Sitting in the chapel through one of my favorite campus events – 24 Hour Worship.  Why is it my favorite event?  It includes everyone!

This is an event that has possibly the most participation from campus wide students- 112 students playing and 36 different sets this year.  The number of students that come to worship is so hard to track since students come and go but well over 600 students come and go throughout the time.  My favorite part is that it is such a mix of music styles, accompaniments and participation that it showcases the unity in the body of Christ for worship.  Truly embodying making a joyful noise to the Lord.    As I watch sets change hands as the next set starts and students remaining in the spirit of keeping the worship continuous, it maintains the heart of the idea that was birthed 8 years ago.  It surprises me that there are more students in the chapel at 3AM than 3PM and this event continues to strengthen the worship community on campus.

There is never a moment that there is not a gathering of students in the chapel throughout the 24 hours with so many students filing in and filing out, supporting friends and strangers.  Students in sleeping bags and blankets in the balcony remaining in the chapel throughout the 24 hours, seeking the Lord, standing to worship, journaling, reading.  The presence of Christ is eminent and strong and shows the spiritual thirst of students on campus.

Your greatest ability is availability – this was spoken to me years ago as I dug into ministry.  Young adult ministry is a patient ministry.  And for me, being in the chapel throughout this event is living out availability.  Every year I have students come sit with me for prayer, to talk though things on their hearts, or share a burden.  Often throughout the semester I will have students approach me on campus with the line, “I saw you at 24 Hour Worship so know you do something here on campus”…. And then proceed to share with me their situation where they need help.  To me it’s being able to be available and lead students in their pursuit of Jesus.

Full Circle Moment – Eight years ago I helped kickstart this event and break through the red tape at GCC so that the chapel could be open through the night.  Amanda (seen in photo with camera) was a part of that original team and now she is employed at the college to document events like this.  What a fun moment it was as she met those serving in leadership and rejoiced that this event has survived past Covid, past leadership being passed down year after year, past frictions and challenges and red tape.  This is rare that a group starts on campus and survives through TWO generations of students graduating.  When Adam was a senior and thinking about what would happen on campus as he left, it was a challenge that I gave him that the strength of his leadership is found in being able to raise up the next generation and empower them to take over the event.  The same holds true in every ministry as it hits its high points and low points and often fades out on campus after five years.  Unfortunately I have seen so many of these events sunset.  

And so, as student plow through their semesters, this event has brought about a resurgence to the heart of worship.  A refocus on the semester.  And a dive into priorities.