Students gathered outside for the final Campus Community of the year
The lawn came alive in the hours leading up to the weekly event with students playing cornhole, spike ball and volleyball. Some students even set up a slip-and-slide, while others tossed footballs across the grass or jumped on trampolines.
Several vendors were also present, with food trucks offering a variety of options including kettle corn, pizza from Upper Crust, ice cream from Rookie’s and bagels from The Bagel and I.
The evening began with a worship set led by Liberty’s Worship Collective before Josh Rutledge, the vice president of Spiritual Development, took the stage to conclude the semester’s series on Colossians.
Rutledge’s message encompassed the passage of Colossians 4:7-18, detailing the ending of Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae. Rutledge emphasized applying faith practically in daily life.
“For Paul … what mattered the most wasn’t whether or not somebody … had the right language, what mattered was whether somebody lived it. … If Christ is Lord, then that has to be reflected in the nature of our lives,” Rutledge said.
Rutledge also talked about the personal nature of the gospel, noting that it is individual people and their relationships with others who bring the gospel to life and change lives. He encouraged students to invest in those around them and boldly share their faith.
Following Rutledge’s message, Chancellor Jonathan Falwell addressed the students with a challenge to apply what they’ve learned at Liberty to their adult lives after leaving campus.
“It’s not just important that you know what to say, it’s important that people see … that we live for Christ. God has called you not to be ordinary, but to be extraordinary,” Falwell said.
President Dondi Costin then led students in prayer, asking God to let students’ preparation and time at Liberty be manifested in their lives going forward; Costin also urged students to be mindful of the university’s mission by continuing to be champions for Christ wherever they may end up.
Sophomore Joey Ebenroth found the message particularly timely and practical.
“It’s just a good reminder going into the summer about how … our mission is to … go out from here and just … spread the news to everyone around us,” Ebenroth said.
Senior Bella Pipkin also appreciated the timing of the message.
“I thought it was really encouraging being … a student that’s graduating and … going into the adult world,” Pipkin said.
In his closing remarks, Falwell recognized the event production staff and Office of Spiritual Development team, emphasizing the consistent work they put forth to make events like Campus Community a success.
“We could not pull off what we do around here without all of you, and I do want to say thank you to all of you,” Falwell said.
In a memorable moment during the closing, Falwell joined students in jumping on one of the trampolines while shouting, “We’re jumping for joy!”
Afterwards, the evening concluded with more worship music from Liberty’s Worship Collective, providing students with a noteworthy and joyful end to the night.
Brinckerhoff is a news reporter for the Liberty Champion.