This fall marks the beginning of another semester of Asbury’s main worship events. “Worship Him At Midnight,” (WHAM) is a late-night service, open to all of campus. Taking place on the first Friday of each month during the regular school year from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m., “Worship Him At Midnight” involves a time of music, fellowship and a message for the student body.
As this new school year unfolds, so have new leadership positions among the WHAM orchestrators. With the graduation of Zeke Atha, Wesley Elliott has filled the role as WHAM’s new coordinator.
“Last semester, Zeke Atha reached out to see if I would be willing to fill the director position for WHAM,” explained Elliott, describing the transition. “While I had some initial interest, after praying about it, I actually told them ‘no.’ They asked me three times, and it was the same answer each time. But the third time, I took a little more time to reflect. It was not that I believed that I had misheard, but at that time, I felt that the spiritual life team needed to fill the position, and needed someone that they trusted. And with that, I told them that I would do it. But over the course of this summer, I have been dreaming and casting a vision. I am so excited about this year and can’t wait to see what God has in store for our campus.”
As many students, professors and staff realize time and time again, transition is difficult. From Elliott’s journey as a new musician to the leader of Asbury’s WHAM team, he explains how it became a journey of spiritual enrichment.
“Coming in as a freshman, I was on a chapel band and had been involved in worship spaces for not even a year,” said Elliott. “I started singing and playing guitar my senior year of high school, so it was all very new to me. I helped plan worship sets for WGM [World Gospel Mission] and when a leadership position opened, I stepped in to fill the position along with Venessa Fisher. For all of last year, we spent most Sunday nights at Global Café, leading worship, organizing teams and setting up tech. I received so much experience, and am very grateful. This year, I am pairing with Zach Meerkreebs to host and lead WHAM throughout this semester.”
While the core of WHAM’s services will remain the same, Elliott expects changes and updates to several different components.
“We will be having student speakers, some from across the United States and Asbury circles, as well as some special guests. We are excited to team up with spiritual life and other dynamics to worship and build disciples, along with other things that teach us how to be in the Lord’s presence. All of the services will take place in Hughes Auditorium for the entire semester.”
While WHAM is a chance to gather together as a student body and worship, Elliott addressed the center of WHAM’s purpose.
“At its core, WHAM is a place for hosting and stewarding all to encounter the presence of God. Zach and I have honed in on a passage from Exodus 33. This is a vision that we have been casting for the entire year. It is this moment where Moses interrupts God and says that we are not going to go forward without Your presence. And I believe that is the story for this year. We don’t want to go forward without His presence, and we want to be a campus that stays in His presence; that stays in the tent of meeting.”
Asbury’s first WHAM is scheduled to take place on Sept. 6 at 10 p.m. in Hughes Auditorium. The WHAM staff and coordinators are looking for student feedback and suggestions. They can be reached at whamfeedback@gmail.com.
Photo courtesy of Macy Carmony.
