Passion for Christ | MBU’s Student Body Focus
It was exciting to kick off the 2021-2022 school year with Maranatha’s first Student Body Chapel. Jamin Beachell, the Student body President, and Abby Banks and 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: Passion for 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 fun questions they had asked on Instagram that the student body wanted to be answered. From finding out the SBC’s pet peeves to debating whether waffles or pancakes are better, the student body got an inside look at who their SBC really is. The SBC cares deeply for the student body, and the theme they chose to focus on this school year will benefit themselves and the student body by making Christ a part of every aspect of their lives.
After the ice breaker game, the student body heard Jamin address the theme, Passion, more in-depth. The SBC’s desire and goal for the student body is to have a passion for their walk with Christ, each other, and Maranatha, including faculty and staff. Part of having a passion for Christ is reaching out to others. Be a friend to the friendless and share your passion for Christ with others. Then, the student body had the immense privilege to hear a new piece written and composed by one of their fellow students, freshman Joseph Greene. The SBC presented Joseph Greene with the 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 of Whom to turn to in trials and joys. “Many things are calling our name,” Joseph explained, “but Christ is telling us, ‘Have a passion for Me above all else.’”
After singing through the theme song, the student body heard the 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 and was encouraged to really know God and not just experience Him. This unique insight and lesson she learned will impact how she interacts with the student body throughout the semester in seeking to help them grow in their passion for Christ. Abby shared a statement 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 gives in response to our efforts for Christ, God goes above and beyond our expectations and showers us with His grace.
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 my nervousness 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 every day 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’s lives. He was constantly impacted by God’s word and learned how to seek to know God better. “It was an incredible opportunity to minister and show God’s love to campers week 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 things He taught me I look forward to sharing with the student body as we all grow in our passion for Christ!”
To close, Kyle Elledge, a Pastoral Studies major at Maranatha, gave a spiritual challenge to the student body. In respect to the theme this year, Kyle states, “A passion for God must be a desire of your own heart based upon what God has done for you.” Kyle started his devotional by having everyone stand up. He asked the people who had been saved before the age of nine to remain standing and have everyone 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 but not to rely 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 most critical actions a Christian can take is to apply these godly principles to their lives. “Apply this 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 to cultivate a passion for Christ and make it their central focus.