Oakland City University - Enter To Learn. Go Forth To Serve - Founded by General Baptists in 1885 | (812) 749-4781

Have you set goals for your life? Maybe they are long term goals, such as being a successful businessman/businesswoman. Maybe they are short term goals such as winning a football game or organizing an awesome party for your friends. Either way, I am sure that everyone has set certain goals that they have failed at meeting. It is disappointing when we find out that our careers aren’t shooting off like we had hoped, or when we lose at a competitive game, or even when nobody shows up to our party.

As Christians, we have long term goals laid out for us in the Bible. We are to spread the gospel, lead others to Christ, help the needy, and so much more. We plan events and find opportunities to meet these goals as we go about our lives. We get fired up when we see the fruit of our labor as people so graciously thank us for the help that we have been.

But when things don’t pan out as planned, disappointment is a natural result. When the people we try to help retaliate in anger, or when hours of work are put into an event that nobody shows up to, our hearts sink, and we consider all of the wasted time that we had spent. But as Christians, we must remember that our labor is not in vain so long as it is for God’s glory. We can only see a small part of the whole picture, and the smallest influence on a single person can have a dramatic effect for God’s kingdom. Through Christ we can live our lives with Joy, even through what we see as our personal failures.

I recently attended a church service which worked into a discussion on what a true disciple is. The simple definition is a follower or a pupil who adheres to a doctrine or an individual. As Christians, we are called to be disciples of Christ.

I loved this definition of a disciple, since I grew up as a timid child. I never wanted to be front and center, but was always active backstage. I feared being put in leadership positions, so I would gravitate toward the hands-on tasks. If you told me what to do then I would do it, but I was never good at instructing others toward a common goal.

For several years I lived out my “faith” by doing exactly as Jesus commanded: attending church, having personal devotions, praying, not doing bad stuff, etc. Unfortunately, I was following Christ by the example I saw from everyone else. I was actually following other self-proclaimed Christians. When I truly started asking God to lead me, certain words began to start jumping out at me when I read the Bible: go, tell, preach, baptize, give, and love. If you notice, all of these words require a recipient.

We are not to live out Christianity just between us and God, but also with others. When you think of a disciple, who do you think of? Do you think of Matthew, Mark, James, John, Peter, Paul, and so on? All of these men were not just followers; they were leading others toward Christ.

Following Christ is not a passive movement. It takes dedication to intentionally step out into a leadership role. Before you make your next step of life, I challenge you to ask God where you could be most effective for His ultimate goal.

College is a time for growth. We grow in maturity, experience, and knowledge throughout our endeavors as undergrad or even as graduate students. We know that we are building the foundation for our careers, and we want to make the most of it. In this growth we oftentimes overlook one of the most important and influential aspects of our lives: God.

SCA (Student Christian Association) at OCU greatly desires to help one another grow spiritually in order to live life in a God-honoring manner. We just held a worship night after the first day of classes in order to focus our attention this semester on what He wants us to do. SCA is planning to live out biblical truths by reaching out to our community through its members and truly be doers of the Word. I highly encourage all who are seeking out a college to find one where they can incorporate a means of spiritual growth as well.

Even some of the most prompt people on this planet would probably have to admit that they have at one point or another put off until the very last minute that extra bit of work that they simply despised. I would not by any means consider myself much of a procrastinator, especially compared to some of my fellow students. But I have had to display my ability in speed writing for a couple of those last minute assignments.

Sometimes procrastination can have a significantly larger impact other than getting a lower grade on an assignment. Putting off searching for a job could come back to haunt you when your resources run out and no immediate jobs are available. Setting aside a few bills in order to go on a short vacation can rack up late fees and damage your credit. Waiting until the last minute to decide which college to attend will leave you uninformed about the opportunities that you have. You wouldn’t go out and buy a car without finding out what kind of condition it is in or how much longer it has to run. In the same way, each college can provide something different, even if they would provide the same degree.

I hope that you will take the time to come as soon as possible and see what Oakland City University has to offer. There is much to learn about this university, and the more that you know coming into it, the more you will be able to take advantage of.

Spring is finally here with only one month of school left for the semester! Right about this time of the school year, you begin putting in a few extra hours of homework in order to complete, or at least start, those end of the year projects that you have known about since the beginning of the semester. But the drag of winter has been lifted, and the fresh breath of spring fills you up for that extra boost to keep on pushing through.

Spring can be quite an encouragement both physically and emotionally when things get hectic and overbearing. But there is a light that shines brighter than any other that can lift you up out of depression, frustration, sadness, or when you simply feel overwhelmed. That light is the love of Jesus Christ which can be shown through other believers around you. This is a spiritual encouragement, and it can affect our outlook in every aspect of life. As a private school, Oakland City University has taken a stance to help provide an atmosphere that encourages the spreading of this light.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up” (NIV). We all need encouragement at one point or another. As a student here at OCU, I know that I am surrounded by many friends who support one another as a family. Wherever you are and wherever you plan to go, I hope that you consider where this encouragement will come from and who you can call on for help before that time comes.

As one of the Resident Assistants in one of the men’s dorms, I have had the opportunity to help coordinate several events for the residents. These events throughout the year simply create a positive way for a bunch of college kids to come together and have a good time on campus or in the community. This semester, Jordan Hall residents have had a ping pong tournament on our brand new Butterfly table, a euchre tournament, a movie night, a pancake eating contest (the winner of which ate 18 pancakes!), and at this time of the year filling out March Madness brackets initiates the competitive spirit in all of us. Each event is filled with excitement as prizes are awarded to the winners, and in some instances a trophy is handed down year by year.

Dorm events are not the only activities that OCU students have available to them. The Student Government Association also sponsors events for students throughout the semesters for a chance to mingle over some free pizza at one of the local pizza restaurants or participate in a BINGO night with several outstanding prizes. Free movie nights, free bowling, and several other events are also common experiences at OCU, allowing students to enjoy their time here with their friends. This is a great place to socialize within the community during your pursuit of obtaining an academic degree.

Having been active in sports ever since I could run, athletic activities are a strong highlight to my college experience. Nice weather really brings the students out of the dorms and gathered on the grassy knoll, basketball courts, tennis courts, and volleyball court. Pick-up games of football as well as Wednesday night flickerball are very consistent and have already begun this year. Flickerball is a common game here at OCU and is very similar to ultimate Frisbee, except with the use of a kickball instead.

Intramurals at OCU are also an exciting time for me. I have participated in football, basketball, dodge ball, and volleyball intramurals, much to my enjoyment. No matter how competitive you are, there is a team to join or plenty of friends to start a team yourself. These activities are not just for the die hard athletes; all of these events are socially oriented. Even if you are not much for participating in these events, spurring on your friends from the sidelines along with the usual spectators makes for a great opportunity to socialize. Intramural sports provide a way to get to know more of the students and develop more personal relationships, while at the same time giving you opportunities to stay in shape.

One of the best things you can possibly do for yourself is maintain a physically active lifestyle. This not only helps in staying fit, but I personally can also focus significantly better academically during the times of the year where I am more active. OCU is a great place to maintain or start a physically active lifestyle for your body and for your mind.

In looking for a school, I had certain criteria that had to be met before I made a decision as to where to go. I was home schooled all the way through high school, loving every day of it. I knew that I wanted a small school with a good teacher/student ratio, my degree program, and a Christian atmosphere. But one thing that I did not necessarily consider was the student body. In my three years attending OCU, I can easily tell you that while you do learn and grow through the education you receive in each class, the other students who surround you throughout the day can contribute even more to the education process and the maturing process of your college life.

How would you determine characteristics of the student body without attending the school? That is a great question and is exactly why I am here to write. At OCU you are not simply walking in a crowd of people who you are not familiar with. They are friends who become a second family.

If you are serious about going into the fields of music, ministry, business, or education then you will not be alone here. I am personally going into ministry, and there are plenty of student-led groups here to encourage the Christian walk. Worship services, service projects, and evangelistic groups can all be found within OCU. I have grown into a stronger, more dedicated minister for God in only three years here and have had the opportunity through the traveling drama group GNP (Good News Players) to go to various churches, youth events, and even a prison to spread the gospel and minister to various people groups. If you are open to learn, then here at OCU your career can begin at the time you enter the campus.