“It was true unforced pure and organic worship said senior Andy Smith of One Love, which drew students from two sometimes-divided devotional groups, on Tuesday night.
The tradition of the fusion between Campus Ministry and Malibu Presbyterian’s Univeristy Ministries (UM) began five years ago as a means to bring a sense of unity to the multiple movements of faith at Pepperdine. Elkins Auditorium was a full house as students from all ministries gathered to praise Jesus in fellowship as one believing body.
The event is usually held yearly, but will now occur every semester.
Junior Tim Johnson agreed with Smith. There was a reverence tonight a sincerity in the worship that just struck me. It was just a feeling you know the Holy Spirit he said.
As believers we’re meant to be in community and in one body said Dave Pommer, the director and pastor of UM. It doesn’t matter what the ministry is called whether it’s UM or Collide we’re all after the same thing. We’re both seeking Christ.”
Campus Minister Thomas Fitzpatrick said the event benefited fellowship.
“It’s a great opportunity for Christians to meet other Christians and let them know that they are never really alone in their walk of faith here at Pepperdine he said.
The event was student-led, except for brief introductions by Fitzpatrick, Pommer and Campus Minister Linda Truschke. Praise teams from UM and Collide joined forces to lead worship. Students also assumed the roles of ministers and prayer leaders.
The only hand Thomas and I had in organizing this event was setting the date and establishing a planning community over the summer Pommer said. After the students decided what they wanted to do Jesus did the rest. He’s the one who put it together and that was really apparent tonight.”
The program focused on four areas of prayer that the students leaders felt were closely relevant to believers at Pepperdine. They included seasons of prayer for knowledge bearing fruits of the faith strength and thankfulness which were interspersed with times of praise.
Senior Daniel Polk began by introducing the gathering to what he called a centering prayer which he said is designed to make believers realize that prayer isn’t performance driven.
“We are one here because we’re pumped on an understanding of the truth of God he said.
Polk began the prayer with one or two lines thanking God for his grace and then asked the audience to finish the prayer.” Audience members called out brief prayers of thankfulness and praise.
“It made me realize that we aware all here for one purpose to find God and grow closer to Him Johnson said of the centering prayer.
Trudy Taylor, a senior, asked the audience to pray in small groups that the faith community would be fruitful and spread outside of the walls of Elkins.
Before leading the body in prayer for strength junior Anna Honig, a member of the UM prayer team, said, As a student body we’re tired. The things we value. . . are very different from what God values. God at the end of the day is so constant. The things we’re wrapped up in are not.”
Senior Jeff Carlson read from Psalm 117 and reminded the gathering that praise should never be conditional since God’s love is unconditional. He requested that students praise the Lord in joy and thankfulness despite negative circumstances.
Closing the night with worship the combined worship bands led songs that reflected the messages of the prayers. Elkins was overflowing with energy and the voices of praise could be heard from outside the building.
“What happened here tonight happens on Tuesday nights at UM and Wednesday nights at Collide but the Spirit here was spread. God’s love and the family to be found in that was very apparent tonight Pommer said.
Pommer attributes the presence of the Holy Spirit and the overall success of the event to fervent and constant prayer in the months leading up to it.
Although we can’t have events such as One Love as frequently as we would like to Pommer said, the perception that we are one body in Christ doesn’t change when we walk out of this room.”
Students were equally impressed by the night of unity and worship.
“There is an undercurrent of a revival of faith at Pepperdine. One Love truly exemplified the fact that there are pockets of people on campus who have a heart for the Lord and want to see an end to the lukewarm faith at this university said junior Brendan Fereday.
The event also left students and One Love staff excited for the future.
We need to take the risk to spread the Word of God Smith said. It’s a lot different than what we’ve seen in the past. I love that we’re finally praying I mean really praying for change to happen in this place.”