By Abby Witt, Sports Writer
“Sportsball, what’s that?!”
While there may be a bit a of a divide between athlete and the regular student here at Asbury, that gap is slowly closing, thanks to Sarah McDonald and a determined group of Worship Arts students who are working first-hand in building relationships outside their comfort zone.
Campus Devos is a new program where a small group of Worship Arts students gather with the Asbury University men’s soccer program before each game to worship together and build a relationship with Christ.
The idea originated from senior Cliff Evans, a member of the Asbury soccer team and Worship Arts major when he asked if leading worship with the team before games would be of interest to anyone in Worship Arts.
Jon Roller, the Worship Arts Program coordinator, presented this idea to his students in hopes that one would step up to lead.
McDonald jumped at the chance to get involved. “Since I’ve been here I have wanted to bridge that gap between athletes and normal student body, and it’s my last year and I finally get to do it,” she said.
“Sarah was very excited to do this and has done so much with it. All of it came out of her desire to use music in worship and love of people,” said Roller.
McDonald started this not knowing what to expect. “The first time I talked to Cliff about it he warned me not to expect anyone to sing, so I brought a lot of people with me to make everyone more comfortable since they didn’t know us. By the second song, they were all singing along. Now, they sing with us every time, and it’s been the greatest experience.”
McDonald’s role extends beyond that of a leader, but someone who is using God’s purpose for unity in any opportunity she is given, especially this one with the athletic department. “My vision for the program isn’t me doing it all myself, I really wanted to give other people the chance to do this and gain experience but also see they aren’t going to walk into every situation knowing exactly what is going to happen or knowing the people,” said McDonald.
The purpose behind this program has been fulfilled in the best way, having two groups of people coming together . . . to give praise to the One who has given us reason to use our talents on this earth.
Roller has also played a huge role in encouraging all that his students do, and Campus Devos has been no different. “Jesus talks about the way people will know He’s God by the way that there is unity in the body of believers. What Sarah is doing and what people involved in the program are doing is fulfilling Jesus’ desire for there to be unity and love through the body,” said Roller.
Senior Miller Jarrell, a worship arts student, has worked first hand with McDonald in extending Campus Devos beyond just the soccer team. “Sarah has taken this so …when people become in charge of something they can do it passively but this is something she’s been doing an excellent job of administrating and getting a lot of people equal opportunities to jump in and be a part of,” said Jarrell.
The hope of extending Campus Devos is important to McDonald. “My hopes as an individual and seeing where the Worship Arts Program is going is that it will extend to other programs and not just the soccer team, this is for the students who don’t already have this opportunity.”