Thousands of students flood Academic Lawn to begin Fall 2025 semester in worship

Liberty University kicked off the Fall 2025 semester with CC on the Lawn outside the Montview Student Union on Monday night, providing students, faculty, and staff a chance to recharge and refocus following a successful first day of classes.

Hosted by the Office of Spiritual Development, the event included an extended time of worship led by the Liberty Worship Collective and an overview of this semester’s new Campus Community series, “Built Different.” Campus Community is held in the Vines Center very Wednesday night, encouraging students with sound biblical teaching from campus staff and faculty (view the schedule). Students follow up the service with a community group in their residence hall, where they discuss the night’s message, delve into God’s Word, and focus on applying it to their daily lives.

“There is no more fitting way to begin this new academic year this fall semester than with worship out here on the lawn, where we can lift up the name of Jesus,” said Vice President of Spiritual Development Josh Rutledge, noting the university plans to host a similar event on April 26, 2026, to close out the 2025-26 academic year.

“I don’t know what is going to happen in your life between tonight and the end of this year,” he added. “I don’t know what God has in store for you  —  whether it’s the high or the low, the mountain or the valley  — but the good news of the Gospel is that whatever comes in that middle, the reason you can lift up the name of Jesus, praise Him tonight, and give thanks to His faithfulness is because you know the end of the story.”

Chancellor Jonathan Falwell introduced the “Built Different” series to the student body, highlighting Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish men found in Luke 6. Just as the wise man built his house on solid rock, Falwell encouraged students to establish their lives fully on God and His promises. The series will include messages on proper spiritual formation, prayer, effective Bible study, the importance of the local church, connecting with Christian community, and more.

“Starting Wednesday night, we are going to be starting this series walking through spiritual formation and figuring out how to develop the rhythms in our lives that line up not with what the world has to say but with what God has to say and that don’t line up with what the culture says is right path, but we would understand and do exactly what Jesus said was the right path,” he said. “If Jesus said it, you can take it to the bank.”

Prior to Monday’s event, students gathered on the Academic Lawn for a time of fellowship and games. Food trucks from local Lynchburg businesses were parked on site.

“(This worship night) was really impactful because it shows you the community you have here,” said business management and financial planning freshman Sterling Fertig. “Even though it’s a huge campus and you may not know a lot of people, everybody’s in the same boat and you’re all just fellow believers of Christ coming together in worship.”

Sophomore Kaia Morris shared Fertig’s excitement, noting that the evening provided her the opportunity to reflect on the overwhelming love of God.

“(Tonight) was really important for me because it helped ground me in the fact that Jesus is Lord and I need to take every step of my life walking in worship of Him, including everything this semester,” she said, “ … just reminding me my Savior has empowered me to worship like He tells us to.”