Jared Ellis used a volunteer  in a visual about breaking labels to help explain how God broke labels off of him. 
Regina Pergola/The Lion's Roar

Live worship, a guest speaker and fellowship welcomed students into the first ever MVMNT Roar. 

The MVMNT is a Christian organization that meets in the Student Union Theatre on Thursday nights and normally includes worship service and a message from Pastor Scott Boney. This night held different experiences from the normal Thursday gathering with guest pastor, Jared Ellis.

“We have a special guest tonight and our worship will be a little longer,” said Crystal Boney, a pastor with MVMNT and wife of Pastor Scott Boney. Together, they lead MVMNT college ministry at the university.

Crystal Boney explained why the MVMNT starts at exactly 7:37 p.m. and that anyone is encouraged to come.

“We just thought it would be a way to catch people’s attention, and its to reference John 7:37,” said Crystal Boney. “Everyone is welcome. We come together and praise Jesus.” 

Her husband, Scott Boney, elaborated on the structure that MVMNT Roar would take over the next year.

“This is the first Roar,” said Scott Boney. “It will be once a semester and we’ll do a conference in April, a Roar conference. That will be a two night.”

Scott Boney described their service as loud and not passive as well as inspiration for the students to be affirmed in their beliefs.

“We are not a quiet church,” said Scott Boney. “So if you are expecting tonight, God is doing.”

Guest pastor, Jared Ellis, gave a message after the Mission Church’s worship band played several songs. He talked about the story of King David’s origin and how it related to modern day. Ellis used his own personal testimony to describe how someone in sin can change with God.

“I lost my dad to cancer when I was 11,” said Ellis. 

He went on to talk about how he abused alcohol and other pleasures as well as being depressed and self-harming. He was able to recover from that through God. He shared this with the audience to not only show them his perspective but so that they might have their own experience.

“The moment He called me is the moment everything changed,” said Ellis. “I did not come to give an opinion, I came to give you an encounter, because an opinion will not change your life.”

Laken Kaiser is an attendant who was prayed over by Ellis. Her recent experiences were reaffirmed through the laying of hands and spoken prayer.

“It was something I was holding in my heart and you know getting it confirmed here, and actually talk about the one thing you’ve been thinking of the past week,” said Kaiser.

MVMNT meets in the Student Union Theater every Thursday night with a short worship service and message.

Ellis called a volunteer up on stage representing David to demonstrate the labeling of society and how God’s message can wash away those labels.

“David has a lot of mess,” said Ellis. “He was overlooked. Maybe you’ve been overlooked.” 

Ellis stuck labels on David while describing events in David’s life that caused the labels, yet still he was seen as a man of God.

“How can a man labeled by God, as a man after God’s own heart look like this?,” said Ellis, referenced David who had labels such as “murderer” “unstable” and “overlooked” on his shirt.

“Life is never going to stop labeling you,” said Ellis.

Ellis poured a jug of oil over David and by doing so, the labels were not able to stick anymore. He ended the night by saying words meant to encourage the people.

“Heaven just got a little bit bigger and hell just got a little bit smaller,” said Ellis.

Catherine Masters was a worship leader at the event and described the significance of having a guest speaker. 

“Just having someone else come in and speak over us really brought something new,” said Masters. “I think this is only the beginning of what God is doing on campus. This is the first little glimpse of so much more to come.”

MVMNT hosted their first MVMNT Roar event with guest speaker Jared Ellis. He used a volunteer  in a visual about breaking labels to help explain how God broke labels off of him. 
Regina Pergola/The Lion's Roar