The University News

Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Ariel Green Jesus Butler plays guitar while others sing.

Eight Christian organizations gathered last Thursday in Pierson Auditorium with two purposes: to unite and glorify God together.

Campus Crusade for Christ, Gospel Choir Ministry, Focus, Gamma Alpha Lambda (GAL), Luke 4:18, University Bible Fellowship, The Next Level (TNL) and Impact Ministries all sent representatives to the event who gave two to three minute explanations of their purpose. They also gave contact information and meeting locations and times.

The ASCEND project was spearheaded by freshman Nathan (Zeph) Johnson.

Johnson had a reason for getting the organizations together.

"There isn't a good dialogue between Christian organizations on campus," Johnson said.

He described the event as a mechanism to unite Christian organizations together through music. Johnson, a band leader, played rhythmic electric guitar. The band was diverse in terms of its members as it had two non-UMKC students of the nine members.

Other than organizing members of Christian organizations, the event had another purpose.

"People who've never stepped foot in a church can see a little bit of what that's like in a non-intrusive, comfortable setting," Johnson said.

Advertising was posted around campus to encourage non-Christian UMKC students to attend.

Johnson said the event was an informative and not a coercive effort. Another member of the band, junior Jesus Butler, said the event was supposed to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection.

After the band played a few songs, guest speaker Jim Lee was invited to the stage. Lee is a local youth pastor at Kansas City Baptist Temple.

"I encourage students. I minister to students. I desire to give my life to see them have a relationship with Christ," Lee said.

Out of the several hundred students that attended, some found the event to be successful.

"I think the different groups were unified tonight, and that was the overall goal of the whole thing," said Chadwick Rookstool, freshman.

Reasons for attending the event ranged from participation in one of the eight groups, advertisement in local churches and throughout the campus and curiosity by students who happened to be in the area.

Because the event was such a success, Johnson said he and the other band members fully intend on having the event next year. Its goal would be the same, to create dialogue amongst the Christian groups on campus, according to Johnson.

"We respect the individual autonomy of the different Christian organizations on campus," Johnson said. "We just want to try and establish communication between them."

agreen@unews.com

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