This is a very critical time in their lives," Barham said. "It's a frightening time, because you're leaving a comfort zone and moving on to responsibilities you've never had before."

Although the baccalaureate no longer is sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Public School District, Barham said the ceremony remains a rite of passage directly linked to graduation.

"It doesn't really matter who is connected to the baccalaureate as long as the message helps these students find spiritual strength and guidance at one of the most important times of their lives," he said.

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