MOORE—Every year, hundreds of college students unite to worship the Lord at the annual one-night worship event, Momentum, hosted by Oklahoma Baptists Collegiate Ministry (BCM). This year was no exception. On Sept. 11, more than 850 students gathered at Moore, First to enjoy fellowship and games with college ministry leaders. Most importantly, they came to grow in their faith and return to their campuses spiritually renewed for the semester ahead.
“Momentum is about bringing students together to encounter Jesus and be sent out on mission,” said Chad Coleman, Collegiate Ministries Director for Oklahoma Baptists.
The night kicked off with corporate prayer and worship by Charlie Hall, Pastor of Worship Arts and Liturgy at OKC, Frontline. Colton Dunaway, a student at Connors State College, said, “I felt the Spirit moving as we worshiped; I left feeling rejuvenated for the upcoming semester. It was exciting to see so many young believers in one place when the world can feel so dim.”
Featured speaker, Tom Richter, pastor of Cullman, AL., First, taught from 1 John 1:5.
“When we understand that God is light and in Him there is no darkness, we see that His commands are His blessings,” Richter said.
Together, students committed the verse to memory by repeating, “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness.” Richter challenged them to rethink how they view God’s commands, not as burdens or obligations, but as blessings.
Momentum greatly impacts not only the BCMs on large campuses but also those on small campuses and church-based college ministries.
Rowdy Morris, BCM Director at Connors State College, said, “One of my out-of-state students was so excited about the speaker, music and the amount of students coming together for a night of worship. The first thing he did was call his pastor back home and told him all about the conference. Five days later, he is still talking about Momentum. We are a small two-year campus and it allows us to be part of something bigger.”
As the College & Missions Pastor at Ada, Trinity, Chris Snowden also expressed gratitude for the event’s impact on collegiate church ministries.
“I appreciate Oklahoma Baptists’ Collegiate Ministries putting together an event that makes it easy for us as church-based collegiate ministers to bring students together so early in the semester,” Snowden said.
Events like Momentum help college ministers and students across the state unite in the name of Jesus and be reminded that God is moving in the hearts of college students throughout Oklahoma.
“We get to see the Lord’s hand at work every week in our BCM community, but one of my favorite things about Momentum is getting to see how the Lord is impacting students from so many different universities. I love gathering together and hearing the praises of students worshiping the Lord alongside one another! There’s something so beautiful about seeing the body of Christ come together from across different campuses to worship Him,” commented Brookelyn Mitchell, a student at Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Hundreds of students left the event encouraged, challenged and ready to step back onto their campuses as lights in the darkness.
Reflecting on the event, Coleman said Momentum serves as a reminder of how God is at work among college students across Oklahoma.
“Every year, Momentum reminds me that God is doing incredible things in the lives of college students across our state. There is nothing like seeing hundreds of students worship together, hear from God’s Word, and commit themselves to living for Jesus. I pray that Momentum challenges students to have a deeper love for Christ and a greater sense of His mission for their lives.”
For more information about Momentum or other events hosted by Oklahoma Baptists BCM, please contact Chad Coleman (ccoleman@oklahomabaptists.org) or Carissa Jones (cjones@oklahomabaptists.org).
