UCO offers legitimate worship, not bitterness about off-campus location
Jordan Kowalkowski
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: Opinion
Last semester, I began attending prayer meetings conducted by University Christian Outreach.
The group stayed off campus when Hillsdale's administration recommended that UCO do so. I must mention, however, that Dean of Men Aaron Petersen personally informed me that the matter is open to discussion.
UCO is an ecumenical, charismatic Christian group. We take care to focus on all three persons of the Trinity. Members especially share a common, outward respect for the Holy Spirit.
UCO's ecumenism brings all the orthodox Christian traditions (Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant) together in an environment of Christian unity. The different traditions do not agree to disagree. On the contrary, they pray together in a manner that puts personal pride aside and lets God win out.
My experiences in the group's charismatic worship began a few months ago at a house several blocks from campus. The group's off-campus location did not deter me whatsoever from going. It may have even assisted my attendance because I thought I was just going over to Phil Davignon's house to pray a little.
When we began to pray I was slightly skeptical. However, at some point during our prayer, my mind cleared, and the Lord poured his Spirit on me. Obviously, I couldn't deny the Lord's presence there and had to leave my skepticism behind.
Currently, UCO is conducting a Life in the Spirit Seminar. It's a five-week retreat meant to introduce people to charismatic worship at a nearby church. We would love to meet on campus. But the "arduous" two-block walk to the Church of the Nazarene does not in any way make us bitter about the decision of Hillsdale's Christian leadership.
The group stayed off campus when Hillsdale's administration recommended that UCO do so. I must mention, however, that Dean of Men Aaron Petersen personally informed me that the matter is open to discussion.
UCO is an ecumenical, charismatic Christian group. We take care to focus on all three persons of the Trinity. Members especially share a common, outward respect for the Holy Spirit.
UCO's ecumenism brings all the orthodox Christian traditions (Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant) together in an environment of Christian unity. The different traditions do not agree to disagree. On the contrary, they pray together in a manner that puts personal pride aside and lets God win out.
My experiences in the group's charismatic worship began a few months ago at a house several blocks from campus. The group's off-campus location did not deter me whatsoever from going. It may have even assisted my attendance because I thought I was just going over to Phil Davignon's house to pray a little.
When we began to pray I was slightly skeptical. However, at some point during our prayer, my mind cleared, and the Lord poured his Spirit on me. Obviously, I couldn't deny the Lord's presence there and had to leave my skepticism behind.
Currently, UCO is conducting a Life in the Spirit Seminar. It's a five-week retreat meant to introduce people to charismatic worship at a nearby church. We would love to meet on campus. But the "arduous" two-block walk to the Church of the Nazarene does not in any way make us bitter about the decision of Hillsdale's Christian leadership.
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