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by Erin Huggins

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Guitar Strings and Student Voices Combat Friday-Night Boredom

With crisp tunes and loud voices, Jonathan Page and Steve Day take on-campus Friday nights to a new level. --Benjamin Tertin, photo

Friday Night Lights is the new on-campus corporate worship gathering led by the students, for the students.

Freshman Jonathan Page invites all students to the A-Frame or prayer chapel every Friday night from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Page, with the assistance of Steve Day, heads up the event. As Friday Night Lights forms, Page said he hopes to assemble a full band to play every Friday.

Page said he started Friday Night Lights because he recognized lacking on-campus opportunities to musically praise and thank God.

Day said he wanted to present a consistent opportunity for students to seek the Lord and that Page was able to flesh out the idea.

Friday Night Lights first occurred in the prayer chapel, but Page said the A-Frame would be ideal; bands need the space. The worship session rotates between the buildings, depending on availability.

Day estimated a 25-student attendance at the premiere.

"I'm hoping and praying that the people who come are already seeking the Lord, and this is an outlet for them to do it," Day said.

Freshman Sarah Hayes "thought it was awesome." She said Friday Night Lights "definitely fulfills a need on campus for stuff to do on Friday night."

Freshman Kristin Fair said the gathering is perfect for "people who need to get away and refocus."

Page said the "Friday Night Lights" name was influenced by the like-titled football movie and the concept that, as Christians, we are "lights" in the world.

Page said he still needs female vocalists, a keyboard player, a drummer and an electric guitarist. He said, "Basically all we have right now is me playing the acoustic guitar and singing."

To help lead, Day said he sings on the side and reads Scripture, but "my heart beats to be there as part of the student body and as a facilitator."

Once the musicians are established, Page said there will be minimal room for rotation among leaders because he wants to form a group of people comfortable playing together.

Page said leading Friday Night Lights is unique because the worship caters to an older audience. Two years ago, he led the youth group worship at his church.

Page said he considers current campus prayer needs when he chooses what to play. As a worship leader, he said, he helps people find the right words and sounds to make their expressions to God.

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