Ouachita to hold Christian Focus Week Feb. 2-6
January 28, 2026
- James TaylorOuachita Baptist University will host its annual Christian Focus Week Feb. 2-6, offering students dedicated time and space for spiritual growth and encouragement as a campus.
The year's theme, “Fully Known: Seen and loved by God and called to know others,” draws from John 10:27: “The sheep recognize my voice. I know them and they follow me.”
“I love that the school sets aside time for us to put God first,” said student leader Joshua Engle, a senior communications major from Clarksville, Arkansas. “All the events of the week really help us focus on faith as individuals and as a community. I especially love the worship nights and breakout sessions that help us connect our faith to real life issues.”
Hannah Goodrum, a senior biology major from Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and Aidan Perry, a senior criminal justice major from Bumpass, Virginia, serve with Engle as leaders for the week and coordinate with Campus Ministries staff to plan the events for the campus.
“I feel like there's something for every student,” said Dustin Wagley, director of Campus Ministries. "Some love the big main sessions that feel more like a chapel. But there are also smaller breakout sessions, mostly led by on-campus faculty or staff. For students who really want something more active, we have a traditional hike that will continue this year. And we have Art and Worship Night, which is a great outlet for those who desire more creativity.”
In addition to its weekly chapel program and student-led ministries, Ouachita has hosted special weeks of spiritual emphasis going back as early as the 1920s, including a Consecration Week hosted by the ministerial alliance and Religious Emphasis Week hosted by the Baptist Student Union (now Campus Ministries).
A long-standing tradition of the university is to dismiss classes one hour each day for morning worship. Main session speakers for this year are Adam Young, pastor of Valley Life Church in Fraser, Colorado; Chip Luter, senior associate pastor at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, Louisiana; John McCallum, a retired pastor from Hot Springs, Arkansas; Jason Curry, next generation ministries pastor at the Church at Rock Creek in Little Rock, Arkansas; and Hannah Walker, senior coordinator for student life at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
Klayton Seyler, a 2009 Ouachita graduate and pastor of worship arts at Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, will lead worship throughout the week.
For a complete schedule and more information, visit the Christian Focus Week site at obu.edu/cfw.
Ouachita Baptist University is a Christ-centered learning community ranked Niche’s Best Small College in Arkansas. Learn more about our relational and residential approach to education at obu.edu.
Lead photo by Matthew Correll
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