A giant QR code is taped to junior Sklyer Davies’ chest. His tall basketball player frame makes a perfect billboard for those arriving to scan with their phones. The code takes the participants to the songs and scripture for the evening’s Holy Week Revival Service.   

Skyler and other Chowan University Campus Ministry students hosted the Holy Week Revival Service. A praise band of students and staff opened each evening with worship songs; a different student ministry chaplain preached each of the revival sermons. 

The Student Ministry Chaplains organized the Holy Week Revival Services with advice from the Minister to the University, Rev. Mari Wiles.  “Our students pray for revival to come to this community and this campus daily.  Holy Week was the perfect time to offer services to share the love and presence of God with our campus.  We had phenomenal student support and everyone is asking when we will do it again,” shared Rev. Wiles. 

The services began on Sunday, April 2 in Marks Hall’s Vaughan auditorium. Lead ministry chaplain and graduate student Patrick Krack shared the theme for the revival based on the acronym LAMPs representing the words Light, Aware, Moveable, and Passion. The focal text of his sermon was Matthew 5:13-16 where Jesus invites listeners to be salt and light. On Monday evening at the Cross of Christ Chapel, Erica Mock ’24 preached on Ephesians 6:10-18 encouraging the worshippers “to be aware” and suit themselves up in the full armor of God.  

Kashara Simpson ‘24 delivered the message on Tuesday evening in McDowell Columns Turner Auditorium. She wove the night’s emphasis on “moveable” through her sermon based on Luke 5:1-11. She shared how the disciples listened to Jesus and moved out of their “comfort zones” and that his followers should learn from their example. The last night of Revival Services concluded on Holy Wednesday, in the Hawks Nest with Brayden Conboy preaching on 

1 Corinthians 12:12-28, encouraging listeners to find their “passion” in whatever way they are called to serve God.  

Concluding each service,  Rev. Wiles extended an invitation for participants to deepen their relationship with God.  Meals or snacks were provided after each service for a time of fellowship. 

In reflecting on the week Patrick Krack praised his fellow chaplains and was particularly thankful for  Brayden Conboy’s key leadership in organizing the week. He shared, “going into the Holy Week Revival, I was not sure what to expect. I just prayed that people would feel God’s presence. And when I say my prayers were answered, I mean it. People were moved by the Holy Spirit every night, especially on Monday night when the service was held next to the lake at the Cross of Christ Chapel. I had many teammates tell me they needed something like this in their lives. It was obvious people were thirsty for a genuine worship experience like this.”

For more information about Holy Week Revival Services or Chowan Campus Ministry, you may contact Rev. Mari Wiles at wilesm@chowan.edu.