Passion for Christ | MBU’s Student Body Focus
It was exciting to kick off the 2021-2022 school year withѲԲٳ’sfirst Student Body Chapel.JaminBeachell,the Student body President, andAbby Banksand Thomas Holloway, the Student Body Vice Presidents,began chapel on September 24 with enthusiasm as they explained the focus of our student body this year: Passionfor Christ. Passion for Christ should be at the forefront of every student’s mind,and the Student Body Council (SBC) has worked hard to cultivate chapels centered on this mission.
To generate some excitement at the start of chapel, the SBC answered some unique and funquestionsthey had asked on Instagram that the student body wanted to be answered. From finding out the SBC’s pet peeves to debatingwhether waffles or pancakes are better, the student body got an inside look atwho theirSBC reallyis.The SBC cares deeply for the student body,and the theme they chose to focus on this school year will benefitthemselves andthe student bodyby making Christ a part of every aspect of their lives.
After the ice breaker game, the student bodyheardJaminaddress the theme, Passion, more in-depth. The SBC’s desire and goal for the student bodyisto have a passion for their walk with Christ, each other, and ԭ,including faculty and staff.Part of having a passion for Christ is reaching out to others.Be a friendtothe friendless and share yourpassion for Christ with others.Then, the student bodyhad the immense privilege to hear a new piece written and composed by one of their fellow students,freshman JosephGreene.The SBC presentedJoseph Greene withthe challenge to write a song that correlated to the theme this year, and he accomplished this goal. The impact “Jesus Calls Us” had on Joseph, in turn,impacted the student body and is an excellent reminder ofWhomto turn toin trials and joys. “Many things are calling our name,” Joseph explained, “but Christ is telling us, ‘Have a passion forMe above all else.’”
After singing through the theme song, the student bodyheardthe SBC give testimonies of how the Lord is working in their lives. Abby Banks served the Lord as a camp counselor at the Wilds over the summer andwas encouraged to reallyknowGod and not just experience Him. Thisuniqueinsight and lesson shelearnedwill impact how she interacts with the student body throughout the semester in seeking to help them grow in their passion for Christ.Abby shared astatement she learned about a Christian’s efforts to grow in Christ:“Our tablespoon of effort is met by a dump truck of grace from Christ. This is the Christian’s life.”No matter how much discouragement the world givesin response to our efforts for Christ, God goes above and beyond ourexpectations and showers us withHisgrace.
Next, the student body heard from Thomas Holloway,who ministered with the Heritage Singers this past summer, working to spread the love of God and minister to the hearts of those they sang to.Thomas shared how God used the summer to grow him in many areas. One of the areas was public speaking. “The Lord used mynervousness and weakness and turned it into His strength. God works in hearts even when I am exhausted because we have no strength without Him.” Thomas reflected, “Singing about the nature of God and His person everyday is a constant reminder that this is not about me. I am just a vessel used to point people towards God. The scary opportunities that have been placed in front of me almost always turn out to teach me the most valuable lessons.”
To finish off testimony time,Jamin, the student body president, shared with the student body his time serving at the Wilds. He expressed his joy in seeing God work in the children’slives. He was constantly impacted by God’s word and learned how toseek to know God better. “It was an incredible opportunity to minister and show God’s love tocampersweek after week and to see God work in their lives,” Jamin stated. “God taught me so much throughout this past summer and many of the thingsHe taught me I look forward to sharing with the student body as we all grow in our passion for Christ!”
To close, KyleElledge, a Pastoral Studies major at ԭ,gave a spiritual challenge tothe student body.In respect to the theme this year, Kyle states, “A passion for God must be a desire of yourownheart based upon what God has done for you.”Kyle startedhis devotional by having everyone stand up. He askedthe people who had been saved before the age of nine to remain standing and haveeveryone else sit down. Then he asked those remaining standing to sit down if they had ever doubted their salvation. The point behind this exercise was to show the student body how they were not alone in their struggles. Kyle challenged the student body to grow as Christians butnottorely on others to grow spiritually. “Having a passion for God fuels our spiritual growth,” he stated. “God has given us everything we need to live a godly life.” The Bible is a daily source of encouragement in spiritual growth and growing in passion for Christ.One of the mostcriticalactions a Christian can take is to apply these godly principles to their lives. “Applythis passion by taking ownership of your relationship with God,” Kyle challenged his fellow students. “Realize that nothing is more important in this life than your relationship with Him.”
As the student body continues to thrive this semester, they have been given a great challenge tocultivatea passion for Christand make ittheir central focus.