Schools come together to host Hosea Night

             Various animal noises and laughter could be heard coming from students as they tried to find their partner making the same animal noise. To start the night the emcees, Jacob Culbertson and Keely Kendall decided to play an icebreaker, because this night was a little different there, were more people. Students not only from Northwest, but Park University and UMKC had come to the weekly meeting for Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru).

            On a normal Thursday it would have been worship and a speaker, but this night, more planning had went into it and Cru leaders decided to invite other Cru movements from around the KC Metro area to join them.  Jenny Love was one of many who came out that night.

            "I loved getting to spend time with the rest of the KC Metro community," Love said.

            To tie in with the upcoming Valentine's Day, the night was centered around love.  The focus was God's love for the people of Israel, which is portrayed in the book of Hosea, in the Bible. Hosea was a prophet and was asked by God to marry Gomer, a prostitute.

            The night opened up with Rachel Rittman who seemed a little nervous at first, shared her testimony and give an introduction about Hosea.

            "Rachel gave her testimony which was great because I'm sure some people that were there have or are struggling with some of the same things, so I loved that she was able to share it," Kendall said.

            After Rittman, Amber Matheney walked up on stage, she played the part of Gomer, Hosea's wife, the prostitute. "I never wanted you," Matheney yelled as she walked off stage lending into the song ‘I Never Wanted You' (by Davide Bazan) played by Cru's worship band. The song paralleled Gomer's part of the story.

            Ty Stevens, who played the part of Hosea performed his monologue next. Hosea loved Gomer even when she didn't. The song was performed by Caleb Roye from Park University ‘Minor Prophets and Prostitute Wives' by Pedro the Lion to paralleled Hosea's monologue and feelings.

            "They were really good at portraying the story of Hosea and they kept my attention the whole time," Kendall said.

            The skit was wrapped up by Justin Wieners who tied Hosea back to being an example of God's love.  Cru's worship band then finished the night with ‘The Servant Song'. Everyone came together around the center of the room, the band sung and others held hands and huddled together singing.

            "Ithought that the night was a huge success. I think it was nice to break out of the normal pattern and to get to introduce new people to our community here and reintroduce the Gospel in a less formal way," Love said.