After going to an Aggie football game or listening to the lyrics of “We Bleed Maroon,” you will realize that Texas A&M is a very special place. Not only are we known as the friendliest campus in the entire country (with the most beautiful sunsets too), but we also have our traditions. In fact, we have so many traditions that there’s an entire week set aside before your first day of college where your brain will want to jiggle its way out of your head from learning hours of these crazy, cool traditions and yells. This stellar week is what we call fish camp (an Aggie tradition in itself). So anyways, from putting a penny on Sully for good luck to attending silver taps, or walking under the century tree with your significant other to participating in midnight yell, or getting to leave class early because Rev barked- -you get the picture, being a fightin’ Texas aggie rocks. But, there’s something even greater than all of these things combined at A&M. It’s something that occurs on campus soil every single Tuesday night at 9 PM…. it’s called Breakaway.
Imagine packing into THE one and only- home of the 12th man, farmers’ fight, the “we’re gonna beat you all to chigaroogarem, chigaroogarem, rough, tough, real stuff Texas A&M” football team- Kyle Field. But plot twist, this time it’s not to attend a football game. It’s to worship our almighty, everlasting God alongside thousands upon thousands of your classmates, sorority sisters, impact leaders, and friends.
It’s January 26th and you’ve never been to breakaway before, but you hear that tonight it’s at Kyle Field, so you decide to check it out. You walk inside the stadium and the lights begin to dim all around, except for on the field. The bands starts and you hear Jeff Johnson’s rustic, angelic singing voice. The band is so loud that you can feel the music pounding through your chest, it’s awesome. All around you, your fellow Texas A&M students (and some Baylor bears that drive down for this incredible experience too.. sic ‘em) dance around, jumping and smiling and raising their hands in praise. It’s such a passionate celebration. But wait there’s more!
Ben Stuart comes on stage and he speaks to us. The way Ben Stuart speaks is a way unlike anyone else I have ever heard. Everything he says is so relatable to exactly what you need to hear, no matter your situation. His words seem to flow like milk and honey. As you sit and listen, whether you realize it or not, Ben Stuart truly lets God use him to encourage and refresh us stressful college kids by presenting us a message we can hold on to that gives us peace throughout our busy, list-filled weeks. Not to mention, he is HILARIOUS too. Don't go to A&M? Have no fear!!! Breakaway actually streams live online every single week! So people from all over the world can be a part of it wherever they are (yes, even UT longhorns).
Breakaway makes A&M different from any other university in the country because it brings together a mind blowing number of college students on their own campus to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to every nook and cranny. I strongly believe that God is doing some incredible things at Texas A&M, and because of Breakaway, we have an even greater opportunity to shine the light of His glory everywhere. This doesn’t happen at any other public university, and because of that, I’m proud to be an Aggie.
P.S. : If you’ve never been to Breakaway, you should check this out.
“Breakaway is a non-denominational, weekly Bible study on the campus of Texas A&M University. We exist to introduce college students to Jesus Christ and call them to walk with Him for a lifetime. We accomplish this through worship, Bible teaching and resources. While not affiliated with any one church, we work hard to connect students to local, Bible-believing churches. By God's power and for His glory, we live to proclaim the gospel of Christ to college students and connect them to Christ's community and His mission.”
Gig ‘em.
