Author: Houghton STAR

The student newspaper of Houghton College for more than 100 years.

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Opinions

Critique: A Form of Love and Growth

By: Sydney Arnold ('27)

Have you ever thought that your family was perfect? That they were doing everything right and everyone else was wrong? We can look at that sentence and know it is an unhealthy standard to hold our families to. We are humans! It is never going to be perfect. I would even suggest that you cannot love them to the best of your ability unless you acknowledge their flaws. 

It is an easy mental jump to say that your family might not be perfect, but you can love them and acknowledge that. However, we are hesitant to apply this to something bigger, like our country. Americans, specifically, are resistant to critique of their country. We frequently refer to ourselves as God’s country, as if God has a special love for Americans, or that we are specifically blessed by God, led by God, or chosen to be the “modern Israel.” However, God does not favor our country over others; he does not place us above the people living in Spain, Canada, Kenya, India, or Afghanistan. In the same way that you cannot love your family without critiquing and acknowledging their shortcomings, you cannot love your country without recognizing that it is a flawed system built and run by flawed people. The first step in fixing those injustices and learning from those mistakes is to acknowledge that they exist.

Now, one person cannot just shout all the bad things about our country into the void. Instead, we must look to our institutions. Social psychologist at NYU Stern School of Business, Jonathan Haidt, writes in his article, “Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid,” that to silence critique is to “shoot a dart gun” right back at the institution’s brain. It discredits, destabilizes, and diminishes the intelligence of an institution to reject other perspectives or conversations of growth. Iron must sharpen iron rather than hushing up indiscretions or pretending that we do not have flaws because Houghton is a Christian University. Houghton has no shortage of good and Godly things happening, and this is not a call to stir up hate, just a plea to invite everyone into conversation. Religious institutions must be even more aware of this, because not only does Houghton’s reputation represent the whole student body, but it is also one of the only two Wesleyan Universities in the state and one of only a handful in the country. What messages do we, as an institution, project about Jesus’s love? What messages do we share in the media that define who we are? Houghton’s voice is bigger than one person’s and does have the power to take a stand against injustice. Students at Houghton have a wide range of political and religious perspectives, and many students have expressed their frustration with the close-mindedness they have faced in classrooms and discussions. Many students feel unseen, unheard, and underrepresented after Houghton’s recent news publicity or outward political stances. We must look for opportunities to share our ideas and have open conversations. The panel discussions are a good start, but what if we invited speakers with different views? We have a beautifully crafted school newspaper, but what if we preserved an atmosphere where people felt safe sharing their opinions and concerns in it? Where can we invite others into the conversation?

The vision for Houghton should be one where students from all different backgrounds and perspectives can come together to learn and worship Christ. It should be a place to broaden your perspective and be challenged to tackle new ideas with the help of professors and peers. How much more growth could we collectively have if we had open discussions between all different kinds of students and faculty? To create that environment, we must be able to acknowledge the places where we are falling short. The most beautiful part of that image is modeling a way of Christian life where we can learn from each other, include each other, and protect each other. ★

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Campus News

Hymn Sing Returns

Mercy Seat
Mercy Seat - courtesy of Kaitlyn Avery
by Susannah Denham ('26)

In Fall of ’23, Mercy Seat hosted a hymn sing. 

Linden Foster ’27 described it as, “a group of roughly two dozen students, faculty, and community members. We sang a mix of contemporary and traditional hymns, some accompanied by Pastor [David] Huizenga on keyboard, and some sung acapella.” 

In addition, Dr. Benjamin Lipscomb mentioned, “People called out songs they wanted to try, and most of the time there was a critical mass of people who knew the songs well enough to bring the rest along.” Rhythm instruments (cajon and shakers) and a guitar were also available if anyone wanted to use them. 

Attendees appreciated how the event brought together people from all ages and different walks of life. Dr. Lipscomb described it as a beautiful intergenerational mix of older people, who were anchors of the Houghton community, and students.

Many people also learned new hymns or arrangements. Josephine Lipscomb ‘25, familiar with the Mennonite hymnals, was introduced to new hymns she didn’t know from the Wesleyan hymnal, and Joshua Armstrong ’26 remembered singing “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” in a different way. Foster also appreciated singing a variety of hymns.

Mercy Seat Ministries runs several events throughout the semester, most notably “The Cry” (24 hours of worship in the Van Dyk Lounge the weekend before finals), and organizes weeknight worship on campus at 8 p.m. in the chapel basement. Led by a different team each night, the worship has a relaxed environment and small numbers.

This Monday, Mercy Seat Ministries will host another hymn sing in the chapel basement at 7:30 p.m. Similar to the previous year, two types of hymnals will be supplied: the Wesleyan hymnals used in chapel and hymnals recently used by Sojourners Mennonite Fellowship in Belfast, NY. 

“This isn’t what people might think of when they hear hymn sing,” explained Lipscomb, “we’re not sitting in pews singing along with an organ. We’re sitting in a circle, in an informal setting, singing songs you might usually hear led on an organ.”

Dr. Lipscomb noticed the responsibility for worship created during last year’s hymn sing. It was, “something that the smaller numbers and more intimate space (and lack of amplification) facilitated: we were in no way carried along by an act of worship that didn’t need us. 

“For better or worse, a message of much large-scale worship is, ‘the leaders will be up here worshiping; join in if you like.’ But if the people gathered in the undercroft that night hadn’t sung out, then the act of worship wouldn’t have happened. 

“That night’s worship was whatever we collectively made it: unpolished but vigorous in a way that often doesn’t happen when you’re leaning on the band,” he said.

Worship music genre (usually hymns vs. contemporary Christian music) is not a new debate in the Church. Mercy Seat does not want to continue that debate but offers multiple types and formats of worship in the Houghton community. There are benefits and drawbacks to different styles, and their hope is that students can create and find what helps them worship. 

Foster noted that worship preferences often depend on how people were brought up. 

“I was raised in a traditional church where we sang hymns accompanied by either organ or piano,” Foster said. “Because of this, I find it really difficult to connect with contemporary Christian music. From my point of view, hymns generally better represent orthodox theology in their text and are more straightforward to sing along to. I understand that many people were raised on contemporary and feel the same way about that style of music.”

One of the great appeals of hymnody is the history and tradition behind it. Armstrong believes that “hymns are a part of our past and we miss out on something when we neglect them.”

Mercy Seat encourages people to attend the hymn sing even if they are not familiar with hymns, are not comfortable sight reading music, or are not used to the environment. It’s important to try or at least experience different styles of worship music, though it may be a step outside of your comfort zone. Sometimes it can be, as Dr. Lipscomb said, “good to have the responsibility pushed onto us.” ★

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Campus News

Growing Housing Competition

Houghton Townhouses
Townhouses - courtesy of Kaitlyn Avery
by Taylor Pascoe ('26)

Due to the 10% growth in student attendance over the past two years, Houghton University’s upperclassmen housing will continue to become more competitive in the years to come. Housing demands have increased since the university experienced two larger incoming classes in 2023 and 2024. 

Currently, the university offers two men’s and two women’s dorm halls and townhouses adjacent to campus. Additionally, upperclassmen students have the option of off-campus living, which is based on availability and spots filled through renters in the nearby community. 

Townhouse residents live more independently. The townhouses offer 216 beds, with nearly 200 students filling them as of Fall 2024. Although townhouses are more commonly viewed as upperclassmen housing, some sophomores reside in the townhouses as well. Townhouses are based on availability and credit hours earned, making it more competitive to secure a house. 

Elena Esh ‘27 resides with sophomores in one of the Hazlett townhouses. Esh confirmed the competitive process and how her group secured a house. After missing the deadline, she heard of an opening with the requirement that they would need a full house of eight people to be considered. Esh and her friends sought out the remaining people they would need and applied. Shortly after, they were approved. 

Esh said that there were “multiple reasons” for her wanting to live in a townhouse. Due to having more people nearby, her own space and after having experienced a friend’s townhouse the previous year, it was overall “just a better experience.” 

Similar to townhouses where you live with other people and share common spaces, off-campus housing differs because you don’t choose who you live with. These spaces also don’t have the community-like feel that the townhouses bring with other student neighbors and specific townhouse events. 

Off-campus housing is approved by the school but is under an apartment renter’s ownership, meaning the student needs to contact the owner to see if spots are available. Per school policy, they offer 15-25 spots per year to students and who must have a minimum of 90 credits. This policy is set to encourage the majority of students to live on campus. 

Senior Tabitha Clark ‘24 is a resident of an off-campus housing apartment. Clark switched from townhouses to off-campus housing for different reasons, but mainly due to money and convenience. She said “It’s a lot cheaper” and “It’s closer to campus and I don’t have a car,” which made  the switch that much more appealing. 

The university used to offer the flats to upperclassmen as another option, but this stopped when enrollment decreased in the 2000s. Katie Breitigan, Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life and Housing, said the vision for having more exclusive upperclassmen housing is to offer students more “independent living” in their “different stages” of life as underclassmen and upperclassmen. She further said that upperclassmen housing is seen as more of a “launching for life” because it allows students to live more independently, which prepares them for life after college. 

When asked if she saw the upperclassmen housing options becoming more competitive in the future, Katie confirmed saying, “It’s already been competitive.” 

Students with 90 credits applying for off-campus will be at a disadvantage to any student who has more credits than them because those students will get first rights. Off-campus housing is highly competitive because students are competing with each other, faculty, community members and graduate students as well to get a spot. 

Although housing needs have changed, Katie confirmed that the townhouses and off-campus housing will continue to be available options for living and that the university is working to provide “consistent” living conditions for students. ★

Categories
Stories In Focus

Rallying the Den

by Bethany Tubman (’25)

The sports marketing club failed to recharter, and the leaderless Den (the affectionate name for the student sections) grew silent at games. 

“It was the summer before my junior year,” Tymber Wynn, a senior on the women’s basketball team, remembered. “Selah and I were just texting, saying we are tired of people never coming to games, and we just want to make it fun.” 

Wynn and Selah Kurtz (a 2024 Houghton University graduate) made an Instagram account in the summer of 2023 that cultivated a community of spirited Houghton students who would support the Houghton athletic community on and off the field. When asked how the name “Lander Nation” was chosen, Wynn enthusiastically said, “We literally did a poll on Instagram asking what people wanted it to be called! The name Lander Nation came from Carlee Miller, and people voted on that!” 

In the Fall semester of 2023, Lander Nation made its presence felt by the Houghton athletic community as they planned, hosted and promoted events like tailgates before games and themed spirit nights during games. The Instagram account caught the eye of the Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Jeremy Bialek. 

“We as coaches can try to get students excited about what we are doing or our teams, but when students are excited, it’s contagious, and that is what I saw from Lander Nation. It was very contagious,” he attested. 

Tricia Carmer, a sophomore on the women’s basketball team, said playing in the basketball games as a freshman and seeing the support of students taking part in their themed game nights inspired her. For Carmer, Lander Nation ignites campus spirit in and out of games. Carmer joined Wynn as Lander Nation continues pursuing the unique aim of reigniting Houghton school spirit and communal student support of athletic ventures. 

Lander Nation faced challenges as they worked in the Spring 2024 semester to become a university-recognized club in the upcoming Fall 2024 semester. Kurtz graduated in 2024, and Wynn and Carmer lacked knowledge about club development. According to Wynn, they turned to Coach Bialek and Director of Student Engagement Jana Newberry for guidance. Their support was instrumental in Lander Nation’s journey, she said. 

Coach Bialek suggested that he and Newberry helped Wynn and Carmer find a way to adopt the structure of the Sports Marketing Club into Lander Nation. This provided a new flair to sports marketing on campus. 

Carmer said this year, the club will focus on Basketball season because she and Wynn (both basketball players) are the only ones in the club. However, she hopes that if students enjoy the basketball season events, they will be interested in expanding the club’s reach.

When asked what they were most looking forward to for the 2024-2025 school year, Coach Bialek, Wynn and Carmer shared excitement for the Lander Nation shirts they are designing. 

Coach Bialek attested he was excited about the growth that the Den will see as Lander Nation provides more student Leadership through Den Days (these will be days students will be encouraged to go to games of the sport Lander Nation is trying to highlight at that time) and themed basketball game nights.

“I just encourage students to try it out. Go to a game. See what being part of the student section is like and maybe get some free shirts out of it,” said Coach Bialek. ★

Categories
Columns

Anime Critique

Written By: Julian Veley (’25)

In my experience, people are quick to hate anime, and honestly, it makes sense. The majority of the fanbase is cringe-worthy children or weirdly obsessive adults. The plotlines can be corny, the characters are over-the-top in expressing everything, and the English voiceovers are laughably hard to take seriously. However, when you give anime a chance, you have to put those qualms aside and approach it similarly to how you would approach a newly released movie. If you’re watching an action movie you can typically expect cool special effects with plenty of deus ex machina– a cheap writing trick used to ensure the main character survives. In a romantic film, you can usually expect to watch the protagonist’s relationship grow during the first half, just for things to temporarily break apart, before the finale when everything gets fixed. When you approach anime, you have to embrace the breathy, exaggerated lines, and characters that come with it and appreciate the unique art and storytelling styles it has to offer.

In this review, I will be discussing a show I am currently in the process of watching called Black Clover. The show is the animated adaptation of the manga, released on TV Tokyo in October 2017.  This series follows two young boys named Asta and Yuno as they compete against one another to become the wizard king of the Clover Kingdom. The world in which they live runs on magic. Mana is “the force” in this world, and some people are given more of it while some have weaker connections, and your level of mana determines your strength as a magic user. Yuno is born with an abnormally strong connection to the mana of the world and demonstrates incredible potential in his youth. Asta is born unlike any other, with no connection to magic whatsoever. Without any magic, he trains from his childhood up to the day we meet him, making himself physically stronger than any magic user since there is no need for physical strength. In every village in the kingdom, there is an annual ceremony for those who have turned 15 to receive their Grimoire (Grim-Wahr). This Grimoire is the spellbook that they will have for the rest of their lives. During this ceremony, Yuno receives the “Four-Leaf Grimoire,” the very same that was used by the first and most powerful wizard king. Asta is the only one who never receives his book, leaving him crestfallen as he is sure his magic will develop once he receives it. After the ceremony, Yuno is jumped by someone seeking the four-leaf grimoire for themselves. Asta comes in, fighting to save Yuno with nothing but his raw strength, and is defeated. When all seemed lost, a Grimoire like no other appeared before Asta, one containing anti-magic: “The Five-leaf Grimoire.” 

The show has a balance of comedy while also taking itself seriously when necessary. The majority of the humor in this show is simple but amusing and goes back and forth between being childish and mature. It has, so far, been entertaining and one I recommend to anyone interested in starting an anime.

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Columns

Alien: Romulus Review

Written By: Caleb Tiedeman (’25)

Color me surprised. It’s no secret that the last couple of films in the Alien franchise have been questionable in their quality. Even the director of the original 1979 movie, Ridley Scott’s return to the franchise resulted in lackluster films. With that in mind, I was excited when I heard rumors of a new Alien movie. Alien: Romulus is a sick name, and upon seeing the trailers, I became even more excited and hopeful that this movie would turn out great. After watching it, I am so happy with the final product. 

Fede Alvarez’s take on the Alien franchise connects to both the original story and Scott’s prequels marvelously. Not only does it expand on the original story, but also adds more depth to previously established characters, monsters, and events. Despite this movie being the seventh movie made about the titular creature, in the universal timeline this movie is number four. With a smaller cast, the movie harkens back to the original Alien without repeating the same narrative. Each member felt important and relevant to the plot in some way. Despite getting killed off, each character added something of benefit to the overarching narrative. The standout was David Jonsson as Andy. He not only pulled off a believable performance as a bit of a buffoon, but a very convincing cold android one as well. I loved the homages to the original movie and the prequels as well. I rewatched the series, so I was ready for any name drops or references. 

The cinematography was excellent. Alvarez’s hand behind the camera highlighted the beauty of the natural world, or in this case, space. He also recaptured the tension and claustrophobia of the original film well. The use of space itself was impressive, utilizing zero-G to create new and tense action sequences, and introducing water to add a new level of horror to the already terrifying face-hugger—both excellent decisions. The lower lighting, with the flashing strobe lights of the Romulus and various flashlights, did wonders for keeping the Xenomorph shrouded in mystery. 

Both the score and sound design were excellent as well. The tense sections of the film that relied on pure silence were some of the best. The drop into complete silence followed by a piercing scream was a great way to build tension before a kill. I have to say I was very impressed with the finale. It was fresh and added a new horrifying creature to the franchise’s repertoire. The human-Xenomorph hybrid was miles better than the one from Resurrection. It retained its human form but was gangly and distorted, highlighting the skeletal structure of the Xenomorph. The scene where only its silhouette is seen was chilling! It was very reminiscent of Dead Space, and anything that can capture the quality of such a well-made game deserves praise. It will probably be the closest thing we Dead Space fans will get to a Necromorph. 

I can’t wait to see this again and spot all the small details I missed. Alvarez’s contribution to this franchise is a great one and certainly should not be missed. ★

Categories
Columns

Andor Season 1 Review

Written By: Anna Sumner (’25)

At first glance, Andor seems like yet another Disney+ spinoff based on a semi-important character from another movie that few people have seen. If you were to make assumptions based on this formula, Andor would be mildly entertaining mediocrity. Andor is not that. Andor is a refreshingly mature take on the Star Wars universe that probes and deepens the franchise’s conventions by adding much-needed nuance. It is a prequel to Rogue One and acts as part political drama and part spy thriller. The only foreknowledge required for this viewing is familiarity with the Original and Prequel Trilogy. Andor follows the titular character Cassian Andor, played by Deigo Luna (reprising his role from Rogue One), and the rise of the Rebellion. It takes a closer look at the lives of (relatively) ordinary people under a totalitarian government (The Empire), and dives into the ultimate fragility of totalitarianism. Andor presents the Empire and the Rebellion less straightforwardly than the Original Trilogy. The Rebellion consists of disconnected acts of resistance, with the characters being just as much terrorists as freedom fighters. None of the characters feel cliché–they are grounded, nuanced, and conflicted. Even the characters on the same side experience a range of motivations, from the idealistic manifesto-writing Nemik to the cynical, do-what-must-be-done Luthen. The Empire is still portrayed as evil, but its oppression is shown in such personal and frightening ways that the writers must have drawn from history. The Imperial (or adjacent) characters span a similar range of motives and backgrounds. While all the characters are compelling, I would like to especially highlight the characters of Syril Karne and Dedra Meero, and how their desperation for power because of their youth and lack of status makes them especially frightening in their cruelty. In general, the Empire feels frightening and oppressive, in a way that few other Star Wars media captures. One particular highlight is the scene where the TIE Fighter flies overhead the rebel group. It created more anxiety and tension over a single TIE Fighter than I’ve felt with entire space battles in other Star Wars media. As with the rest of the Disney+ catalog, the visuals are stunning, but I’d like to complement the art direction, as things feel gritty, lived in, and have a certain weight to them. Another profoundly good aspect is the writing and dialogue, there are some truly breathtaking monologues. It’s realistic and carefully crafted, giving each character a unique voice. The pacing can be slow, especially in the first two episodes, as characters and the world are established and developed. However, this results in multiple climatic payoffs, and a deep understanding of the characters and world, with an incredible finale. As this is only the first season, some character arcs are left unfinished, but even as-is, the show is certainly worth a watch.  ★

Categories
Campus News

Lyric Theatre: She Loves Me!

Lyric Theater - She Loves Me
Lyric Theater - Courtesy of - Hannah Sturdivant
by Jiana Martin ('26)

Tonight at 7:30 p.m. the Lyric Theatre will perform “She Loves Me” (its second of four shows) in Houghton Academy’s  Tysinger Auditorium. 

“She Loves Me” is a warm and charming romantic comedy – music by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick and a book by Joe Masteroff – set in a 1930s European perfumery owned by Mr. Maraczek.

Professor Amanda Cox, Director of Houghton’s Lyric Theatre, explained, “It is actually based on the same Hungarian play (“Parfumerie” by Miklos Laszlo) that inspired three movies, including the beloved film “You’ve Got Mail” starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.”

The story follows two shop clerks, Amalia Balash and Georg Nowack, who initially cannot stand each other. After responding to a “lonely heart’s advertisement” in the newspaper, they are delighted and look forward the love letters they exchange. However, they do not realize they are corresponding with each other.

“I have had the most wonderful time directing this musical,” Cox added, “many of the roles are double cast and it has been such a joy to see each actor bring their own personality and choices to the role.” 

Cox chose this production because it is her favorite musical and she had been waiting for the right time to put it on. She has played the role of Amalia twice and finds it to be a beautiful experience directing it now.

Emily Quick ‘23 is one of the two actresses playing the smart, hardworking, funny, and sometimes unhinged Amalia. 

“I see a lot of myself in Amalia, so it’s been so much fun getting to portray a character that’s already very similar to me,” Quick commented. “It’s been great getting to explore such a relatable character who feels such a wide range of complicated emotions.”

Despite the challenges, she has enjoyed working with a double cast because it is fun to see how the characters vary depending on who’s performing. 

Professor Benjamin Lipscomb,  one of the two actors who play Mr. Maraczek, expressed, “It’s been a delight to work with students I already knew (and some I didn’t) as a collaborator.” 

As he prepares for the show, Lipscomb has reflected on his character’s paternal relationship with the men working under him. He considers it essential to establish the relationship early on; otherwise, Mr. Maracek could come across as a jerk when he is stressed and irritated.

Emily Hanes ‘26, who plays Miss Illona Ritter, has enjoyed the opportunities to share fun moments with the cast. 

“Even though we’ve had a lot of late nights, it truly is a joy to be able to do this show with all of these wonderful people,” Hanes stated. “It’s been a big blessing!”

Her favorite part of bringing her character to life has been exploring Illona’s journey from doubt and insecurity to finding love and herself. 

“She starts off unsure of herself, caught in shallow relationships, but by the end, she finds her own voice and realizes she deserves true happiness,” Hanes explained.  

Audiences can count on an enjoyable evening of laughter and smiling tears.

“The story is so fun, the characters hilarious and engaging, and the music is wonderful and will stick in your hearts and minds for days!” concluded Cox. 

“She Loves Me” will perform a 2 p.m. matinee tomorrow, with a final performance at 7:30 p.m. that same night. ★

Categories
Stories In Focus

Salvation Army Student Fellowship

by Logan Caroll ('26)

The Salvation Army was created when William and Catherine Booth saw the poverty stricken people in the slums of London and felt a calling from God to minister to them. In 1865, the Booths created the Christian Mission. The mission was simple: help those in poverty physically, and then share the gospel and connect them with local churches. However, local churches treated the poor as outcasts and didn’t want them in their congregations. So, in 1878, William and Catherine decided that if other churches wouldn’t accept these people, they would start a church that would welcome them. Borrowing from the popular military language of the time, the Booths set their church up like an army, with its mission to be a church for people other churches forgot about.

The Salvation Army Student Fellowship (SASF) at Houghton University connects students with this same mission, providing opportunities for service and ministry in a local setting.  

Upon hearing “Salvation Army,” it is common to think about thrift stores and Christmas time bell-ringers; however, it is more than that. At a basic level, it is a church. 

Judith Rapley, Houghton Board of Trustees member and former SASF member, stated, “The Salvation Army is more than just a church, it has the ability to touch the whole person from soup and soap to salvation.” 

Rapley refers to the motto of William Booth: soup, soap and salvation. He firmly believed that if people are to be open to hearing the gospel, they need to have their physical needs met. 

The Salvation Army and the SASF have maintained Booth’s commitment to meeting both physical and spiritual needs. Houghton’s SASF partners with the Salvation Army in Wellsville to provide ways of meeting these needs in a local community setting through service opportunities such as nursing home visitation, food distribution, Christmas assistance and more. 

Each opportunity offered allows Christians to act on their faith as Jesus commands in Matthew 25:40 (NIV): “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” 

The SASF provides the space for students across denominational lines to partner together in ministry. 

Emily Stothart, SASF director and pastor of the Wellsville Salvation Army, said, “The SASF is a place where students of all backgrounds come together to serve. While some of our students attend the Salvation Army as their church, not all do, which is a great thing. It allows us to learn from those with different denomination backgrounds, and it allows those who don’t attend The Army to see that no matter where they end up, there is a church they know they can volunteer at to serve their local community.” 

Houghton students have long prided themselves as being “scholar-servants,” and the SASF also provides avenues for servanthood post-graduation. The Salvation Army exists across the US, as well as over 135 countries, allowing many service opportunities far beyond the reach of Houghton’s campus.

Rapley stated, “The Salvation Army has opportunities to serve around the world… because of the network I made through the SASF, I was able to serve after graduation.” 

Brynn Dixon ‘25, SASF President, encouraged people to check out SASF on CampusGroups. 

“We have our Christmas Campaign coming up which means lots of opportunities to volunteer in the community,” Dixon said. “So if you have a few hours to spare and want to help out come stop by the SASF office and chat with us! Even if you don’t think there’s something for you to do we can always help you find something that you’ll like and enjoy doing! And it helps the community!” ★

Categories
Opinions

Why Worship?

By Cora Paige ('27)

Hey to everyone reading this article! I hope you are having a great Friday, and enjoying the new day God has given us!! 

My goal in writing this article is to share some of my favorite reasons why worship is amazing and an effective way to connect with God. Now I will not be discussing worship as the term for service, but instead using music to relate to Christ. Before talking about my reasons, I would like to give you a little background story.

I grew up as an MK in South America and Spain. My parents were always serving in churches, so I was able to really “experiment” with God and find my special area in which I could serve Him. I loved ministering to kids, helping decorate for events, and so much more, until I discovered music. My parents have had me attend piano lessons since I was five years old. I learned to play classical music and Christmas music. The moment I started realizing I had a “talent” for worship was when my piano teacher asked me what kind of music I enjoyed listening to. At the time, I answered with Christian music, so she made me think of a Christian song to sing and present for the next lesson.

The following week, I remember sitting down and feeling really worried because I had no idea how my teacher would react. As I started playing the piano and singing my song, my piano teacher was in literal awe of what had just occurred. When I finished the song, she stood up and clapped while smiling widely. She really encouraged me to play at my church and sing because she recognized the gift I have. My teacher told my parents about it and they were quite proud of me. Since then, I have been playing the piano and singing (I will not give you the exact amount of years it has been haha).

As soon as my teacher and myself recognized the talent I had, it was too late to back down. I decided for myself that I would commit to the talent God gave me and not take it for granted. Worship was my way of connecting with God. I realized that when I was anxious or going through adversities, sitting down and playing the piano calmed my troubled heart; and it is my way of deeply connecting with Him. I simply cannot count on my fingers the many opportunities I had in churches all around the world to worship.  

Now to give you a list of reasons as to why worship is effective to God.  (1) It is an intimate thing with Christ, (2) strengthens your faith, and (3) you do not have to have a talent in music to worship God. Whether it be singing Christian music in your room or  worshiping in your church, you are doing an intimate thing. I cannot express with words how worship touches your spiritual heart and what that feels like. To me I feel bubbly and warm, because I know that God has plans for me; to you, it might feel or look different, and that is totally fine! Worship strengthens your faith and widens your perspective on what God can do for you. Worship encourages me to read the Bible more often and come to the altar everyday. 

There are so many songs that talk differently about God. For me, I love songs that are spiritually lyrical in the sense that they convey emotions when coming to the altar of Christ. Christians songs should be full of Biblical verses, and when you read those verses it is like God is speaking to you. I remember one time that I was listening to “Take Me Back” by Maverick City Music, and I started bawling my eyes out. I was so so touched by the Holy Spirit and by God that I could not hold myself together. I am typically not an emotional person, but when it comes to worship, I am a cryer! This song spoke to me because I related to it at the moment. 

Lastly, you do not need to be good at music in order to worship! I know so many people who think they cannot sing (my dad haha), and acknowledge they are doing it for the Lord. I do not mean go on stage and sing horribly, but instead I am implying that it is all about where your heart is at. God knows you and loves you, but you have to allow Him to come into your life. You are the one that opens the door! So you need to remember to just sing out your troubles, heartaches, and more for the glory of God when worshiping. Worship, for me, is such a selfless thing to do because, again, we are doing it for Him and not man. So I encourage you when you wake up or about to go to bed, spend 5-10 minutes listening to music and just worship. Tell God your struggles, and ask for His grace and peace as you navigate the next few years of college! I am telling you people, it works! 

Please keep in mind that I am not saying worship is the only way to worship, but that worship is one way that was the most effective for me. You might find journaling, writing poems, or other things to be more effective, and that is okay! As long as you glorify God in everything you do, and obey His commandments, Big G has a seat for you in Heaven. God will do amazing things, just you wait!

Anyways, have a blessed day!! ★