Houston Christian University (HCU) students, faculty and staff experienced three powerhouse days of praise and worship at this year鈥檚 IGNITE Spiritual Renewal Week, held Oct. 3 -5. Hosted in the Linda and Archie Dunham Theatre, attendees gathered to hear pastors from Houston鈥檚 First Baptist Church speak on the event鈥檚 theme of holiness, obedience and the pursuit of excellence.
The conference kicked off with a message from Pastor Leon Brooks III from the church鈥檚 Downtown campus on 鈥淲hat is Holiness?鈥� followed by Jason Swiggart from the Cypress campus on 鈥淵ou and the Holy God鈥� and concluding with an enlightening message from Houston鈥檚 First Baptist Church Senior Pastor Gregg Matte on 鈥淗oly Sexuality.鈥�
First Baptist pastors, Daniel Champagne, Jakora Snow, Malcolm Marshall, Hunter Mullennix and Jarret Garber also expounded on the conference鈥檚 theme during afternoon breakout sessions and evening services. Each pastor pointed attendees to God鈥檚 Word for the blueprint for living lives of holiness in relationships, work and rest.
In his message, Brooks challenged students to honor God by living set apart holy lives that distinguish them from the world to honor God. He shared how God鈥檚 Word does not shine the light on our sin nature to condemn us but to cleanse and conform us to His image.
鈥淗e is not trying to condemn you of your sins. He is not trying to make you feel horrible about who you are. He is just trying to give you a diagnosis,鈥� Pastor Brooks told audience members.
On the final day of the conference, Pastor Gregg Matte, a member of HCU鈥檚 Board of Trustees, tackled the subject of 鈥淗oly Sexuality.鈥� He emphasized the need for the church to share where it stands on the topic of sexuality. He asked students to imagine themselves in a coffee shop having a discussion about sex and branding themselves as 鈥淐urious,鈥� Confused,鈥� 鈥淐lear,鈥� 鈥淐onvicted鈥� or 鈥淐rushed.鈥� He then shared how God鈥檚 Word provides the answers for each area through his loving grace.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not about obeying rules, it is about loving God. He created you, he created sex, he created the desires in you and he has a plan for that. So how do I fall in love with Him, and then the rules take care of themselves,鈥� said Matte.
Faculty and staff were available to pray with students following each service. The conference concluded with a Night of Worship featuring Refuge and BSM. Over the course of the three-day event, 76 students made first-time commitments to follow Christ, 297 students re-dedicated themselves to Christ, 52 students sought answers about faith and 67 students inquired about Christian community and discipleship.
University leaders, faculty and staff across the campus were in prayer for the success of IGNITE and thankful for the response from students.
鈥淲e are deeply grateful for indicators of God鈥檚 work in our lives this past week鈥攁 filled theater, engaged hearts, and students who expressed in numerous ways a spiritual response to the times of teaching and worship throughout the week. But even more than the responses that we can count today, we鈥檙e excited to be able to see each of those numbers we can count turn into follow-up conversations about spiritual questions, new discipling relationships, and deeper involvement in local churches and campus ministries,鈥� said Scott Bertrand, Assistant Provost and Dean of Spiritual Life.
Bertrand and the HCU Spiritual Life team are looking for the changes that God was able to begin during the conference 鈥渢o continue to bear fruit in five months, five years, even five decades.鈥�
HCU Campus Minister Saleim Kahleh agreed and described the conference as a life-transforming event that left an indelible imprint in the hearts of students.
鈥淛esus was lifted up, and hundreds of our students made decisions that will change their lives forever. Our prayer is they will all become fully devoted followers of Christ. Many will never be the same because of the faithfulness of God,鈥� said Kahleh.
In the spring semester, HCU will host Passion IGNITE to provide another opportunity for students, faculty and staff to refuel and renew their faith.