This year’s Christian Focus Week has the theme “aionios,” a Greek word meaning “eternal,” or “everlasting.”
The CFW student ministry leaders this year are Trinka Newman, Austin Walker and Audreyanna Harrell.
The team has been preparing for the week since they were appointed last year.
“Last August we had a ministry leaders retreat to really get down to why we are doing this,” Newman said. “That was when we had to be thinking about it, even though it was really early. And by the end of October we were trying to plan everything out like the theme and verse for the week.”
The leaders were eager to begin early.
“I can remember this past summer talking to Trinka about Christian Focus Week and thinking about how early we were preparing,” Harrell said, “And how I knew that would be important in the end.”
Preparation for Christian Focus Week involves many people on campus, not just those affiliated with Campus Ministries.
“I feel like this will be a really good year,” Walker said. “Just because of how many people have shown interest about being involved. It gives us high expectations for it.”
Volunteer help plays a large part in the week and how smoothly it runs.
“The volunteers are what makes it all come together,” Harrell said. “There is no way that the three of us could do all that goes on.”
Campus ministries has been happy to accept an especially large number of volunteers this year.
“The response for volunteer help has been huge and really encouraging,” Newman said.
Having spent much time and energy on the project, the three leaders are anticipating the effect of the week on Ouachita’s campus.
“I’m very excited to see the fruits of our labor come to be,” Harrell said. “Not only because of the work that we’ve done but because of how it’s going to affect the students who just walk in the first day and don’t even realize what’s gone into it and that it will still have an impact on them.”
The ultimate goal of the week was described as making the statement that our campus is centered on Christ.
“I just really want all of our hearts to be seen through it all,” Newman said. “Every aspect has been bathed in prayer and this is one week when we can gather together as a campus and just officially declare it: we focus around Christ.”
The week will begin Monday, Feb. 9, with a prayer breakfast in the Alumni Room hosted by Dr. Rex Horne, president. At 11 a.m. there will be morning worship with Wes Hamilton in Jones Performing Arts Center. A seminar will be offered at 3 p.m. in the ESC Banquet Room titled “Art and Worship.” An Athletic Challenge will be held in the Tiger Den at 6:30 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. “Covenant: Psalms and Meditations” will be held in JPAC. A free Coffeehouse will be held in the Commons at 9 p.m. featuring The Running Back, Sky Howard, Jarrett Davis and Klayton Seyler.
Tuesday will begin with morning worship at 10 a.m., followed by a “Q & A” session with Wes Hamilton in the Alumni Room. At 3:30 p.m. in Young Auditorium there will be a seminar titled “Being a Part of God’s Mission” in Young Auditorium. The Leeland and Shawn McDonald concert, hosted by Campus Activities Board, will be that night at 7.
The second prayer breakfast will be with Beau Landers Wednesday at 8 a.m. in the Alumni Room. Then another morning worship will be held at 10 a.m. in JPAC. The third seminar with Nathan and Avery Shelburne, “Life After College,” will be at 3 p.m. in Berry Chapel. At 9 p.m. there will be an evening worship with Odus Compton in JPAC.
Thursday, morning worship will be with Compton at 10 a.m. in JPAC followed by a “Q & A” with Odus in the Alumni Room. The final seminar, “A Christian Perspective on America’s Economy” will be held at 3:30 p.m. in Berry Chapel with Dr. Scott Horton. Evening worship will be at 9 p.m. in JPAC with Compton.
Friday morning there will be a prayer breakfast with the Campus Ministries Prayer Team in the Alumni Room. A final worship service with Compton will be at 9 p.m. in JPAC.
Noonday will be, as usual, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Berry Chapel. Leaders hope that the goal of the week will not end on Friday.
“We want people to walk away realizing this isn’t where it stops,” Walker said. “Life goes on past college and we should really have a Kingdom mindset.”
