On a cold Tuesday night that was believed to be offering up quite a winter’s storm, a group of close to a thousand college students from Lipscomb, Belmont and Vanderbilt all gathered in Allen Arena to take part in AfterDark.
AfterDark, a large event started in 2000, features a variety of different acts that are designed to promote spiritual change in the hearts of its attendees.
Headlined by noted speaker Dr. Joe White, a former college football player for SMU and the founder of Kanakuk Kamps, the event attracted many from around the middle Tennessee area looking for spiritual growth.
After a brief introduction by the event’s announcer, local band Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors entertained the crowd by playing three quick songs, including one of their forthcoming record, entitled ‘Good Light.’
After this, the announcer returned to the stage to introduce Dr. White, describing him as someone who honors the lessons he preaches.
“He’s a man full of integrity,” said the announcer.
Joe White
Following this, a short video was screened, showing members of Dr. White’s family talking about their father/husband/’pops.’
Building on a lesson he had earlier shared in Lipscomb’s Tuesday chapel, Dr. White told the crowd stories about his wife, daughter and his battle with leukemia. Following this, the speaker segued into what he called an ‘imagination drama,’ a spoken word dramatization telling the story of the man who built Jesus’ cross.
At the same time while Dr. White recited a long poem telling the man’s story, another man began to make a cross live on the stage. Echoes of an axe striking the long beam of cylinder-shaped wood reverberated over Dr. White’s poem through the arena.
Once the man creating the cross was finished, Dr. White spoke on the importance of the cross and the act of Jesus’ sacrifice. Members of the After Dark staff came to the stage to raise the finished product, standing nearly 12-feet tall.
Dr. White then invited members of the audience to come to the foot of the stage and write down whatever troubled them in life to be pinned on the cross.
After this, Dr. White concluded his lesson, and the announcer returned to the stage. He shared his hope that the night’s events would have the ‘anti-Vegas’ effect.
The announcer said he hoped that ‘what happens at AfterDark doesn’t stay at AfterDark.’
Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors then returned to the stage to play off the night.
After the group’s Lipscomb visit, AfterDark will venture down to Texas Christian University on Jan. 29. Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors will once again join Dr. White in the event.
Trips to Illinois State University, the University of Southern Mississippi and the Naval Academy are also scheduled.
Sophomore Jackson Horn said he found the event to be beneficial to his faith.
“I just had a great night,” said Horn. “I just really needed some time to think about my relationship with Jesus tonight, and this was a great night for that. Joe brought a great message.”
Freshman Michael Oruma said he shared the same sentiment.
“I really enjoyed it. My heart was touched,” Oruma said. “It was just a refreshment.”
More information about the event (including weekly devotionals with Dr. White) can be found on the group’s website whatsafterdark.wordpress.com.
Photo Credit: Whitney Jarreld