Last Sunday was the beginning of the Grambling State University Campus Ministry Week. That night, there was a consecration service and feast in the newly built Tiger Express Theatre. The Rev. Benjamin Santana was the guest speaker for the evening. In the Rev. Santana’s sermon, he discussed a “Great Thanksgiving.” He, as well as the students, took part in consecrating the building.
Campus Ministry Week was established 10 years ago. The weeklong spiritual-filled activities are held twice a year, once in the fall and in the spring.
“The purpose of Campus Ministry is to bring all university ministry clubs together; to be united and to fellowship, all while giving praise to God,” said Shelton Berry, interim president of Campus Ministry.
“While there are several religious organizations on campus, all of them are under the umbrella of Campus Ministry,” Berry added.
On Monday, Campus Ministry members provided free ice cream to the student body. Later that night, a Sex & Spirituality forum was held where the Rev. Larry Rhone was the guest speaker. He discussed how there are nearly 70 million people in the United States infected with STDs.
“It’s a shame that rappers and actors talk about sex every day in their line of work, but no one wants to talk about it in school,” the Rev. Rhone said.
The Men of Integrity seminar was held Tuesday night at the Catholic Student Center. The Rev. Reginald Thompson was the speaker for the night. His speech was titled “Ebony Man Living In An Ivory Tower: Moving From Good to Great.”
On Wednesday evening, a Labyrinth Vigil was held in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Franklin Wilson was one of the speakers as well as the Rev. Connie Breaux, Campus Ministry’s director. She is the sixth director of CM and the first female director.
Faces of Faith-A Forum on Theological Discoveries was held Thursday. International student Shukri Mohamed and the Rev. Guy West provided knowledge about their denominations. Mohammed, who is Islamic, gave her opinion on religion. “Everyone believes in one God. Some people do not understand the similarities between Christianity.”
Campus Ministry concluded the week by taking a trip to the Swanson Correctional Center in Monroe to provide spiritual assistance to the younger generation, aged 12-19. It was the first year GSU joined forces with campus ministries from Louisiana Tech and University of Louisiana-Monroe. Epiphany, the prison ministry, provided worship for the three-day weekend.