Carol Poss

Staff writer

It is not uncommon to hear people on campus talking about their relationship with Christ. The sound of students singing Christian music is not so rare that it would make a person stare. So why, with all the talk of Christian topics, do students still relate so well to these lyrics from Matthew West:

“I don’t want to go through the motions. I don’t want to go one more day without your all-consuming passion inside of me. I don’t want to spend my whole life asking, ‘What if I had given everything, instead of going through the motions?’”

Is there a reason that students are so often finding themselves on autopilot when it comes to their faith as well as their life? Mary Blanks, junior psychology major, believes it comes with the mindset that college requires.

“Most people attend college in hopes of discovering their life purpose,” said Blanks. “Because we yearn to know an answer that only Christ can provide, we look to everything but Him. We get caught up in ourselves.”

College requires you do so many things for yourself. Students are, for the most part, independent with no one under them to care for. Students have to worry about their grades, what they are going to do for meals, when they are going to work. It is simple to see how it could be easy to be consumed only with their lives.

So how do students break the curse of going through the motions? For Blanks, it is dedication to her time with the Lord.

“Through my devotions and quite times, the Lord has reminded that He is not interested in routine, rather He desires a relationship,” said Blanks.

According to Blanks, junior middle grades education major Tyler Thomas recommended a book, “Christian Atheist,” that has helped her a great deal with her struggle to live with passion in her relationship with Christ.

“I started reading Christian Atheist because the title intrigued me. The premise of the book is believing in God, but living as if he does not exist ultimately, ‘placing your relationship with Christ on autopilot,’” said Blanks. “The book contains a multitude of verses and insights from the author such as, “Love is not something God does. It is who God is. And because of who he is, God loves you. Period.”

Looking back on four years in college can show a roller coaster in a student’s relationship with God. Derek Hale, senior general studies major, can account for this roller coaster in his own life.

“I see students going through motions and I have seen myself do it as well,” said Hale.

He mentioned how it was something that people did to remain in their comfort zones. Needless to say, Hale thought that students could do more about it.

“We create this safe haven that is really not safe at all. By doing this, we stay complacent and rid God of using us how He wants.”

When Hale he first came to college, he had no idea what God had in store for him. Once he let go and let God use him in everything he was active in, he began to see how God was moving on campus.

“By putting yourself out there, it allows God to use you in different facets and to let you personally see how he can obtain glory for himself by using you,” said Hale. “Getting involved is the key to thriving in a college atmosphere.”

If Christian students take just a few moments and realize what Christ has done for them, they cannot help but live passionately for him.

“The fact that he saved us from a life of death and depravity is motivation enough to get out of bed and to live my life sold out for Christ each and every day,” said Hale. “We can never fully repay Christ for his perfect gift, but we can strive, we can quarrel and fight with the things of this world so that he may be fully glorified in all the things we do.”

Patrice Allen

Staff writer

Many of the sports teams on campus choose to use their sport for community service and ministry. Lacrosse, basketball, soccer and countless other teams are volunteering around Rome.

With only one year of the women’s lacrosse program completed, this group is trying to make a statement for the Hawks not just on, but off the field. Freshman pre-med major Rita Cave and her teammates are highly involved with a program called Third Street Ministries.

“Off campus, we are helping homeless people and sharing the Lord with them,” said Cave.

Each Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m., the lacrosse team spends time at Third Street Ministries, which provides hot showers and other essentials for less fortunate people. The members hand out Bibles, interact with the children and make hot chocolate, lemonade and sandwiches for people, according to Coach Brittni Dulaney.

“We would love for anyone to donate clothes and toiletries if they would like to,” said Dulaney. “Really, we are just trying to build relationships with the women and families who come, and encourage them through Bible study and friendship.”

Not only is the lacrosse team living out its faith, but the women’s basketball team is as well. The team volunteers at an open home as well as a community kitchen.

“A lot of girls mentor in the schools around here during the year and basketball camps during the summer,” said Emily Trew, sophomore point guard.

This past fall semester, the men’s and women’s soccer teams volunteered at the Boys & Girls Club. Each week, the players were given the opportunity to play soccer with a group of children after school.

“It was great!” said junior forward and midfielder, Kayla Bell. “We got to share our love for soccer with a ton of kids.”

Both soccer teams hope to participate in more community service this spring, as well as the men’s and women’s basketball squads who are taking a mission trip in May to Saint Vincent. The teams will play against Saint Vincent’s national basketball team as well as work with youth and share the gospel.