Walking into Koten Chapel on a Wednesday night, the feeling is surreal. A diverse group of students fills the pews, chatting amongst themselves in the minutes before worship begins. An opening prayer is said; a Bible verse is read.
The music commences, and everyone sings along. The words are so powerful they send chills down your spine. In a few moments, a speaker will address the crowd. Those words will resonate with each person, moving them in different ways.
Worship will later shift into group prayer, giving students a chance to reflect on the past week and pray with one another. The music will start up again, sounding even more powerful than before. After the closing prayer, everyone parts ways, feeling re-energized and ready to conquer the second half of the week. Uniting students through worship and lifting their spirits — this is Focus.
Students run the show in Focus. It is, however, overseen by Brian Rainville, director of ministry, who thinks that the student-run service definitely has its advantages.
“Student-led is key because it is a student group, and I think that sets the bar reasonably, meaning no one in there is going to have their master’s in theology, no one in there is a priest or a pastor,” said Rainville. “So the talk, the testimony, the speech — whatever you want to call it — each week is coming from a student who’s had great things happen in their walk with the Lord, confusing things, challenging things.”
Worship coordinator Tatiana Murphy, ’18, spoke at Focus week one of winter term, which was her third time speaking to the crowd.
“This year, I was on the Focus board and each of us has to speak at one of the terms. Since we were doing Fruits of the Spirit, I just chose one that I thought I would try best to speak on, and that was kindness,” said Murphy.
For some students, Focus is the much-needed break in the week to forget about the negativity in the world and within their own lives. By worshiping together, they have the chance to reflect on all that has happened as well as see things in a more positive light.
“In moments of worship, the division that we see across the world right now, and across our country especially, you forget about that, even if it’s for the 15 minutes of worship at the beginning, 15 at the end. Just praising God helps us to put our focus on Him and also to reset ourselves and hopefully take inventory of what’s really important,” said Rainville.
Through worship and group prayer, Focus aims to unify students of all Christian faiths.
“I just love how Focus allows space for Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist, you know, nondenominational. It covers the whole ground,” said Terra Johnson, ’18, president of Focus. “It focuses on what we have in common and just praising God.”
