Uncertainty and chaos are everywhere we turn today.  When you look at the news it can feel both overwhelming and shocking and you are left to wonder if peace will ever reign. God, however, is never surprised with chaos.

When Paul wrote Colossians 3:15 to the church of Colossae, He wanted the church to discover peace through the Lordship of Christ, but they needed to first experience the inward transformation before they could know true peace.

What kind of peace? The peace of the gospel – the good news that Jesus saves and frees sinners. That’s who Jesus is and what He does. He brings calm, assurance, and reconciliation. He does that through service and through the ultimate sacrifice of His life.

Mark 10:45 says, “For even the Son of Man came not be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

You see, service that is rooted in sacrifice creates opportunity for reconciliation and peace, and service is the bridge for bringing that peace.  Both service unto the Lord and towards those around you, has no defined shape and can be seen and expressed in many different forms.  But one thing is certain, it should always be characterized by love, sacrifice, hope, and peace.

At LU Serve, we lead and train students to volunteer and speak His peace and reconciliation through service and outreach.  LU Serve is predominantly known for the CSER program, and rightly so as students serve over 500,000 hours each year through the CSER program to bless communities and organizations around the U.S. and the world.

Whether service on group trips, individual experiences around the U.S. and the World, or through the Serve Now program, LU Serve helps students seek to bring peace through loving our communities, in both word and deed.

One of the biggest ways that we do this locally each year is through this one-day effort called Serve Lynchburg. Serve Lynchburg is an annual event in which Liberty University students, faculty, staff, and Lynchburg residents join together with community partners to meet local community needs.

On April 23^rd, students will serve alongside 75 organizations in the Lynchburg community.  This is a day Liberty University gets to invest the greatest asset it possesses, the Liberty University students.

This will be the 5^th annual Serve Lynchburg with the inaugural year being 2017. Each time LU Serve leads out on this event, we get to link arms with many departments across Liberty University to maximize impact on the students that serve and the organizations we work alongside. This event cannot happen without Liberty as a whole coming together.

From 10:30 am to 2:30 pm on April 23^rd all around the greater Lynchburg area, you might find a Liberty student planting flowers at a local elementary school, stocking a warehouse for a humanitarian organization, singing to elderly people at a nursing home, mulching a playground, or playing with some youth.  No matter what you see being done, all of it is making an impact and serving the needs of the organizations.

Many of these organizations rely heavily on volunteers throughout the year to move the needle for their organization.  But on a day like Serve Lynchburg, this needle moves much farther along and they can feel the impact and influence!

To top it all off, Serve Lynchburg is partnering with Student Activities and our collaboration has created what we are calling “After Party”, which is the end of year equivalent to the Block Party event they put on at the start of the year.

We look forward to having the biggest party of the year and celebrating the work of Serve Lynchburg together!

 

Written by: Steven Gillum – Director of LU Serve

So, I am going to start with the bad news about ending another year at college. The upperclassmen know this, but some of you are about to find this out the hard way. The last year was pretty special. You put in hard work, had great friends, dozens of late nights, and it was good. The hall that you lived on is one you’ll never forget, and your classes will end up being your all-time favorites. But in a few weeks, you’ll go home for summer break and return in the fall. Now, everything will still be here when you get back, but it’ll be a little different. Chick-fil-A will still taste the same, but the familiar smile you’ve come to know, handing you an 8-piece chicken nugget meal on your weekly Tuesday Chick-fil-A lunch will be different. The sophomore you pass every Wednesday in between lab and your 3:00 class, who you don’t know, but over 4 months have built a silent agreement to awkwardly nod every time you pass each other, won’t be there. Even the people you sit next to while watching Sony’s much anticipated Morbius are going to change. So, I’ll say it again, the last year was pretty special.

We’re at that time of year where everyone is buckling down and putting in every last minute into studying for finals. Or maybe you’re more focused on lining up a last-minute internship for the summer. Preparing for adult life is daunting, so it’s easy to forget about your last few weeks on campus.

As someone who has been in your shoes before, I beg you to take these last few weeks seriously. Work hard, study has much as you can, but take a few hours, and let yourself enjoy the precious and special time you have left before summer. Do one more cookout run, host a late-night worship session on the lawn, or go see the film everyone is talking about, Morbius. A movie that critics are calling “somehow the worst movie I’ve ever seen, but not the worst Jared Leto movie I’ve ever seen”.

Or you could simply join us, we are hosting a massive end of the year event in the LaHaye Parking lot, on April 23^rd at 5pm. We’ll have carnival rides, food trucks, other departments, live music, ice skating, a DJ, and Gable Price & Friends. The event is called After Party, it is our way of saying thank you for another outstanding year. Student Activities has had such an amazing time reintroducing Coffeehouse, Block Party, Open Mic Nights, Chris Renzema, and more. But we are ending the year with After Party.

The event is going to take place in partnership with “Serve Lynchburg” and all who serve will receive free food at any of our food trucks. Also, seniors look for an email inviting you to come and pick up an exclusive After Party pullover (while supplies last).

This event would not be possible without the help of our premiere sponsors, Coca-Cola, Rookie’s, Domino’s, 90.9 The Light, and Your Event Source. They have come alongside to help us create an event worthy of the name After Party.

So come and let loose. Bring your hall, your friends, a professor or two… we don’t care. We know this last year has been a return to normalcy that was needed by everyone, so let’s end it right. Sure, you could spend Saturday night playing Elden Ring, or throwing back a bucket of popcorn while watching Jared Leto’s Morbius, a film Michael Keaton called “why am I in this?”… but don’t do that. Hang out with us instead. We’ll have cookie sandwiches and mechanical swings.

 

Written by: Cort Comfort – Director of Student Activities

Coffeehouse is such a special event for so many reasons, and I think it is so cool that Liberty does something like this for their students. I don’t know of any other schools that have something like Coffeehouse. It’s just a time for students to relax and enjoy musical acts, games, and fun videos all done by their peers! It’s something that I hope we as Liberty students do not take for granted. It’s a night where we can laugh, cry, sing, dance, and just have an all around good time. Attending Coffeehouse is a definite staple to attending Liberty University. 

My favorite memory at Coffeehouse was actually my first-time attending Coffeehouse, my first semester here. My friends and I were very late to the party and planned very last minute because my one friend had won a table and was able to invite five of her friends to join. So, we made it a very special night. I remember walking down to the floor getting to the table. All the snacks were there, all the people around us were really dressed up, and it was starting to be a fun time before the show had even begun. We got settled in and ready for the show and to see people I knew showing off their talent on the stage was so special! It was so fun to see the show go on and to think of all the hard work that was behind it. Now that I work for Student Activities, that makes it extra special because we do put lots of effort into the show and want it to be the best for students to have a good time. 

One thing I specifically remember was watching all the videos, those were my favorite part of Coffeehouse. They give students the ability not only to show off their videography skills or their acting skills, but most importantly (in my opinion) their comedy skills. A lot of people at Coffeehouse want to laugh and the videos are a way for them to laugh at some inside jokes that only Liberty students would understand. I think that’s one of the best things Coffeehouse offers, instead of having professionals come in and put the show on, we get to watch people we know or see around campus give us something to laugh at. Coffeehouse gives students the platform to show off their skills and that makes it an extra special event. This Coffeehouse my sister (who was a senior when I was a freshman) was in a video and I remember being so proud of her and thinking it was so cool to see her on the big screen in Vines! It was so special watching people laugh and enjoy something she was a part of creating. I was a proud little brother, definitely a night I won’t forget. 

Coffeehouse is so special for so many reasons and I will have those memories from that night for years to come. It’s so unique compared to other events because it’s done by the students for the students. Being a part of the Coffeehouse stage is a tradition like no other and I am so proud to be a part of it now that I am working for Student Activities. So, I highly recommend next time Coffeehouse rolls around grabbing your best friends and going to Coffeehouse not only supporting your peers, but also just enjoying the night! It’s something that you’ll remember and be grateful you attended!

 

Written by: Trey Voggenreiter

Trey is a junior majoring in theology desiring to go into vocational ministry. He has a heart for camp ministry and would like to work full time at a camp one day! Student Activities has given him the opportunity to work hands on in serving those around him and being able to be a light to those he interacts with at events.

While we’re on the subject of growing, let me tell you how being a part of Student Activities has helped shaped me into the person I am today.

Even though I have only been a part of SA for a semester and a half, the things I have learned through this job are things that I will most definitely take with me into the future. Especially as I enter the “adult world” after I walk across the stage in May as I graduate and receive my diploma.

A few specific lessons come to mind.

PUSHING ONESELF: To be a part of Student Activities is to push yourself in ways you might have never imagined. Something I have been continuously reminded of, and humbled by, is how I am never in my lifetime going to be a power lifter. I am also not, by any means, Picasso’s prodigy when it comes to artistic ability. However, Student Activities has given me numerous opportunities to strengthen those skills and abilities such as allowing me to paint the moon for The Great Beyond Coffeehouse and making every day an arm day when it comes to loading/unloading the trucks when setting up for an event. The importance of pushing oneself is especially needed in a job such as Student Activities because there are so many times where the hours are long, and one may start to feel weary or drained. However, having the mentality and motivation of getting the job done and getting it done well to serve the student body is something that should drive one to push past the tiredness one may be feeling in that moment. Even after a potential difficult shift, being able to confidently walk away knowing you have done your very best is such a good feeling.

SERVICE IS NOT LIMITED TO ONE POSITION: After being a Community Group Leader last semester and absolutely loving it, I had a hard debate with myself whether I wanted to remain a CGL or join Student Activities. I liked the idea of being a part of leadership and spiritual growth on campus again. I had 27 girls in my community group (yes, you read that correctly!!) and being able to pour into their lives was such a rewarding feeling. Not only was I helping build community and encouraging my girls to grow in their relationship with Christ, but I was also able to become more intimate with Him through ministry as well. However, I decided to take the chance and step into a brand-new position – working for Student Activities – and I have no regrets whatsoever. Being a part of this team has reminded me that serving is not limited to one position such as being a CGL, RS, or any leadership position at all for that matter. Giving away free coffee and interacting with the student body on a day-to-day basis is its own form of service. Wearing a smile and bringing the light of Christ into people’s lives even if it’s just through giving them an SA branded tumbler, tote bag, t-shirt, etc. it is an absolute honor and joy. Seeing their eyes light up in excitement is truly such a sweet and heart-warming feeling! As Christians, we are called to live our lives overflowing with mercy, love, and compassion. These are the marks of the Kingdom of Heaven, and this is what Student Activities aims to accomplish by serving the students at Liberty – reflecting Christ in every interaction. Every day, we have the opportunity to be vessels and share the Gospel wherever we go – no matter what position we are in.

And lastly…..

APPRECIATING AND UTILIZING STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES: I will rave about this till the day is done….Student Activities is made up of such incredibly talented individuals. Like I mentioned earlier, lifting and visual art are things I struggle with and definitely do no pride myself in. However, what Student Activities has instilled in me is how that is perfectly ok! I know this might be a shock for some of you, especially you type A people, but you actually do not have to be good at everything!! It is okay to fall back and let those who do have talent in those areas pop off in areas where you may not excel. Just make sure not to limit yourself either. The Lord has created us all so beautifully and uniquely. It is up to you to find out what those things are and utilize them for further advancement of the Kingdom. James 1:17!!!

So, as you see, Student Activities has taught me more than I would have ever anticipated, but the Lord has used this department to bless me in numerous ways that I am so grateful for.

Come check out our Job Fair on April 12^th from 1-3 p.m. on the third floor of Montview. Apply to join our team, and get ready to grow more than you could ever know!!

 

Written by: Hayley Lundberg

Hayley is a Senior majoring in Strategic Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. She enjoys working with her Student Activities family and is very grateful for the opportunity to be apart of such a creative team who truly cares about the students of Liberty. The blog in particular has been a great outlet for her to share with others!

Though it may not feel like it, it is Springtime here in Lynchburg. And there’s no better way to usher in the warm weather and new growth than with Chris Renzema’s song “Springtime”. Chris Renzema has been a campus favorite for a few years now and for good reason. His music combines various topics of walking with Christ and a unique blend of indie, soft rock, and folk styles. This musical combination allows Renzema to hit the heart of his listeners and not be lumped in with typical Christian pop artists.

This may be a lofty comparison, but when I talk to my friends about Chris Renzema, I like to compare him to J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. These men were masters at their craft. They wrote good literature flat out, and because of their faith in God, gospel themes are weaved throughout. It may be a Liberty cliché to say “if it’s Christian it ought to be better”, but I think it applies. When Christians are excellent in what they do and do it in the name of God, I think that is when we make a difference. Lots of Christian content gets a bad rep for being cheesy. I think that type of content has its place too, but what if we started making things that were so good the world couldn’t help but take notice, and in them we proclaim the name of Christ. To me, that’s what these authors did. And I feel like Renzema is on the same path with his music. He writes good music, takes care to master his craft, and does it all through the lens of his faith in God. In one interview, he asked the rhetorical question, “How does Christian music fit into what I love about music?” and answered by saying, “I love Jesus and I love music and that’s why I make what I make” (Carpenter, 2020).

Renzema’s lyrics are deeply personal at times, asking the buried questions of the raw human heart. At other times, his music explores theology and the person of God, like in his song “Son of God”. The Nashville-based artist actually made his official debut with that song. Since releasing “Son of God”, Renzema has put out a number of singles, extended plays, and albums. Most recently, he released “Get Out of the Way of Your Own Heart” and “HOPE OR NOSTALGIA LIVE”. While his music is still centered around God, his newest album explores our relationship with God in the midst of a messy life. Songs like “Hope or Nostalgia”, “No Room For An Anxious Heart”, “Only The Good Die Young”, and “Hard Drugs” feel different from some of the artist’s past work. These songs are truly honest, asking how sinful people who struggle in this fallen world can relate to and be in relationship with a holy God.

Listeners love his music for the stories he tells, care he puts into the writing of his music, and the messages weaved throughout his calm/indie style. One of my coworkers described Renzema’s music as “a morning cup of coffee”. I feel like this is such a good description, the sound is smooth like coffee and the lyrics are awakening and sobering. If you haven’t checked out this artist yet, I recommend you go on a drive and put his music on shuffle. Maybe you’ll find your new favorite artist!

Chris Renzema is currently sharing his music with the country on his tour with Antoine Bradford, who will also be joining us for the concert.  The two are playing over 26 shows all around the country, and they will be stopping here on Saturday, April 9 at 7:30 PM in the School of Music Concert Hall.

 

Written by: Courtney Stone

Courtney is a Business Administration: Digital Marketing and Advertising major. She enjoys writing for the blog as a way to explore relevant topics and grow in written communication.

It’s probably safe to say that Spider-Man is one of the most beloved characters of all time. In any universe, the awkward, sarcastic web-slinger steals the show – and our hearts – every time he appears. With Spider-Man: No Way Home being the highest-grossing Spider-Man film of all time, it’s only right that we take a dive into the world of Peter Parker. And hey, if you somehow still haven’t seen this cinematic masterpiece, maybe stop scrolling here.

Everyone’s friendly neighborhood hero has had quite the journey since first hitting the pages in 1962. Appearing for the first time in Amazing Fantasy #15, Spider-Man was the first teenage superhero that wasn’t a sidekick. His regular teenage struggles made young readers feel like he was one of them. The relatability of Peter Parker made his story an instant success. As lovable as the character is, it’s hard to believe some Marvel publishers expected him to fail. 

From that first comic issue to many other volumes and stories, through cartoons and a flopped Broadway musical, our favorite spidey boy made his way into Hollywood’s web. Sixty years later and there has been not one, not two, but three different launches of Peter Parker and his arachnid adventures. Tobey Maguire’s early 2000s portrayal has mixed reviews but none of them mediocre (love or hate, no in between). Andrew Garfield’s charming and gone-too-soon reboot got some hate from film critics, but love for his character always shines through. Tom Holland’s puppy-dog version introduced Spider-Man to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and seems to only ever receive high praise. Each set of films are great in their own ways, but what sets No Way Home apart while simultaneously bringing all Spider-Men together is one concept about which we know frighteningly little: the multiverse.

If you’re still reading this, I’m going to assume you know what the multiverse is without it being explained, which is good because quite frankly, I don’t have the space to cover it all. With mirror dimensions, astral projections, quantum realms, and who knows what else, it’s amazing that this movie made any sense at all. Thankfully, Peter Parker doesn’t really know what’s going on either. But it’s because of this multiverse that fans got to experience one of the coolest and best things in movie and Marvel history: Peter 1, Peter 2, and Peter 3.

No matter who your favorite Spider-Man is, you get to see him in this movie. It had been rumored but denied for months. Everyone was speculating and hoping, but no one ever really knows what a Marvel movie is going to deliver. Audience cheers got louder and louder each time a new (old) character came on screen, and the biggest celebration of all occurred when past Peters walked through those portals.

This movie was a true love letter to the fans, and it did not lack in deeper meaning either. An overarching theme of redemption is seen throughout the film. Tobey’s Peter returns Doc Oc to his true self, Andrew’s Peter catches MJ from falling to her death, MCU Peter makes the most selfless act to save the world, and Electro, Sandman, Green Goblin, and Dr. Connors all are restored back to regular human beings with the intent to do good with their second chances. Spider-Man: No Way Home at its core is a story about redemption.

The world may have forgotten Peter Parker, but Spider-Man lives on. To relive all the excitement, stress, heartbreak, and laughter of Spider-Man: No Way Home, come out to the Bailey Parking Lot on Saturday, April 2, at 8:30 p.m. for a Drive-In showing. Sure, you might have homework, but Peter Parker had homework and still went to Germany.

 

Written by: Anna Pender

Anna is a Senior Strategic Communications major. She is thankful to have the opportunity to write for the blog because it gives her a chance to explore and write about topics and events that she is passionate about and that are relevant to the world. She loves getting to be creative and share her personality through writing.

Apathy. If I’m being honest, this word was not one that I really related to until recently. If I’m being super honest, this word scares me, like a lot. The definition of apathy is “a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.” Hearing this word and knowing all that comes with it is something that I never thought I would have to deal with, at least not in the way that I experienced it last semester. Apathy can take many forms, but one form I was not aware of, and I am now consequentially terrified of, is spiritual apathy.

To give a little bit of context, last year was extremely difficult for me. I faced a lot of really hard things including a friend of mine passing away and the loss of my great grandmother to cancer.  Both of these people were so important to me and losing them were probably two of the hardest things I have ever had to walk through. BUT! The Lord is so faithful and so very kind that in this season He brought me peace that completely surpassed any and all understanding that I could ever have and He drew me closer to Himself. Even though I was experiencing such hard things, and if I’m being honest, these are just the two REALLY BIG things that were hard last year, but I was pushed to an utter dependence on the Father that made me fall so madly in love with Him! My Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, loving Father, faithful friend! There are about a hundred more ways I could describe the Lord but honestly these were the names that I leaned into the most this past year.

I can genuinely say that my relationship with the Lord was the strongest it has ever been from the time my friend passed away through walking through the entire summer knowing my Nannie only had a couple of weeks left on this side of eternity. I remember being genuinely confused why I was so drawn to the Lord, why did I love Him more when I was hurting so much? God in His kindness brought me to these verses in James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” The Lord uses our suffering and our trials to draw us to Himself! The fact that He can redeem the brokenness of this world by bringing us to Himself, the only One who can fully heal our hearts is incredible!

Now that you have a bit of context and you know a little bit about my life this past year, let’s dive into apathy. You might be asking yourself how apathy fits in all of this and trust me, she fits. At the end of last semester, I started noticing something in myself, I was slowly losing all desire to spend time with God. One day, I just didn’t have a quiet time and that turned into not having a quiet time the next day and the next and the next. I remember lacking any desire to pursue the Lord and being so confused about it. Why didn’t I want the Lord? He had just brought me through so much and shown me His faithfulness and His goodness, so why was I pushing Him to the side?

If I’m being super honest with y’all this lasted for three months. Three months of me pushing the Lord to the side. Three months of not wanting the Lord but wanting to want Him. I remember feeling so alone in this thinking that no one else understood, that I was the only one to experience anything like this. SUCH A LIE FROM THE ENEMY! One day, I remember just coming to this place of desperation. I knew how much I needed the Lord. There was a gaping hole in my life that became filled with constant anxiety and to be vulnerable with y’all (because vulnerability invites vulnerability) I put on the best mask I could so that no one would know. I didn’t want anyone to know that I was struggling with this. I mean, how would someone react if they knew that I was struggling with not wanting the Lord?! Would people think that I didn’t love the Lord (ANOTHER LIE FROM THE ENEMY) because I did love Him!

When I came to this place of pure desperation for the Lord, He did what He always does, He met me in my brokenness. He met me right where I was. One day I was sitting in the tower doing homework, but it just so happens that Dr. Wheeler was also in the room talking to a student. I started listening to their conversation for a bit because the student had asked a really hard question about if we could lose our salvation. (To clarify, this was a public conversation that was being had loudly in the room with me so I wasn’t eaves dropping) Dr. Wheeler looked at the student and he said something that really struck me. He said that once, he went through a season where he was extremely apathetic, and this is what he said “I lost all desires to do anything for the Lord, but I didn’t lose my salvation. God was calling me to a deeper level with Him, I just wasn’t listening.” In that moment, hearing Dr. Wheeler say those words, I felt the Lord chip away at the callouses that I had allowed to form on my heart. I heard the gentle voice of the Lord say to me “I am calling you deeper, now come.”

After that moment and a lot of hard conversations with my friends and a couple professors, the Father showed me how He was still calling me to Himself, but He was calling me to know Him more deeply. Throughout most of my walk with the Lord, I have experienced Him the most through worship and reading the Word. Let me be clear, neither of these things are bad nor are they lesser ways of experiencing the Lord BUT as I have prayed for discernment, the Lord has shown me that there are endless other ways for us to know Him more deeply and more intimately! In my life, the Lord showed me that to pursue Him deeper I must talk to Him. I have to PRAY! This is something that I’m honestly not really the best at, but it is a discipline that the Lord is rooting in my heart. He also showed me the importance of a daily surrender to Him. Every day He gives me my daily bread, which is the perfect portion I need for that day, so how could I not surrender that day to Him and all that He has for me?

Which leads me back to apathy. I wish I could say hearing the words of Dr. Wheeler changed my heart so fully and completely that my relationship with the Lord is incredible and I am constantly pursuing Him, but that would be a lie. Fighting spiritual apathy is still a daily battle for me, but I am extremely blessed to have incredible community that walks through this with me. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us of the importance of community by saying “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Having community around you to push you towards Christ is something that is SO IMPORTANT as you walk through daily life and especially if you are walking in spiritual apathy. I am extremely grateful for the girls that I have who walk alongside me every day and live out the verse in Hebrews 10 in my life. The best part about the community that I have with them is that we don’t have to be doing a Bible study to be considered as doing life together! My community with my girls looks a lot like quick meals in between classes, game nights, going to SA events, and sometimes it does look like studying the Word together. Don’t believe the lie that if you’re not doing a Bible study with your friends that you’re not living in Christian community. Community is about loving one another and encouraging one another in our walks with the Lord so that our hearts don’t grow apathetic towards to our Savior and King who deserves all honor and all glory for who He is!

Well, that’s just a snippet of my story over this past year, but I hope that you walk away from this blog encouraged. I hope you can finally put a name to what you have been feeling and you can walk away knowing that you are not alone in what you are feeling! If I can leave you with any advice, I would leave you with this, let the people around you love you by pushing you towards Christ and don’t ever believe the lie that your relationship with the Lord won’t be as “great” as it used to be. Our relationships with Him will only get better, even if you fall away, there is no measure and there is no earning of His love. Our Father is good, and He is faithful. He loves you and He gave His Son for you so that you could live in relationship with Him. You don’t go three steps back in your relationship with Christ, you fall down, and you let Him pick you back up and you keep walking forward. It’s always just one step at a time.

 

Written by: Elisabeth Hardy

Elisabeth is a Psychology Counseling major with minors in Biblical Studies and Youth Ministry. She is passionate about using opportunities to show the creativity of God and His presence! She loves writing for the blog as a way to express herself and be creative about things that are fun and relevant.

Few moments in history captured the attention of the world like the moon landing on July 20, 1969. While this was a momentous achievement, the sheer magnitude of this event was almost beyond belief. How did we get to this point? The bounds of human achievement were tested during a 20-year endeavor dubbed “The Space Race”. The Space Race officially started on October 4^th 1957. On this day Russia, then Soviet Union, launched Sputnik which is Russian for “traveler”. The sputnik was the first man-made object to be put into space. This caught the attention of the United States in a big way, there was a Cold War going on at the time. The United States followed suit and in 1958 launched the Explorer 1 satellite. That same year president Eisenhower created NASA; The Soviet Union, and The United States were off to the races. (Pun Intended) For the next 12 years, scientists for NASA and for the USSR worked tirelessly to improve their respective space programs. The Soviet Union took a major lead in the space race by sending the first man made object in space and then in 1961 sending the first person to orbit the earth. The Moon became the focus of the space race that year when John F. Kennedy famously announced that the United States would put a man on the moon before the end of the decade. With this scientists had to switch the focus from simply rocket science to space flight. The moon is roughly 238,900 Miles away, you could fit 30 earths in that distance. The game was completely changed, both governments threw practically unlimited resources to their space programs. From 1961 to 1964 NSAS’s budget increased almost 500%! Setbacks on both sides made this task seem almost impossible but in December of 1968, NASA’s Apollo 11 mission successfully orbited the moon and returned home safely. This set the stage for July 20^th, 1969, when Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins maned a successful mission of landing on the moon and returning home. Many people would consider this the conclusion of the space race and would dub the United States as the “winners” of the space race. On the surface it may look that way, but it is not so simple. To say the moon landing was purely an American feat would just not be correct. The foundations of the Apollo program were set by a German scientist, and in 1975 the United States and Russia had a joint mission to space where Russian and American space crafts docked together in what has been called the “handshake in space”. After these momentous feats though, the public interest in space dwindled. The space race was very beneficial to the public in ways you may not be aware. Insulin Pump’s, water filters, wireless headsets, and even modern athletic shoes all came about because of NASA’s research during the Space Race. The public’s interest in space was peaked again with the Space shuttle program but after billions of dollars and 2 tragic shuttle disasters the public’s interested faded again and the United States government decided to defund NASA. Which brings us to today, where we have entered the modern-day space race. We have private space companies, most notably Space X, trying to go to Mars and NASA’s Artemis program which goal is to set up a permeant research station on the Moon. Because of this the public’s interest in space has been revitalized and space is “cool” again. In a way “The Space Race” never really ended but has been a grueling marathon spanning decades. This new chapter in the space race looks to reach new heights (pun intended again) and the public will again unknowingly benefit from the research that comes from it.

This breath of new life to the space race is what inspired our Coffeehouse theme this spring; The Great Beyond. We are excited to celebrate the achievements of the human spirit with song, dance, and hilarious videos. Come Join us on March 26^th at 11:30 PM for Coffeehouse: The Great Beyond, tickets are on sale now for only $5!

 

Written by: Jordan Kreitzinger – Assistant Director of Student Activities

Let’s be honest y’all, the last two years have been hard. Like really hard. The number of changes that the world has experienced over the last two years has honestly been extremely overwhelming, at least for me. My freshman year at Liberty was 2019-2020, so I experienced “normal” college life before COVID entered the scene in the spring of 2020, which means that I was able to experience Christmas Coffeehouse before the world completely changed.

Christmas Coffeehouse 2019 was one of my favorite nights of my freshman year of college. I remember having tickets for at least a month beforehand because all the upper classmen I knew told me that I HAD to go to Coffeehouse! I remember the night of Coffeehouse, I was sitting in my room with a couple of my friends, when my friend Hailey (shoutout to my favorite bean) called me screaming. Hailey told me that she had just won the Student Activities giveaway for Coffeehouse!! She told me that she won seating at a table, and she asked me if I wanted to go with her and our other friends! I remember screaming at the top of my lungs and going out into the hall to find her (we both lived on THE Emerson Hall) to ask her if she was being serious! This was a HUGE deal to us! Being freshmen and being able to sit on the floor at Coffeehouse made us feel like celebrities. We thought we were the coolest people literally ever which is NOT embarrassing because that night was incredible!! Seeing the talent of the acts performing and just being able to experience the student body coming together in such a fun and joyful way was so enjoyable. That was the end to my first semester at Liberty and I am SO grateful! After that night, when tickets went on sale for Coffeehouse for the next semester, we bought our tickets as soon as we could to make sure that we would be able to go. Then, the world shifted.

After leaving campus for what I thought would just be a fun spring break in Florida, being told that we would have to go home for the rest of the semester in March 2020 was devastating. All of the plans that me and so many other students had made for the rest of the semester seemed to crumble, including going to spring Coffeehouse. So, we went home. We went home to a lot of change, and I don’t know about y’all, but I didn’t like that change. Being away from the community that I had been a part of while I was at Liberty was hard for me. I missed it. I missed my friends, my hall, and honestly just being a part of the student body. You can imagine how ecstatic I was when I found out we would be able to come back in person the next semester!

I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited than I was the day I moved back into Liberty in the Fall of 2020. I was one of the first people back on Emerson Hall before starting CGL training and I remember seeing my RA and SCREAMING! I don’t think I’ve ever hugged a person so tightly. As happy and grateful as I was to be back on campus, to be able to be on the same hall with so many of my friends, and to just be able to attend class in person again, I was sad about how different campus life was. Everything was so different because of COVID. Understand me clearly, I am so thankful for the measures that Liberty University leadership took to keep or campus safe and open, but it was hard for me to experience a year where we were all together, but still at a distance from one another. There seemed to always be some level of separation from each other everywhere you went. Like I said though, I was just so grateful to be back with the student body again and to just experience our incredible community, even if we were six feet apart.

Throughout last year, I watched as Student Activities took our safety seriously and took adequate measures to protect all students while still hosting events and Coffeehouse was no exception! During the fall semester of 2020, Coffeehouse looked VERY different. It looked like no live performances and recordings of the acts being released to the student body to stream together in small groups. Seeing the way that SA adjusted to the challenges of continuing a Liberty tradition like Coffeehouse with so much creativity was so cool for me to see, and it inspired me. It inspired me to see what we had been given through the pandemic rather than to only see the things that were taken from us. It challenged me to be more creative with what the Lord had given me and to not just see other things as what the Lord was withholding from me, but what He was giving to others for them to steward instead.

With the fall semester looking so different than my first year at Liberty, I was super nervous for how the next semester would look, but I felt like I had settled into a rhythm for the rest of my year at Liberty. Student Activities had done the same, with events I attended with my friends running like well-oiled machines. SA had done an incredible job of adapting to the restrictions that they were under in order to keep all of us safe. By the time March came around, restrictions had started becoming more relaxed around the country which meant that Coffeehouse would be IN PERSON! The day that my friends and I found out that Coffeehouse would be in person, we jumped on the opportunity to buy a table! We were ready to relive our first Coffeehouse together! Even though there was a limited capacity at the spring Coffeehouse in 2021, the Student Activities staff did a phenomenal job of creating an incredible show for all of us to enjoy together!

I think the best thing about change is that change is constant. The Lord has taught me so much about that over the last three years. Something that I can always count on is change and change is NOT a bad thing! Change can be helpful and not hurtful. Change can look like growth. So at the end of spring semester 2021 we saw change, yet again, but this time the change looked like restrictions beginning to be lifted as it became safe to start living life in a way that was similar to how we used to live before the pandemic.

After the Coffeehouse in spring 2021 I did the one thing that made sense to me, I applied to work for Student Activities. Seeing the way that this campus organization had faced the challenges of the pandemic head on and had flawlessly provided a space to breed community throughout the 2020-2021 school year made it an easy decision to decide to apply for an event staff position at SA. After applying and getting the job (which still blows my mind!), I came into last semester with a lot of excitement and hope, specifically to work, you guessed it, COFFEEHOUSE! After a long semester of working countless hours with the rest of the absolutely incredible SA staff (shoutout to all of the awesome supervisors, event staff, and the marketing team!) creating sets and holding auditions for acts, it was finally time, it was time for Christmas Coffeehouse.

I can honestly say that I was nervous about Coffeehouse. What if people didn’t show up? What if the freshmen and sophomores who had never experienced a true Coffeehouse didn’t want to partake in this tradition? I overthought what would happen that night in December a lot more than I care to admit, but all I can say about that night was it was pure magic. As I stood at the top of the concourse of Vines and watch students pour in and find their seats, I was just so amazed. It felt like the fullest circle moment for me. I stood watching students, many of which had never experienced Coffeehouse in its fullest form, take their seats in excitement. I watched as students walked through the sets that our staff had worked so hard to create for the enjoyment of the students and I watched them enjoy them side by side, not six feet apart. I saw a room, full to the brim with students from our student body, and I watched as the opening act came to the stage. The moment our openers played the first note I remember being overwhelmed with just awe and thankfulness! I couldn’t believe that this was what we had created! I stood there honestly in shock, but then another one of our event staff ran over to me, grabbed my hand and we started dancing! We were jumping everywhere and dancing to the music in celebration! We celebrated hours of hard work, we celebrated the endurance of our school, we celebrated SA and what it stands for, but most importantly we celebrated the continuation of a school tradition in its fullest form. We celebrated students supporting their fellow classmates on stage and we celebrated the joy that had filled the room. To me, it felt like everyone in the Vines had taken a deep breath and said “We made it. We survived the changes and the hardships of the last year and a half. We made it.”

So, there you have it! If you can glean anything from this blog, take these two things with you, I am sentimentally attached to Coffeehouse and there is always a life lesson in change that God is trying to teach you. ALWAYS! With that being said, I am so excited for this semester’s Coffeehouse: The Great Beyond on March 26! If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet GO NOW! You can find tickets on our website and you’re already on our website if you’re reading this! There’s no better time like the present! Our staff has been working so hard to create a show that no one will forget, and we are so excited to show y’all what we have created! I am so excited for every one of you to experience this semester’s spring Coffeehouse! See you there!

 

Written by: Elisabeth Hardy

Elisabeth is a Psychology Counseling major with minors in Biblical Studies and Youth Ministry. She is passionate about using opportunities to show the creativity of God and His presence! She loves writing for the blog as a way to express herself and be creative about things that are fun and relevant.

Being the youngest in your family puts you in a unique position. Your parents have gained some parenting skills through trial and error on your brother and sister, you get extra spoiled because your mom forever sees you as a nine-year-old, and maybe most valuable of all, you get to learn wisdom from your older siblings’ life experiences.

Now, I gained most of this insight from my siblings through observation, but one time in particular, it was in the form of intent listening. For some context, I didn’t get my license until I was 18 (high school Jordan lacked some ambition), and as a result my brother was forced to drive me around from time to time. For the life of me I cannot recall where we were heading or what prompted this conversation, but I vividly remember being in the passenger seat of my brother’s Nissan Sentra when he turned to me and said, “Jordan, here’s the best life advice I ever received”. I look up to my brother greatly so you can imagine I was at full attention to make sure I didn’t miss a word he was about to say.

“Don’t take yourself too seriously.”

Huh? There was no elaboration other than that, a mentor of his told him that very statement in high school. I nodded back in affirmation, meanwhile my brain grasped no meaning in this profound life-altering statement shared with me. It’s been a few years since that evening and I’ve often wrestled with the significance of my brother’s words of wisdom, and now I feel as though I’ve finally gained an understanding of them.

Friend, if you’re reading this you’re likely a fellow college student living out some of the most confusing, complicated years of your entire life. I don’t need to describe to you the feeling of feeling entirely lost about who you really are, what you’re supposed to do with yourself, where you ought to be heading, how to navigate relationships of any and all kinds, how you’re supposed to feel about hot topics, or what decade is in style (seriously, is the 80’s in right now? 2000’s? everyone on this campus looks like they just hopped out of a time machine from a different year. idk).

Here’s the good news, that is okay. You are learning, I am learning, everyone around you is learning. You’re here to get an education (among other reasons), right? Your professor doesn’t hand you the final exam on the first day of class and expect you to get every answer right. So why do we get upset with ourselves for not getting parts of life right when we’ve never encountered it before? Instead of feeling like your world is falling apart because you made a poor decision, laugh and learn from it. Grow, gain wisdom, try to obtain a better understanding on how to navigate life’s many challenges, but goodness, give yourself some grace while you do it. Surround yourself with friends and community who will build you up and point out when you’re being a little ridiculous. Go to the God who gives His children second, third, fourth, fifth, a thousandth chances. Find comfort in knowing that you aren’t supposed to know, and then move forward with a loving Father who knows what lies ahead and promises to be with you through it all.

Take this not from someone who’s decades older than you, but from a friend who’s right there by your side in the thick of it: Enjoy your time, work your butt off, give yourself a break, and don’t take yourself too seriously.

 

Written by Jordan Hassler

Jordan is a Sophomore studying Event Planning with a Biblical Studies minor. He enjoys expressing his creativity through words, and sharing his experiences and personality by way of writing. He’s passionate about music, nature, and forming genuine connections with others.