Bluefield University will host its 33rd Annual Duremdes Christian Emphasis Week, September 16-20, featuring several opportunities for students to engage with God’s Word and Christian community beyond regular campus ministry events. Anthony Gurrola from this spring’s Deeper Revival Nights will return to speak on this academic year’s theme of “Presence,” based on Exodus 33:14: “The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest’” (NIV).
“We have amazing opportunities to share the presence of God with others,” said Abby Gasperson, the Impact and Outreach Leader for Bluefield University Student Ministries (BUSM). “I am so excited to see you and enjoy ‘Presence Week’ together!”
Thanks to the generosity of Drs. Gene and Jane Duremdes of Princeton, West Virginia, who have sponsored the Christian Emphasis event since 1992, the university has set aside a week in the school year for students and members of the community to focus on their faith. Sensing a special calling to “share with the students of Bluefield University some of the blessings they have received from the Lord,” the Duremdes created the event with BU leaders to allow students and the public at-large to “examine their spiritual lives” and to “seek answers to life-impacting questions.”
Our student ministries team will kick off the week on Monday night with their regular Home service at 7:00 p.m. in the Jack Marcom Student Center. These services, consisting of student-led worship music and a gospel-centered message from a BU student or alum, aim to make students feel truly at home in the presence of Christ. Afterward, students may engage in small group Bible studies led by their peers as part of the university’s Roots initiative.
The university will host its weekly chapel service on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in the Harman Chapel auditorium, the first of three services with Anthony Gurrola. Additional chapel services will be held on Thursday and Friday mornings.
For this week’s Wednesday in the Quad student engagement event, the campus ministries leadership team will offer foot washing for students, faculty, and staff in the spirit of John 13:14. The Rams community will also have opportunities to participate in lawn games and music-based worship.
Our “Presence Party” will be held on Wednesday night beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Quad with paint splattering, canvas painting, and refreshments.
From noon until 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, BU students will offer a prayer drive-through at the roundabout entrance to campus. Beginning at 3:15 p.m., students will meet in Harman Chapel and divide into groups to walk around campus and pray for other members of the Rams community.
On Friday night at 6:00 p.m., students can enjoy refreshments from Gurrola’s Johnson City-based company, Fearless Coffee, leading up to a worship night in Harman Chapel. We invite the public to join us for an evening with The Altar Music starting at 7:00 p.m.
For media inquiries, please contact the Office of Public Relations and Marketing at [email protected].
