29 Aug

Students focus on Christ at ‘Paradise’

LA CYGNE, Kan. (BP)—In a rural field at the geographic center of the nation, more than 3,000 college and high school students gathered around a symbolic “foundation of the heavenly throne” to worship Jesus through Scripture, prayer and singing May 25.

“Paradise” began as students and youth leaders toted coolers, chairs, blankets and Bibles to the gathering place about 60 miles south of Kansas City. Some arrived early enough to worship Christ at sunrise in the open field, which was soggy from recent rain.

Around 8:30 a.m., students gathered in small groups under a cloudy sky to get acquainted with one another and talk about their relationships with Jesus. An hour of silence was set aside on the worship field for students to personally consider what Jesus might want to do in their lives at Paradise.

Noon marked the beginning of a sacred assembly — four hours of Scripture reading and singing that addressed various facets of the supreme majesty of God’s Son. Though storms dotted the middle of the nation, the sun had come out and the sky was clear.

Corresponding Scripture passages for each category were displayed on a large screen above the throne foundation and were read by people hidden behind the structure. Students meditated on verses such as Psalm 84:1-2, which tells of a soul longing for the courts of the Lord. They claimed Hebrews 4:16, approaching the throne of grace with confidence because Jesus is their high priest.

Students sang worship songs that were familiar to their generation, such as “We Are Hungry,” “Better Is One Day,” “We Fall Down,” “Indescribable,” “Give Us Clean Hands,” “Marvelous Light” and “Famous One.” They concluded with “Here Is Our King” as some of them danced in the field in worship.

The sacred assembly was followed by a time of late afternoon silence, when students could find a place to absorb what they experienced during the reciting of Scripture and singing of songs. They also met in small groups again to continue discussions and process together what it means to be followers of Jesus in today’s culture.

At sunset, another worship time was set aside, led by youth workers who addressed what God might want to accomplish among students as they return to their homes following Paradise.

“Never in 40 years of ministry have I seen so many adults interceding over students while those students stood before Christ,” Richard Ross, a student ministry professor who set forth the vision for Paradise, told Baptist Press.

“Never have I seen believers move through hours of worship with no audible or visible word other than Scripture and songs based on Scripture,” Ross added. “Never have I seen hours of worship follow the entire ‘life of Christ,’ moving from His eternal preexistence, His role in creation, the prophecies of His coming to earth, His incarnation, death and resurrection, His ascension to the throne, His second coming and His eternal reign.”

Ross said the key planners for Paradise believe May 25 was the beginning of something God might do, starting with the current generation of students.

“We believe we will see the American church increasingly begin to awake to the supreme majesty of the Son of God,” he said. “We believe promotion, marketing and retailing will begin to disappear from places of worship. We believe those who plan worship increasingly will set aside concern about budgets and will listen only to the voice of Christ for direction. We believe speakers, preachers and artists increasingly will lay ego aside and will direct much more attention to the glory of Christ.”

At Paradise, much effort was made to ensure that all attention would be on Jesus, the only name promoted at the gathering. Nothing was sold or advertised, no one made money, and no agenda was advanced.

Walter Norvell, assistant professor of Christian ministries at Williams Baptist College in Arkansas, called Paradise a “phenomenal experience” that he believes could be a pivotal point in his life.

“We saw that youth do not need a star on stage, a popular band or a famous speaker to have a worship experience,” Norvell told BP. “We saw a few thousand students make a sort of spiritual pilgrimage to worship without any other agenda but to give glory to Christ the King. We saw how Jesus is portrayed in Scripture from eternity past to eternity future.”

J.D. Simpson, executive director of First Priority of South Mississippi, took students from five churches on a charter bus to Paradise. He said they hiked for 15 minutes to reach the field on Sunday morning.

“When I topped the hill, I saw the crowd gathered before the throne in prayer. For me, it was if I was on holy ground,” Simpson told BP. “I just stood there for a minute to take in the moment. Folks from all over had made the journey to pray and worship Jesus. … It was what I thought it would be.”

Simpson said students and adults are so programmed in how to worship that some didn’t know what to do when they arrived. They quickly started walking around, meeting other students and praying, he said.

“I was in tears many parts of the day as I focused on Jesus. I believe He was exalted, and for one brief moment we were able to see a glimpse of heaven,” Simpson said, adding that the sacred assembly was a “quick four hours.”

“My students had mixed feelings and thoughts. It was a unique venue for most of them. They got to see all types of folks and experience worship in a completely different environment,” Simpson said. “At the end of the day, most were glad they made the trip.”

Bill Burnett, a father from Benbrook, Texas, who organized a group to attend Paradise, said he arrived two days early to help set up for the day of worship.

“The atmosphere of those working was one of anticipation, very similar to the way people act when they know someone important is coming to their home,” Burnett told BP. “Several things had to be done over and over because of rain and storm damage, and none of the people I talked to complained. They just went back to work to prepare for an important guest.”

While some people commented that it was strange not to have anyone on stage leading worship, Burnett said it took him “about 10 seconds” to become accustomed to it.

A ring of crosses marked the prime spot on the field around the throne foundation, where people were to maintain reverence and an attitude of worship. Burnett said his 15-year-old son stepped outside the ring of crosses at one point to take pictures, and he noted to his father that he got the feeling things were markedly different inside the circle as opposed to outside.

“I know that when I was at the production truck I felt very disconnected even though I could hear and see everything,” Burnett said. “Joining those on the field took me before the King. It made Him my focus, and what I sang and said was for Him there.”

Ross, who teaches at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, compared what happened at Paradise to imagery from “The Chronicles of Narnia.”

“Perhaps on May 25 Aslan appeared on a high ridge and gave a mighty roar,” he said. “Now I believe we will see increasing numbers of youth full of zeal and adults full of wisdom assemble around Him. Those awakened to His majesty, filled with His power and moving out to fulfill His purposes offer our only hope for the transformation of the church and then of the nation.”

Story written by Erin Roach and originally appeared in Baptist Press on May 27,2008.

Erin Roach is a staff writer for Baptist Press. For information about follow-up to Paradise, visit www.paradise08.com.

Filed in: Worship