For the past three years, Northwestern State University of Louisiana’s religious organizations have gathered to host Collaborative Worship, a night of worship put on by students for students. This year’s worship was held on Feb. 25 in the Friedman Student Union, and the event filled not only with students, but also local church members and NSU staff.
Students from the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM), Catholic Student Organization (CSO), Cadence Student Ministry, River Campus Ministry, Kappa Phi and Fellowship of Christian Athletes were all in attendance and represented their organizations through worship, all denominations coming together as one body of believers.
The night brought voices gathered in song, with some students reading scripture and others speaking about the true meaning of worship.
Olivia Robinson, a senior child and family studies major, serves as the president and youth worship director of River Campus Ministry at River Community Church. Robinson described the importance of events like Collaborative Worship for NSU’s community of believers.
“It doesn’t matter the background you come from, what you look like or what organization [you come from]. It matters that we are all together under one roof to worship our creator because He deserves all of the glory,” Robinson said.
Robinson’s comment rang true with other students involved in Collaborative Worship. Grace Lafleur, a sophomore health and exercise science major and president of the CSO, described the night as joyful.
“[All students were able] join together in what makes us one—Jesus,” Lafleur said.
Spencer Yellot, a senior industrial engineering technology major, serves as the worship leader at the BCM. “[Collaborative Worship was] an opportunity for college students who are believers in Jesus to come together and worship in song to the one we call our king and savior. We all agree on that,” Yellot said.
Yellot, along with other students and musicians, put in a lot of behind-the-scenes work to make the event happen. “I started mentally preparing at the beginning of the [school] year,” he said. “It wouldn’t have been possible without the help of leadership at the BCM.”
After so much intense preparation, Yellot’s favorite part of the event was simply “realizing we were all there to serve willingly with our gifts God has given us.”
The months of preparation came together to create one night of connection between students of all denominations and churches. “Just being in His presence with my brothers and sisters of Christ [was my favorite part]. That we got to stand beside each other and worship together,” Robinson said.
Collaborative Worship allowed students to gather for worship in unity, both physically and spiritually, celebrating with one body, one song, their one king and savior.
