Christian Focus Week Set to Challenge Students to a “Bold Approach”

By: Emma Seay

Hebrews 4:14-16 said “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Christian Focus Week starts on February 7, ends on February 12 and is one of the longest-standing traditions that Ouachita has to offer. This week is dedicated for students and faculty to learn more about their relationship with Christ through worship services, breakout sessions, sermons and concerts. This year’s theme, “Bold Approach,” is specifically inspired by Hebrews 4:14-16.

In comparison to previous years, “one thing that is different this year is the idea of revolving the week around only one passage of scripture which specifically talks about confidence,” said Emily Harris, a senior campus ministries leader.

During this week, some morning classes are cancelled in exchange that students attend different worship services and sermons throughout the week.

Christian Focus Week has welcomed many well-known and theologically strong speakers and this year is no exception.

“The speakers this year are Joey Dodson, Rachel Pool, John McCallum, Bryan McKinney, Courtney Reissig, Terese Cox, Doug Nykolaishen, Jason Curry and Cole Penick,” said James Taylor, director of campus ministries.

Leading worship this week will be Grant Harrison. This week will also include a night of worship led by contemporary-Christian music artist Audrey Assad hosted in Jones Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m.

The week will begin Sunday evening, as Pancakes and Prayer will be hosted in the Evans Student Center

Students will be dismissed from their 9 a.m. classes on Monday for worship, as Joey Dodson will speak. On Tuesday, John McCallum will speak at the worship service beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday worship will feature speaker Terese Cox, and during Thursday’s service, Jason Curry will speak. Both Wednesday and Thursday’s worship times are at 10 a.m. On Friday, BCM Arkansas Leader, Cole Penick will deliver the word at worship beginning at 11 a.m.

In addition to speaking at worship on Friday morning, Penick will deliver the word at Refuge Thursday night, which will be held in JPAC at 9 p.m.

Along with the daily worship services and Refuge, A Women’s Dessert and Tea, hosted by Courtney Reissig, author of The Accidental Feminist, will be held in Walker Conference Center at 6 p.m on Tuesday. Bryan McKinney, dean of the Hickingbotham School of Business, will speak at the annual Men’s Dinner at 5:30 p.m. in the Tiger Den on Tuesday evening.

Even though each year Christian Focus Week has typically had the same structure, “another small change will be that we will have two breakout sessions; one is led by Doug Nykolaishen entitled ‘Can Christians Lose Their Salvation?’, and one is led by Ouachita alumni which is entitled ‘Approaching Life After OBU: Alumni Share About Their Faith After College,’” Taylor said.

Christian Focus Week has long been a Ouachita tradition. Each year campus ministries has supported this week-long event; the entire campus comes together as a whole to worship God and to grow closer to him through growing closer to each other.

“Each year, students realize during Christian Focus Week the different ways to connect faith to their everyday lives,” Taylor said.

Christian Focus Week “Bold Approach” t-shirts are on sale now, $10 for short-sleeved and $15 for long-sleeved.

For more information on Christian Focus Week or how to volunteer, contact the Campus Ministries Office at 870-245-5536 or follow Campus Ministries on Twitter @obucm.