Samford's OSL continues to work after revival

Davis Domescik, Samford News Network

Reid Chapel remains quiet. Upon first glance, you would think nothing eventful had happened here. Yet, this small house of God played host to an incredible event in the previous spring semester.

A spontaneous revival of worship and praise began on the night of February 15th, 2023. Led by students, it was a time filled with Christ-centered zeal and declarative praise, spurred by another revival at Asbury University.

While the revival has since subsided, Samford’s sense of community and Christian emphasis has not. This brings us to a building adjoining Reid Chapel, the Office of Spiritual Life.

Samford’s OSL continues to put on plenty of events post-revival. I asked OSL staffer Todd Oakley about the various events the Office of Spiritual Life is doing this semester to help build off of the incredible revival.

“We’re excited to have some special guests throughout the semester including the Passion worship team will be here coming up later in October. The other things, we have our college ministry expo that exists in that first week of school to help students find local churches especially for those freshmen as they are coming and looking to find a church home. We also have our camp ministry expo for people who are looking for a summer job and working at one of our awesome different camps around the country for students to be a part of that”, said Oakley.

While OSL’s leadership staff plays a huge part in its success, spiritual life on campus is primarily student-driven. I asked Collin Doherty, who leads on both Samford’s worship team and on MBL, a student-led organization, about how important students are to the advancement of spiritual life.

“I’d say super important, just because those people that actually work in spiritual life are obviously very important, but students are the ones that are interacting everyday with their peers, and so, without them, not much change is going to happen. So, I’d say they’re equally important or more important. So as long as the staff can equip the students well I think that that’s a great way for it to run”, Doherty said.

Samford’s Office of Spiritual Life remains committed to enhancing the spiritual lives of those who call Samford home. With a strong student population committed to Christ, the effects of revival still remain.