MOORE—Momentum 2012 attracted more than 650 college students from around Oklahoma on Sept. 7 to examine the questions, “What does it mean to you to love God?” and “How do you live out God’s love?”
Students had the opportunity to hear from Oklahoma workplace missionaries representing a plethora of fields as they pondered the answers to those questions at Moore, First.
More than 650 college students from around Oklahoma worship with the Cody Dunbar band at Momentum, Sept. 7. (Photo: Tiffany Zylstra)
Sam Hazewinkle, a wrestler who participated in the recent XXX Olympic Games in London, answered the question “What does it mean to you to love God?” by saying, ”With God, it’s easy to tell when I’m not putting the time in. God made me competitive; I look at life through that competitive lens. I need to shine and develop the gifts God has given me. The more you invest your time, energy and love into God, the more you’ll see fruit.”
When asked “How do you live out God’s love?” Bill Blankenship, University of Tulsa head football coach, responded with “I try to live with honesty and integrity, realizing my talents and everything I am are gifts from God.”
Chris Lusey, AT&T mobility applications consultant, answered the questions with, “Corporate America has certain goals. Sometimes, those goals don’t align with my Christian ethics and values. I thought love was an emotion. God has taught me it is a decision.”
Following worship with the Cedric Hardemon and the Cody Dunbar band, students explored how to be a workplace missionary.
“I like knowing you don’t have to go to seminary to be a minister” said Kylle, a junior at Rogers State University in Claremore. Rebekah, a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma, was “inspired by those who are not in (church) ‘ministry’ but by people who have chosen careers where they can make an eternal impact.”
Students also heard from Susan Cox, DaySpring Villa volunteer coordinator, about the impact of human trafficking in Oklahoma. Cox said “Oklahoma has one of the highest incidents of human trafficking because of three major highways converging in the state.”
DaySpring Villa in Sand Springs is Oklahoma’s only state-certified, faith-based program for those seeking a safe place to escape the horrors of human trafficking. The college students at Momentum were so touched that they gave more than $3,000 in a special offering designated for DaySpring Villa, and many more inquired about helping the victims.
After hearing about the support DaySpring Villa provides for more than 40 trafficked women and children, Allie, a sophomore at East Central University in Ada, said, “Hearing this tonight was validation that God has called me to work with the victims of human trafficking.”
Oklahoma 5th U.S. Congressional Dist. Rep. James Lankford was the evening’s keynote speaker. He encouraged students to believe and live out Matt. 5:16, being the light of the world.
“You know you believe it if you actually practice it,” Lankford said. “When you love God, He is the priority in your life.”
After encouraging the students to pray about what is covering up their light, Lankford said, “When people around us are hurting, we have a choice to be the light of the world, or to go in the other direction. Which will you choose?”
Encouraged by the speakers; Eric and Cordero, sophomores at Redlands Community College in El Reno, said they “are determined to learn the Word of God. You have to have a desire to want God in your life, building a relationship through all of the ups and downs.”
The final event of the night was having the students write a prayer request on their name tag. The students then went to someone they did not know and exchanged name tags. John Strappazon, Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma collegiate ministries specialist, said “The charge is to pray for who you exchanged name tags with for the semester. Each time you see their prayer request, lift them up.”
For some people, the night was a challenge to figure out how they could shine brighter. Some felt encouragement in life direction, and for others, it was a special night when they got to know Christ’s love for the very first time.
