Regent University seeks to make worship and prayer a priority in the lives of students. To help accomplish that goal, Night of Worship (NOW) music events are held in the Regent Chapel approximately once a month during the academic year. Led by respected artists who are passionate about worship, these free concerts have been uniting the campus and the surrounding community since September 2013.
In John 4:23, Jesus said, “But the time is coming — indeed it’s here NOW — when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way,” (NLT). That “hour” occurs regularly through the efforts of Regent’s Office of Alumni Relations & Events, which organizes, promotes and hosts NOW events.
“NOW gives our students and those in the surrounding community a place to gather and worship without denominational or church barriers,” says Ann LeBlanc, Regent’s vice president for alumni relations and events. “The goal is to see them come together, seek God’s face and praise Him.”
Sometimes, but not often, a Christian music artist comes to campus at the same time his or her song is climbing the charts on its way to number one. That’s exactly what happened this winter when worship leader, songwriter and Bethel Music artist Cory Asbury performed at Regent on February 16. His hit “Reckless Love” was in the top 10 of Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs and still climbing. Two weeks later, it took over the top spot from Hillsong Music’s “What a Beautiful Name,” (which had been on the chart for an incredible 74 weeks at that time) and stayed there for four weeks.
Asbury took time during his Regent visit to record a music video of “Reckless Love” with the Regent University Singers. (See page six for more on that story.) His February concert was the third time he’s performed at NOW. “I love college students,” Asbury says. “I love that age, and I feel like I connect with them the best.”
Night of Worship events feature well-known and respected Christian music artists who often say they can feel the presence and joy of the Holy Spirit on the Regent campus. NOW invites and encourages musicians, singers and worship leaders to pour into the students and the surrounding community. As a result, they often feel as though the students have poured into them.
NOW events began more than four years ago, shortly after the Regent Chapel opened its doors for the first time. This season’s NOW concert schedule kicked off with “United Night of Worship” back in August. The event brought together vocalists, musicians, worship leaders and worship teams from more than 50 local churches and congregations. Other artists who performed this academic year included: Young Oceans, Jesus Culture’s Mary Kat & Andrew Ehrenzeller, Upper Room, and Phil Wickham. (Check out Regent’s latest collaboration with Phil Wickham at regent.edu/livinghope.)
One only has to visit NOW’s Facebook page to understand the goal of these popular and anointed events: “We believe that the time is NOW for true worship and prayer in the body of Christ, and that is our dream to see praises rise from our community, and not just at a night of worship, but in all of our lives every day.”
For more information about NOW events, contact Regent’s Office of Alumni Relations & Events at 800.335.4409 or visit regent.edu/now.
