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Cleanse us Like a Flood and Send us Out: Go Week 2011 Day Two
Something spectacular will happen to any individual who is able to witness hundreds of college students surrendering everything to Jesus. Day two of Go Week proved to be nothing less than inspiring as each individual left all their selfish desires behind and was compelled by Christ’s love from eight in the morning to midnight that night.
After breakfast at the Baptist Colligate Ministry house, Dan Butz led another inspiring devotion that allowed for God to speak directly to each student. The devotion focused on the power of prayer, and the power of being in constant prayer. Butz pushed each student to be in prayer constantly as they deal with meeting new freshman throughout the day. A quote from the devotion was one by John Piper, “Prayer is a war time walkie-talkie and we don’t understand why it doesn’t work when you use it as a domestic intercom to ring the maid for another pillow”. Students were convicted across the room at the realization that they are in a constant war between light and darkness. This realization set a serious tone in the air as the power of prayer and the importance of prayer was realized by everyone. Students paired up and lifted their voices to their Father. Butz ended the devotion with an idea for students to “assassin pray”. He explained that whenever you see anyone say a prayer for them, “pray for anyone and everyone”. Students were encouraged with this new idea to help them to be within constant prayer.
Each day after the devotion Nathan Uy reads aloud the schedule and assignments for the day. This man of God is always seen with a positive attitude and has a genuine love for being a servant that radiates. Go Week 2011 could not have been made possible without the effort of Uy. He is a perfect role model for all the college students throughout the week by the light he shines for Christ constantly through every one of his actions. Uy announced that over six hundred students attended the free pancakes party that the members of Go Week put on after Seminole Sensation the night before. He explained that the main event from last year, the luau, only had four hundred students in attendance. Even larger numbers were expected to come out for pancakes again that night, and even more were expected to attend the luau event that would be held on Friday night. Praise to the Lord alone for allowing His harvesters to reap this harvest! After Uy gives the assignments for each team for the morning, everyone prays and disperses.
Each group continues to help move freshman into dorms and continues to build those relationships. These move-in groups write their names and numbers on the fliers for the FSU Luau before they pass them out to each student as a way to directly place themselves into the student’s hand. This gave the student the ability to find the Go Week team members on Facebook, and to call or text them if they ever need any help. Many students who received these fliers immediately sent a quick text message simply stating, “thank you”. As easily as that, numbers were exchanged and the team members now have a direct access to inviting the student to events throughout the year, or to just hang out.
The morning of moving in on day two was significantly slower than the previous morning. But each student understood that each individual was an opportunity, even if there was only one, it was an opportunity given by God. This downtime allowed for each team to bond with each other, and in many areas students who were moved in on the previous day came outside just to fellowship. God allowed relationships to be made one morning, and then the next He allowed for them to be strengthened. Many team members who were not able to exchange phone numbers with any of the students easily did so when students would wander down from their dorms.
The students were able to witness God being sovereign as He placed them within situations that allowed for each of their talents to be used for His glory. Students who have taken foreign languages within their schooling ran across families who only spoke whatever language they studied. The declared majors and minors of each team member allowed for them to connect with those they were moving in as God placed freshman who were within the same areas of study. Passions and hobbies were also shared from freshman to team members as a connection. God is sovereign, and his placement of each team member proved that when His people listen to a calling, He will be faithful.
At noon the students gathered at the BCM for a lunch of sandwiches, hotdogs, chips, and cookies. Stories were shared with one another about how God had opened doors for relationships to form once again. This time of sharing filled the room with excitement and reminded the students of the Lords faithfulness to His harvesters. Once lunch is finished, Nathan Uy reveals the new assignments for the afternoon and the teams are dismissed.
Many teams continue to help with moving in the freshman, one team stays behind to help the wonderful kitchen staff, while the others go out to help with a kickball tournament. Much like yesterdays ultimate frisbee game, the kickball tournament served as another simple way to reach out to Florida State’s campus. As people walk by, they start to join into the games. Friendships are formed while names and numbers are exchanged from team members to the other students on campus.
The faithfulness of the Lord throughout day two is one that is humbling for each individual at the realization that they are acting as their Lords hands and feet. With each student met, each name learned, and each number exchanged, excitement fills the air. If God is allowing all of this to happen within a mere two days, what could happen to this campus when it is kept up throughout the semester? A revival is starting at Florida State.
Each team member from all twelve organizations had a break again from four to six thirty. A chicken teriyaki dinner was served and more than half of the students proceeded to receive second and third helpings. This group is more than blessed to have this kitchen staff, especially with their cooking constant amazing meals. After dinner, an intimate worship is held again where hearts were completely abandoned for Christ alone. Arms were held out to the Lord as praise was sung from over two hundred mouths. Love filled the room. As the students were seated again, they were asked to take out their phones by Zach Allen and to text three people that they had met that day to invite them out to Seminole Sensation. Each member of the staff team successfully holds each and every student accountable for keeping up with the relationships and bonds that they have been forming over the past two days. Allen then leads the students in a prayer to pray specifically for each person that they had met. He asks the students to proudly speak each name out loud to lift them up to Lord. For two minutes names are constantly said across the room. After lifting these new friends to the Lord, the students are dismissed and make their way to Seminole Sensation.
The bright orange FSU Luau shirts soon flood onto Ogelsby Union which are worn by each member of the Go Week team. The moment these members step into the union the shirts immediately diffused into the crowd as they go directly to the students they have not met yet. The events of tonight’s Seminole Sensation range from a trivia game show, speed-friending, sand art, photo booths, and black light sidewalk chalk drawings. The population is less compared to the night before, but no one allows for this to discourage them and instead makes friends with most of the people. By the time ten thirty comes everyone is leaving the union. Orange shirts are seen by themselves with six to ten other people leading them to free pancakes at the Campus Christian Fellowship building again. One freshman stated, “I can’t go from one building to another without being told about free pancakes and the luau on Friday”. These Go Week team members are not wasting one moment, or one opportunity this week. God is largely moving through each individual.
Large crowds once again filled the CCF house, and new students were able to become immediately connected within different groups. It was a blessed time for fellowship as even more pancakes were prepared and eaten throughout the hour. New students were constantly arriving within large groups until midnight which allowed for even more friendships to be formed. As the stomachs began to fill up, the crowds slowly trickled out with promises form everyone to attend the luau.
Today was filled with many lessons for everyone; our God is sovereign, constant prayer is important throughout every aspect of our life, the Lord is once again faithful, reckless abandonment is what we are called to as disciples, and many more. We serve the almighty Lord, and it is truly humbling that we are allowed to be the light for Him within our lives. Praise to our Father alone.
Please continue to be in prayer for the Luau that will be at 8pm Friday night. Each of the twelve organizations will have tables set up to inform each new student about their own organization. Pray that each student finds the place where God has called them to belong to.
We are His disciples. We will be His hands and feet. We will share his love. We will start a revival.