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Spiritual Emphasis Week
Staying True To Yourself...
by Amanda Barrera

On October 6, before the four-day weekend, Ms. Vivian Pipkin’s Prayer Evangelism class walked around the main gym and prayed, hoping for a revival in the VC students that following week. Prayers were answered. Due to Spiritual Emphasis Week, which took place October 11- 15 a renewal took place in the Valley Christian students who heard God’s Word.

Monday, October 11, began with amazing worship led by Jasen Ashdown, and life- changing messages presented by speaker, John Everett, a firemen in 9/11. Valley Christian students were captured by his display of pictures of the Pentagon and horrifying images of the planes crashing into the Twin Towers, on September 11, 2001. Senior Stephanie Freedmen shared her thoughts, “The speaker grabbed my attention roughly, by showing graphic pictures. I felt saddened and upset, it wasn’t something that I wanted to begin thinking about. I was agitated because I felt like I had no control over what had happened. That’s when I realized that nobody knows when their last day will be and that’s why we can only depend on God.”

It was also remarkable how Everett spoke on the topic of ‘showing your true self’, while leaving students with the question, “What side of the fence are you on?” This message is something all need to think about and something that’s relevant to all, due to the 2004-2005 ASB theme, “Get Real” and “Taking off your Mask.”

Throughout the week the speaker addressed all groups; the strong Christians, the weak, and those who are simply indifferent. On Wednesday the speaker began with the passage from Matthew 8: 1-3; when Jesus is willing to heal the man with leprosy and make him clean. This passage illustrated that God is above all problems and He is the one who is in control of them.

Toward the end of the week Everett stressed that all people need to take hold of the gift that God freely offers and without Him, nothing in life will make sense. This thought made way for the amazing outcome of the altar call, which allowed for 200 students to rededicate their lives to Christ. In response to the altar call, sophmore Melissa Castleman said, “It was a spontaneous decision and it was something I felt like I needed.”

For those who are walking strong in the Lord, stay focused and flee from your distractions. For those who answered the alter call, on October 15, congratulations and remember to pray for one another. Everett encouraged the struggling Christians to flee from their distractions, and for the strong Christians to show their flaws. They are not perfect and need to depend on God. For those who are waiting to experience God’s love, ask yourself why wait? What’s holding you back from surrendering to God? Remember: believing in God isn’t enough because even the demons believed in Him and they were terrified.