Gerald Murphy (’13) had one goal in mind for the campus of Ohio Christian University as he spoke during Fall 2019 Revival Week, and that was to have an encounter with Christ.
Murphy, a graduate of Ohio Christian, encouraged students to let go of their former selves and take on their new identity as sons and daughters of God. In order to take on this new identity, Murphy said that one must first stop self-identifying as a sinner saved by grace. “If you continue to call yourself a sinner,” he said, “you’re going to keep acting like one.”
Next, one must stop relying on their own actions or things outside of Christ to save them. “It wasn’t what you did that saved you, Jesus did that by dying on the cross,” Murphy said.
Lastly, Murphy explained that Christians must stop waiting for their insecurity to be gone before committing to following Jesus. “You’re going to give yourself to something. Why not give it to the One who made life?” he asked.
As a child of God, it is important to seek out and cling to His presence. “Whatever you get excited about, find out if God’s presence is really greater,” he said, referencing Psalm 84:10. If believers make the presence of God the most important factor in their lives, they can have a greater impact. “It wasn’t the shout that made the walls of Jericho fall,” Murphy said. “It was the presence of God that went before them.”
Murphy challenged students to remember they have an amazing opportunity to show Jesus to the people around them. It is the prayer of Ohio Christian that the events of Revival Week will continue to help students grow stronger in faith, causing a change in the community around them, as they develop into world-impacting servant leaders.
Articles of Interest
Dr. Caleb Friedeman Publishes Major Reference Work
Published: April 1, 2021
Ohio Christian University is pleased to announce that Dr. Caleb Friedeman,
David A. Case Chair of Theology and Ministry and Assistant Professor of
Biblical Studies, has published A Scripture Index to Rabbinic
Literature(ASIRL) with Hendrickson Academic. This volume is a comprehensive
Scripture index to classical rabbinic literature in English that contains
approximately 90,000 entries and represents over 2,500 hours of work by a
seven-person team over the course of two and a half years. In addition to the
work of the editorial team, a group of OCU staff and students assisted in
Ohio Christian University is pleased to announce that Dr. Caleb Friedeman,
David A. Case Chair of Theology and Ministry and Assistant Professor of
Biblical Studies, has published A Scripture Index to Rabbinic
Literature(ASIRL) with Hendrickson Academic. This volume is a comprehensive
Scripture index to classical rabbinic literature in English that contains
approximately 90,000 entries and
Ohio Christian University is pleased to announce that Dr. Caleb Friedeman,
David A. Case Chair of Theology and Ministry and Assistant Professor of
Biblical Studies, has published A Scripture Index
Promoting Transformational Change
Published: December 17, 2019
In the interest of following the mission of Ohio Christian University, both
the Adult
In the interest of following the mission of Ohio Christian University, both
the Adult
In the interest of following the mission of Ohio Christian University, both
the Adult
Archived Articles of Interest
Students Serve Alongside WGM in Uganda
Published: October 16, 2019
At the end of May, a team from Ohio Christian University traveled to Uganda
to serve alongside World Gospel Mission missionaries already working in the
area. This trip would best be described as a vision trip rather than the
typical mission work some may think of. The team got to see many different
ministries the missionaries are working with as well as support them through
fellowship and prayer.
During the two weeks the team was abroad, they worked with a wide range of
ministries, one of which is known as the Dignity project, providing women and
girls with reusable feminine products
At the end of May, a team from Ohio Christian University traveled to Uganda
to serve alongside World Gospel Mission missionaries already working in the
area. This trip would best be described as a vision trip rather than the
typical mission work some may think of. The team got to see many different
ministries the missionaries are working with as well as support them through
fellowship and
At the end of May, a team from Ohio Christian University traveled to Uganda
to serve alongside World Gospel Mission missionaries already working in the
area. This trip would best be described as a
Ohio Christian Encouraged Student-Athletes to ADVANCE
Published: October 16, 2019
The ADVANCE Mid-State League 2019 Leadership Summit on Sept 10 was a major
success with over 450 students and coaches from Mid-State League member
schools in attendance. The purpose of the event was to develop
student-athletes into effective leaders within their teams and the broader
community. Athletic Director David Bireline said, "to build this
relationship between our university and the Mid-State League is very exciting
for us as an athletic department. So many people played a role in making it
happen, and we hope we can continue this relationship in the years to come."
Ohio
The ADVANCE Mid-State League 2019 Leadership Summit on Sept 10 was a major
success with over 450 students and coaches from Mid-State League member
schools in attendance. The purpose of the event was to develop
student-athletes into effective leaders within their teams and the broader
community. Athletic Director David Bireline said, "to build this
relationship between our university and the
The ADVANCE Mid-State League 2019 Leadership Summit on Sept 10 was a major
success with over 450 students and coaches from Mid-State League member
schools in attendance. The purpose of the event
Student Leadership Commissioning
Published: August 19, 2019
A day before the majority of students were set to return, Ohio Christian
University held a commissioning ceremony for students serving in leadership
roles this semester. The event was meant to build unity among student leaders
and prepare them to face challenges as a team.
Director of Student Engagement Eric Fehr said, “It’s really important
that our student leaders think of themselves as on a larger team with larger
over-arching goals than just being an RA or on the Student Involvement
Council [SIC] team. It is our hope that as various student leaders face
challenges and difficulties
A day before the majority of students were set to return, Ohio Christian
University held a commissioning ceremony for students serving in leadership
roles this semester. The event was meant to build unity among student leaders
and prepare them to face challenges as a team.
Director of Student Engagement Eric Fehr said, “It’s really important
that our student leaders think of themselves as on
A day before the majority of students were set to return, Ohio Christian
University held a commissioning ceremony for students serving in leadership
roles this semester. The event was meant to
Ohio Christian Hosts Youth Explosion
Published: July 29, 2019
Ohio Christian University was happy to host the Youth Explosion camp on July
25 through 28. The camp was organized by the Marion Christian Center’s
Youth Ministry. The event was meant to provide the opportunity to experience
God in a real and impactful way.
“This year, the theme is that God made them special and how to discover
their gifts and talents to glorify Him” said Marion Christian Center Lead
Pastor Perry Payne.
Each day of camp kicked off with a student led devotional going over the
Beatitudes of Jesus followed by real life breakout sessions. After lunch,
students
Ohio Christian University was happy to host the Youth Explosion camp on July
25 through 28. The camp was organized by the Marion Christian Center’s
Youth Ministry. The event was meant to provide the opportunity to experience
God in a real and impactful way.
“This year, the theme is that God made them special and how to discover
their gifts and talents to glorify Him” said Marion Christian
Ohio Christian University was happy to host the Youth Explosion camp on July
25 through 28. The camp was organized by the Marion Christian Center’s
Youth Ministry. The event was meant to provide
Mount of Praise Recognizes OCU
Published: June 24, 2019
The Churches of Christ and Christian Union (CCCU) set aside a special night
on June 22 to recognize the ministry of Ohio Christian University. The night
was part of CCCU’s 102nd annual camp meeting, Mount of Praise.
OCU’s history is closely tied to CCCU, as it was born out of a Mount of
Praise camp meeting over 70 years ago. For many years after the college met
on the camp ground as the Mount of Praise Bible College, which was later
changed to Circleville Bible College. As time passed and the college grew, it
changed its name once more to Ohio Christian University in 2007.
Dr. Jon
The Churches of Christ and Christian Union (CCCU) set aside a special night
on June 22 to recognize the ministry of Ohio Christian University. The night
was part of CCCU’s 102nd annual camp meeting, Mount of Praise.
OCU’s history is closely tied to CCCU, as it was born out of a Mount of
Praise camp meeting over 70 years ago. For many years after the college met
on the camp ground as the
The Churches of Christ and Christian Union (CCCU) set aside a special night
on June 22 to recognize the ministry of Ohio Christian University. The night
was part of CCCU’s 102nd annual camp meeting
