Students Enjoy Communion of Fun and Faith at Rez Week
By Kiera Dieter
Reporting Texas
Ehigbor Idonor, middle, prays with fellow participants during Rez Week at Gregory Plaza on the University of Texas campus. Idonor, 22, is a UT student and a member of Hill Country Bible Church: Central. Photos by Kiera Dieter/Reporting Texas
SaulPaul, a rapper from the Houston area, performs on the opening night of Rez Week for UT students. More than 20 student ministries came together to organize the March 29-April 2 event.
Participants at Rez Week, now in its 21st year, pray for the unification of student ministries on the UT campus.
UT students listen to Jonathan Pokluda on the first night of Rez Week. Pokluda, a pastor from Dallas, was one of two guest speakers this year.
Bailey Hulsey, student leader for the intercessory prayer team at Rez Week, writes on the “How will you change the world?” free speech board.
Six free speech boards were set up at Gregory Plaza during Rez Week to encourage students to talk about faith and spirituality.
Kayla Hunter, left, of the Texas Wesley United Methodist Campus Ministry, talks to a UT student while serving free coffee, tea and hot chocolate at the hospitality tent.
Jackson Stevenson of Navigators, left, and Egihbor Idonor, second left, talk to UT students about faith and religion.
UT students listen to a staff member give his testimony. Every night, a student or staff member would share their testimony with participants.
Kraven Rowry, a member of The Levites, sings with the rest of the group as they lead worship at Rez Week.
Elise Rowry, daughter of The Levites members Shedrach and Kraven Rowry, dances along as the group leads the students in worship.
Students and volunteers worship together at Rez Week.
Students listen to evangelist Sammy Tippit speak.
Tippit prays after giving his message on the last night of Rez Week.
About 700 students participated in Rez Week. On the last night, they were led in prayers by The Levites.
Students sing along and pray with The Levites as Rez Week draws to a close.
One-dollar dinners, free coffee, music and a lot of faith and spirituality come together every year when student ministries at the University of Texas host Resurrection Week in the days before Easter.
This year, nearly 700 students and 200 volunteers from more than 20 campus ministries, organizations and churches participated in the 21st annual Rez Week, as it’s known, held March 29 to April 2 at Gregory Plaza, in front of Gregory Gym on the UT-Austin campus.
“People who don’t have faith or are questioning faith can come ask questions and feel free to express their opinions and explore faith without feeling pressured or judged,” said Ehigbor Idonor, a 22-year-old student, explaining why she loved to attend the event.
A key reason for organizing Rez Week is to unify believers from various ministries on campus, said Justin Christopher, founder of Campus Renewal Ministries, which aims to strengthen Christianity on university campuses. But another important reason is to start a broader dialogue about faith and religion, he said.
The ministries set up a 24-hour hospitality tent. A prayer and worship tent was open 24 hours a day, while performances were held around the clock. Six boards were set up around Gregory Plaza, where students could write their thoughts on questions such as “What happens when you die?”
