By Marisabel Issac
Imagine a night where music felt like magic, and everyone came together to sing their hearts out. It was more than just songs for the Prayer and Worship Night that was held at Next Generation Christian Center, located behind the Save-a lot on Liberty Street in Springfield. It was a soulful experience that left everyone feeling uplifted. There were lights strung like twinkling stars in the sky. The screens and spotlights on the stage mimicked a beautiful sunrise, and the singers were as bright as the sun. All stared, feeling the warmth of the cozy bright light.
Hosted by Intervarsity of Greater Springfield, many local campuses were invited to this event, such as Holyoke Community College (HCC), American International College (AIC), and Western New England University (WNEU).
“Intervarsity is a college Christian fellowship where we create a space for people to ask the necessary questions about the Christian faith,” said Austin Rambarose, HCC campus minister and facilitator of the night. “They get to explore what faith means according to the bible and cut through a lot of the stigma that surrounds church as a system.” With a history stretching as far back as 1877, Intervarsity works not only with college students but also with all young adults from the ages of 18-24. Intervarsity is an inter-denominational ministry as well, meaning there is a place for you, no matter the background, with faith, whether it’s the size of a blue whale or a blank sheet of paper. If you’re in school, taking a gap year, or working, there is a community for everyone in Intervarsity.
Partnering with them for this event was a local Christian band by the name of Crown Devotion. Formed in 2022, “Crown Devotion started with me trying to rizz up a girl. She is now my girlfriend. We wanted to go to a nearby park, Szot Park and got a group of friends and started to play. We ended up having a worship and prayer night at my house, and that was when Crown Devotion started,” said Sam Chaez, a Western New England University alumnus and co-founder of Crown Devotion.
Wondering what it’s like being on the other side in front of the crowd? Chaez gave a sneak peek into that. “It’s very exciting, but it’s also very scary. Although, as humans, we’re going to make mistakes, there is a pressure to feel that we have to be perfect, that we can’t get it wrong,” said Chaez.
The crowd contained many familiar faces, many of whom attend the Upper Room Christian Fellowship Club at Western New England University. “Tonight was amazing,” said Jessica Brown, one of the Golden Bears in attendance. Brown, a third-year student in the 3+3 Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, added, “it was so great to see how God was moving in the room and calling people to ask for prayer.”
Brown is a third-year student in the 3+3 OTD (Doctor of Occupational Therapy) program, which “allows students to fulfill their undergraduate degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, or Health Studies while pursuing a doctorate degree in Occupational therapy.”
Brown is very involved in and around campus. You may have seen or even know her. She is an Orientation Group Leader (OGL) and a Peer Advisor. If you’re a first-year student, you may even have her as your advisor. She is also the secretary for the class of 2025 and works as a facility and intramural supervisor in the Healthful Living Center (HLC).
If you are interested in joining a community like this, the next event you can attend is the Intervarsity Brunch on March 2. It is $25 a ticket, there will be delicious food, and you’ll get to learn more about Intervarsity’s mission and what they do on the seven campuses they work with. In addition to HCC, AIC, and WNEU, Intervarsity also works with Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), Westfield State University, Springfield College, and Bay Path University.
If you can’t make it to brunch, there will be another event called Encounter. It occurs on the last Monday of every month, and the next one will be February 26 at 6:30 p.m., located at Vox Church in downtown Springfield. It will be a great way to connect and engage with this vibrant community.
