October 30, 2000
Spiritual renewal among
Wayland students 'like sunshine'
___By Teresa Young
___Wayland University
___PLAINVIEW--Students and staff at Wayland Baptist University believe the campus has been experiencing a major spiritual movement since the fall semester began.
___"It's like sunshine, lots of joy and excitement," said sophomore Emily Hogue. "People are really hungry this year for something different. They're hungry to know who God really is rather than what they've been taught before."
___Junior Jantzen Louder, who helps lead the Baptist Student Ministry's prayer focus, agreed.
___People are coming to dorm Bible studies "just to share," he said. "They want someone to hold them accountable. They're seeking a friendship and a relationship with someone who's seeking God."
___The change in spiritual climate is drastic from last year, said BSM Director Tommy Foster.
___"I think it really started right when students got back on campus," he said. "There seemed to be an openness. Conversations about God came easily, and students were making decisions for Christ in dorm rooms, offices and all over campus."
___The first visible sign of this came at Wayland's See You at the Pole observance in mid-September. About half the university's dorm residents participated. Later that morning, during the school chapel services featuring speaker Jason Craft, 12 students made public decisions, including six professions of faith in Christ.
___That evening, more than 500 teenagers from the region attended a See You at the Pole rally in Wayland's Harral Auditorium. Thirty-two more decisions were recorded.
___Fall revival services on campus with Matt Chandler and Jeff Berry of Abilene continued the trend.
___"The most we've run the last four years was 150, tops," Foster said. "But the first night, we had more than 300, with 18 decisions made. There were 15 more decisions Tuesday night and more made all over campus."
___The final night of fall revival brought a packed house--more than 500 people in attendance and more commitments to Christ made public.
___Even beyond the professions of faith, the decisions made by students are highly significant, Foster said. "They are about a personal relationship with God. They're making decisions about spiritual strongholds, habitual sins, dating relationships--they're deep, life-altering decisions."
___Foster compared the climate on Wayland's campus to a recent visit to an area apple orchard. Though he saw row upon row of apple trees, he was told only those bearing a ribbon on the trunk were ready to be picked. He wondered how orchard workers could know this because to him all the apples looked the same. So he attempted to pick an apple from a non-marked tree and found getting the apple off required much pulling and twisting.
___"On the other trees, though, the fruit came off just by shaking a branch," he recalled. "I think the Lord was trying to tell me that he's shaking the trees. We just have to be prepared with our baskets to catch the harvest."
___Many Bible studies are springing up campuswide by student initiative, and groups of students gather regularly for prayer, Foster said. Weekly chapel services have taken on a different feel as well, he said, noting a more reverent, worshipful atmosphere.
___"It's not because we offered a program," Foster acknowledged. "They're just finding that they need God. I don't think you can credit (the spiritual awakening) to any one thing. The Lord has just decided to move right now."
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