For the past few years, a small group of students have been meeting weekly in the Jesus Saves parking structure on campus (named for the replica of the sign from the original building, hanging from the front of the structure), spending time in worship and prayer. No other agenda, no credits or requirements, no need to come with your church face – only come and worship. We heard from the current director of Jesus Saves Worship, Daniel Spencer, as he shared the story and heart of Jesus Saves Worship.
Spencer said, “Jesus Saves… is a ministry in which we want people to meet God where they are, and we don’t want there to be any pressure for them to fix themselves up before they come.”
Spencer explained that they want people to feel free to come and sit in the presence of God. The point of Jesus Saves is to create a space where students can come before the Lord with their burdens and workloads and whatever stresses that they are carrying in their life.
“We want them to be able to sit in the throne room of God and tell God about them. and to worship him through those things,” said Spencer.
Many other students at Biola come together in worship at different times and in different places, for many different reasons: so what makes this specific group so different?
Upon my first time attending one of these worship nights, I came to understand the beauty of the hearts of these people. They were not a club, not exclusive in any way. They’re simply students, like me. Students with a heart for Jesus, like me. Students who love to worship, like me. There were not many. One of the leaders, Jayden Saleh, shared that most students they invite decline the offer, say they’ll go and don’t show up, or give an excuse. It simply didn’t seem like a coincidence to me that the majority of the people who are invited don’t show up.
One worship leader with a guitar – no band, no tech, no lights, no stage. Just humble worship. Quiet listening to the voice of the Lord. It’s a kind of flow that comes naturally, not fabricated by a schedule. There’s no agenda other than to let the Spirit move freely. Perhaps that is what intimidates so many. The idea that there is nowhere to hide, perhaps in the things that have been hard to face, or that the enemy convinces us are too much for the Lord to bear, disappears in a place like this, and fills one with immense peace. This is a place where everything can come to light, without shame or condemnation, but with grace and forgiveness and a loving call to repentance.
As I sat there for the first time, I couldn’t shake the lump in my throat, nor blink away the sting in my eyes. Here was a place where I cannot run and hide from my problems, my emotions, my thoughts. Not in a way that condemns or terrifies me, but in a loving way. Sometimes love is uncomfortable, but it is always forgiving, merciful, gracious, patient, kind. The fruits of the Spirit are present wherever the Spirit dwells.
As I looked around me, all I could see were students with a genuine heart for the Lord. Many of them were in a physical position of humbling themselves, heads bowed, on their knees, hands raised, as though they were attempting to reach and touch the heavens, as Spencer said, “This is people going into the throne room of God.”
