By Emily Howard, Staff Writer
One of Ouachita’s long-standing traditions of teaching the gospel through different methods, avenues and hobbies tailored for various interest groups, is being continued again this year in the week of Feb. 3- Feb. 7, widely known as Christian Focus Week (CFW). The goal of this week is to provide students an opportunity to deepen and strengthen their relationship with Jesus Christ.
“Throughout the week, students will have the opportunity to attend events such as a Worship Night, main sessions with great speakers, breakout sessions, an Art and Worship Night, a hike and more,” Avery Lewis, CFW team member said. “Some morning classes are cancelled with the intention of allowing students to take advantage of these events. While the events vary each day, most days start with a main session, then there’s a breakout session in the afternoon, followed by dinner and another varying activity.”
Each CFW has a unique theme to describe what messages the week will be centered around. The theme for 2025 is “Simple and Deep: A Paradox of the Gospel.” The messages and events provided at CFW will focus on providing students with a clear understanding of the overwhelmingly simple truths of the Bible combined with the deep and rich impact those truths have on our lives as Christians.
“CFW is a week set aside each spring semester for all of campus to be inspired and challenged in their faith and grow closer in their relationship with Jesus,” Bailey Buettner, assistant director of campus ministries, said. “We have events each day such as worship through music and teaching of the Word, breakout sessions, hiking and art that we hope create the space for people to experience Christ’s love and learn more about him.”
Along with the unique themes, CFW offers a variety of fun events, activities and fellowship opportunities for all different interests. There was a main session each morning, but at different times each day. On Monday, the main session started at 9AM. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10AM, and 11AM on Friday.
“One of the unique aspects of CFW is the diverse types of events and sessions that occur during the week,” Matthew Cheatham, CFW team leader, said. “No day has the exact same structure. Between main sessions, breakout sessions, dinner testimonies, worship nights and other unique events, students will have numerous opportunities to be challenged to grow in their faith.”
There are several major speakers, including Andrew Peterson, Scott Duvall, Anna Rosenthal, Jamar Andrews and many other alumni and current faculty and staff that each offer unique and fresh perspectives that could contribute to participants’ growth in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
“One of my favorite things about CFW is the variety of speakers that come in, each with their own lives and backgrounds,” Buettner said. “While they are sharing the same overall theme, you get to learn from someone’s unique life experience with the Gospel. I think there is so much value in hearing stories and making connections between sisters and brothers in Christ.”
OBU offers many different events similar to this, but none quite like CFW. It is unique in many ways and offers something tailored around individual worship styles and interests,with the goal of community with your peers and with the Lord.
“Personal faith should be one of the biggest focuses in a Christian’s life,” Lewis said. “While OBU normally offers Refuge and a few other similar opportunities, it is rare for an entire week to be set aside with the sole purpose of giving students the time they need to reconnect with the Lord. Take this opportunity while you can and allow the Lord to speak through this week. You won’t regret it.”
The origin is slightly unknown, but Campus Ministries, formerly known as BSU and eventually BCM, dates back to the 1930’s. There are references to Religious Focus week, later called Religious Emphasis Week, but it has been known as Christian Focus Week dating to yearbooks in the 1940’s. Regardless, the week has been loved by OBU students for generations.
“Some simply love CFW primarily for the fun and unique environment that comes with events like art & worship, the RecLife hike and the International Worship followed by smores outside,” Cheatham said.
CFW focuses on giving students the opportunity to give God the space to move within their lives and to connect with Him.
“Some really value the diverse backgrounds and professions of the speakers, whether external or internal, from Ouachita. The goal for the week is not to attend every single event, though that is admirable, but to attend what they can and be fully present and prepared for God to move. This week can very easily exist as nothing more than a fun time on campus, but it is important to take a reverent position that we serve an active God who wants to work not only in us, but through us,” Cheatham said.
For decades, CFW has been a core event at OBU, and it can only be continued with the hard work of our CFW team leaders, team members and the faculty involved, along with the action of the Holy Spirit.
“In a sense, it’s lots of opportunities to focus on our relationship with the Lord, maybe in a fresh way,”Dustin Wagley, director of campus ministries, said. “So it’s a week to set aside specific times to focus on our relationship with the Lord in connection with each other.”
