Ouachita Stories

AfterDark is coming to Ouachita Baptist University on Nov. 12 at 8:30 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center. Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors will lead worship and Joe White will speak on “Is Jesus Relevant Today?”

“Afterdark is a free night of worship, where music and message meet,” said Jeremy Dixon, a junior mass communications major and one of two coordinators for the event. “This isn’t just a normal worship service; it’s a catalyst for conversation, investigation and a night that offers authentic hope.”

The featured speaker, Joe White, has written more than 20 books and is the current president of Kanakuk Kamps. In addition to AfterDark and Kanakuk, White is the founder of ministries including Men at the Cross, Pure Excitement, Kanakuk Haiti and Kids Across America.

White and AfterDark have reached more than 400,000 students across the nation since its creation in 2000.

“Usually, AfterDark visits bigger schools like Arkansas or Texas A&M, so when I got a call asking if they could come, I was ecstatic,” Dixon said. “I began working with Tim Harrell, James Taylor and Joey Licklider to see if we could take advantage of this opportunity.”

“AfterDark brings a specific evangelistic thrill to worship,” said James Taylor, OBU director of campus ministries. “I’m excited to have them on campus. The event is designed for students to bring other students that normally wouldn’t come to an event like Refuge.”

Taylor said that the event provides students a chance to come to a free concert with a great message.

AfterDark has featured well-known athletes and guest appearances at various locations as part of its events, including Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy and Gerald McCoy. It has also featured worship artists from Needtobreathe to Ben Rector, Kris Allen, Dave Barnes and Lecrae.

Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors will be leading worship at the Ouachita event on Tuesday. Their music has been featured on various TV shows including Lifetime’s “Army Wives,” Showtime’s “United States of Tara” and A&E’s “The Cleaner.”

Holcomb’s wife, Ellie Holcomb, joined the band in 2008 and has been helping him lead ever since. They are both involved in Nashville YoungLife and have played all over the country at various YoungLife camps.

“Along with Drew Holcomb, they’re bringing in FEDEL, who is an up-and-coming Christian hip-hop artist,” Dixon said.

Taylor said that the event is open to all college students from Ouachita and Henderson as well as area residents.

“We are looking to get as many people to JPAC on Tuesday as possible,” Dixon said. “The more people who get to experience this event, the better. Big schools bring hundreds of people to these events, so it’d be cool if we had a large gathering as well.”

For more information, visit http://whatsafterdark.wordpress.com or contact OBU’s Campus Ministries office at (870) 245-5536.

By Dixon Land, OBU Signal