Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s annual Christian Focus Week (CFW) will be held Monday, Feb. 9, through Friday, Feb. 13. A Tuesday, Feb. 10, concert by Leeland and Shawn McDonald in Jones Performing Arts Center will be a special addition to the week’s activities this year.

“Christian Focus Week is a time of spiritual emphasis designed to inspire, challenge, teach and equip students, faculty and staff to grow in their love for God and people,” said James Taylor, director of campus ministries. “Since classes are canceled for one hour each morning for times of worship, we hope that will give our community a rest during a busy semester to renew their focus on Christ.”

“Our student leaders have worked hard to put together a week that reaches the entire campus,” Taylor added.

The speakers for CFW are Wes Hamilton and Odus Compton. Hamilton, an OBU alumnus, is the teaching pastor at Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall, Texas. Compton is the director of church relations at Oklahoma Baptist University. Both are graduates of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Leading worship will be Matthew and Lizi Bailey and The Covenant. Matthew and Lizi Bailey lead worship at Faithbridge Church in Houston, Texas, and Matthew is an OBU alumnus. The Covenant is a new group to Ouachita’s campus. The group formed in fall 2008 to lead worship by combining musical, theatrical and Art and Design.

“We want our fellow students and faculty to be able to experience one week totally and fully committed to focusing on Christ and who He is in our lives,” said Trinka Newman, a member of the CFW student leadership team and a junior Biblical Studies major from Monticello, Ark. ”Our goal is for us to go beyond just a week of being a Christian, but to live with a Kingdom focus.”

As a new addition to the annual events of CFW, the Campus Activities Board will host a concert Tuesday, Feb. 10, featuring Leeland and Shawn McDonald.

Leeland’s debut album, “Sound of Melodies,” topped the Christian music charts in 2006 as well as receiving a Grammy nomination and four Dove Award nominations in 2007. The band’s new album, “Opposite Way,” is living up to the previous album’s success, receiving a Grammy nomination as well.

Shawn McDonald is well known for the unique style that he brings to Christian music. He has been a leading Christian artist for several years. His debut album “Simply Nothing” hit stores in 2004, and his most recent album, “Roots,” is his expression of “musical wisdom” through marriage, fatherhood, and time spent in Israel and Zimbabwe.

"I'm thrilled to pieces that Leeland and Shawn McDonald are coming to OBU,” said AudreyAnna Harrell, a member of the CFW student leadership team and a junior speech pathology major from Russellville, Ark. “They are fabulous musicians and I know they'll put on a good show.”

For tickets or more information about the concert, please contact the Campus Activities Office at (870) 245-5539 or visit www.obu.edu/campusactivities/.

The schedule for the week includes:

Monday, Feb. 9:
8 a.m.—Prayer Breakfast with Dr. Horne (Commons Alumni Room)
11 a.m. —Worship (JPAC)
12 Noon—Noonday (Berry Chapel)
3 p.m. —Seminar: "Art & Worship" (ESC Banquet Room)
6:30 p.m.—FCA Athlete Dinner & Challenge (Tiger Den)
7:30 p.m.—Covenant: Psalms & Meditations (JPAC)
9 p.m. —Coffee House (Commons)

Tuesday, Feb. 10:
10 a.m.—Worship (JPAC)
11 a.m.—Q & A with Wes Hamilton (Commons Alumni Room)
3:30 p.m.—Seminar: "Being a Part of God's Mission" (Young Auditorium)
7 p.m.—Leeland & Shawn McDonald (JPAC)

Wednesday, Feb. 11:
8 a.m.—Prayer Breakfast (Commons Alumni Room)
10 a.m.—Worship (JPAC)
12 Noon—Noonday (Berry Chapel)
3 p.m.—Seminar: "Life after College" with Nathan and Avery Shelburne (Berry Chapel)
9 p.m.—Worship (JPAC)

Thursday, Feb. 12:
10 a.m. —Worship (JPAC)
11 a.m.—Q & A with Odus Compton (Commons Alumni Room)
3:30 p.m.—Seminar: "A Christian Perspective on the American Economy" with Dr. Scott Horton (Berry Chapel)
9 p.m.—Worship (JPAC)

Friday, Feb. 13:
8 a.m.—Prayer Breakfast (Commons Alumni Room)
9 a.m.—Worship (JPAC)
Noon—Noonday (Berry Chapel)

by Emory Jacobs