The Red and Black

Issue date: 3/30/07 Section: News

Media Credit: SARA GUEVARA Brittany Evans, a sophomore from Seville, sings during Chi Alpha's worship service. The group's services begin with a student-led praise band singing worship songs.

Chi Alpha members don't own a Milledge Avenue home or host date nights.

A national organization with chapters at more than 200 universities, Chi Alpha is Christian fellowship that seeks to remind students they "should live to reflect Jesus' life," according to the Web site.

The group's name is a Greek acronym for "christou apostoloi," which means "Christ's sent ones." Chi Alpha promotes the Apostle Paul's call to be ambassadors for Christ.

"We put a strong emphasis on developing leaders," said Ouida Bradford, one of the group's pastors. "We help students find their strengths and how to use them."

This emphasis on leadership can be seen in the worship music and the message, two of the main parts of their Wednesday night services at the Tate Theater.

The service begins with the eight-student praise band singing four or five worship songs, led by junior Levi Dykes from Athens.

From the front of the theater, Dykes can see all the students clapping and singing along with the lyrics projected onto the big screen.

He said he gets excited when he sees them really making a connection with God.

"As worship leader, I like to see students getting involved," Dykes said. "The whole point is for students to interact with God. When people make that connection, it rocks my world."

The next part of the service is dedicated to a specific topic or message.

The Chi Alpha pastors speak to the congregation of about 40 students and encourage students to speak.

Jared Crawford, a senior from Conyers, spoke to the members at Wednesday's service about listening to the Holy Spirit.

Crawford began his message by acknowledging the two pastors for having the courage to speak in front of everyone weekly.

"Now I have a deep, profound respect for Michael (Miller) and Ouida (Bradford) … because this is a whole lot harder than it looks," Crawford said.

He presented a slide show called "The Deity Within" and made connections between "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" and Christianity.

He showed clips from the movie and did impressions of the characters along with his message.

"I correlate 'the Force' with the Holy Spirit because it truly is around us," Crawford said, after showing a clip of Yoda speaking to Luke Skywalker about feeling the Force within him. "Luke was afraid and Yoda called it. God is here reminding you - stop ignoring it."

"So many of you are missing it. You spend too much time worrying about the wrong stuff. Start to pay attention to the cues that God gives you on a daily basis."

At the end of the service, Bradford closed with a prayer and announcements and invited students out for dinner together.

To find out more about Chi Alpha, visit http://www.xadawgs.com/.

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