News by Mike Richeson

Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous News | Send mail to The Voice Students travel to Texas to attend One Day Tens of thousands of college-age students, including 10 to15 from Multnomah Bible College, will flock to the One Day conference in Sherman, Texas, May 24-27. The interdenominational gathering seeks to unite young adults in worship and prayer to energize students to proclaim Christ throughout the world. One Day opens May 24 for registration and setup in tent cities located in the middle of huge fields. In each tent city, about 5,000 people create their own entity among the throngs of people. MBC campus coordinator Ahshuwah Hawthorne said more than 40,000 people are expected to attend this year's conference. "It's Christian community like you've never seen," MBC logistics coordinator Zachary Jeans said. "The reality of the peace and love of Christ is in the face of every believer." May 26 is the actual One Day event. From 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. everyone prays, worships and listens to speakers. Facilitators lead the multitude through intercession, celebration, confession and adoration, seeking God to accomplish the work of his glory throughout the earth. Worship concludes the day from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. The conference heavily relies on college students to advertise and organize the trips. "My job is to blow the trumpet," Hawthorne said, alluding to One Day's theme verse, Joel 2:13. Students from the Portland area have the opportunity to car pool or ride Greyhound buses to Texas. Jeans is in the process of arranging free places to stay for those driving. Registration is open until the day of the conference, but bus tickets are cheaper if bought three days in advance. Tickets for One Day cost $55 before May 14. Onsite registration costs $65. A $15 fee will also be charged for three nights of camping. This year's main speaker is pastor and author John Piper. Piper is trying to have his latest book, "Don't Throw Your Life Away," published in time for the conference. Most of the speakers and bands are not widely advertised to keep God the main focus. "The last thing they want is for people to show up and want Christian Woodstock," Jeans said. "It's not a Creation Fest type of thing but a response to what Christians see God doing in our midst." "I'm not really impressed by conferences," Hawthorne said. "We're going to see the face of God not to just do something cool. If we don't meet God, it's a waste of time." One Day is an extension of the Passion Conferences Louie Giglio founded. The first Passion gathering took place in 1997 with 2,000 people. Passion has grown exponentially over the past six years, fueled by the support of coordinators on college campuses across the United States. "If anyone wants to go, they will not be disappointed," Jeans said. "We are going to call on the name of God." Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous News | Top Of Page Send mail to The Voice| Journalism department website © 2003 The Voice. No part of this publication may be reproduced in written or electronic form without prior written consent from the journalism adviser of Multnomah Bible College. All rights reserved.