The Burn Reignites Students Lives with a Time of Worship
Photos by Brynne Norton
Article by Lea Olivares Raudes
NEWBERG, Ore. – Entering an environment where you must maintain your faith on your own is a struggle for many college students. One opportunity for George Fox University (GFU) students to praise the Lord is at an event known as The Burn. This year's fall semester Burn fell between the hours of 6 p.m. on Nov. 21 and 6 a.m. on Nov. 22.
The event, hosted by Spiritual Life (SpiL), ran for 12 consecutive hours in a candle-lit room in Canyon Commons where students led hour-long blocks of worship. Due to its timing and longevity, the event had varying attendance but an average of 25 students worshipped together through the night.
The Burn creates a unique atmosphere for an event hosted on campus. Students sat and stood in rows of chairs, groups of friends gathered in the dimly lit corners of the room and some decided to express their praise by creating art. The calm space gave students a chance to separate themselves from life and have a contemplative time between themselves and Christ.
The performances were as unique as the environment. Students signed up as a group or as individuals for hourly singing blocks in which they would have creative liberty. One woman sang softly alongside her ukulele. A larger group of friends played all sorts of instruments, including the cajón and cellos.
Another performance by a group of singers included junior Alyssa Watson. Watson sings and plays piano in her own time. Singing at The Burn and in front of a crowd was something new to her.
“It felt like I was alive [while singing], you know?” said Watson. “I could express myself in a way that I never expected I would.”
Watson found confidence and comfort in The Burn that she wouldn’t have been able to find elsewhere. “Its a small space, so I wasn’t intimidated. I just think it was good for me to step out of my comfort zone,” she said.
The Burn is a recently revived event on campus, as COVID-19 disrupted this event's yearly occurrence. Many may not know of it or are intimidated by the idea.
“You can go at any time you want. You can go however long you want,” said Watson when asked what she would tell those considering attending. “There’s no pressure and it's low stakes. It’s such an intimate space, so come as you are. If you’re attending, you can literally just stand in the back and have your own little worship session with no one else around.”
If you were unable to attend this semester’s Burn, do not fret. A spring Burn is in the works and Watson is one of many looking forward to it. “I’m excited to sing again and hopefully feel more comfortable and more noticed, known and loved,” she said.
The Burn is for one and all students. If you feel called to attend the full 12 hours, you have a space to do so. Events such as The Burn invite students who are in all stages of their religious journey.
