On October 1, 2017 almost sixty innocent people were shot at a Las Vegas country music festival. With no motive, a lack of hope, and a fear unlike no other our country is yet again in shambles. On October 4, over 11,000 students came together to worship Jesus and pray for these victims and our country, and in the week to come so many others will do the same.

On the morning of October 1, I woke up to the most unsettling news like many of you did. There had been another mass shooting, and this time it has been described as the worst in the history of mass shootings.Yet again, we were divided on another subject, and to no surprise this instance became political very quickly. Gun control became the topic on everyone's lips. Hate was continually dispersed, but at the same time sadness filled the hearts of many Americans.

What is to come of our not so great nation? When will President Trump "make America great again?" In the middle of all this chaos, we've only seen the bad when there is so much good still radiating throughout the world. Where is this so called "good"?

October 11 is National Fields of Faith Day. Every year thousands, I dare say millions of believers and nonbelievers get together to spread the Gospel and worship Jesus. Fields of Faith is a student led event that is truly life changing, and this year I was blessed to experience it for myself.

Fields of Faith was done a little early for me this year because Tech hosts it every year and there were some scheduling conflicts. Not only this but, Fields of Faith had to be turned into Courts for Christ due to inclement weather. With everything going on this past week, I was so grateful to surround myself with fellow "Jesus lovers" and just fully surround myself in His love. I was expecting a good time, but I wasn't expecting what I got instead.

We started out the night with a good ole jam session followed by some student testimonies. The stories were great, the love was there, and His presence was felt. As the night progressed, we got deeper and deeper into ourselves, revealing things we often didn't realize we would feel.

I've believed in Jesus Christ for some time now, and I've been growing tremendously in my faith. However, our main speaker for the night challenged that concept immensely. He was a pastor from Washington D.C., and a Lubbock native. From the moment he stepped onto the court he just had this great energy about him. I knew he was talking primarily to those attending the event who hadn't really accepted Jesus into their hearts, but it still hit me the same. We talked about how to be saved and we talked about what it means to have faith. It was like Getting to Know Christ 101 and it was AMAZING!

It wasn't in these moments though that Courts for Christ impacted me the most, it was in the moments to come. Prayer was used often throughout the night and it reminded me that my prayer life wasn't up to par. I belted out the words to my favorite songs like, Death Was Arrested and O Come To The Altar. For once in my life I was at a good point in my relationship with God that I was able to fully worship COMPLETELY UNASHAMED. As our speaker called us to prayer, he spoke to us individually through different prayers. A prayer for those that just accepted Jesus for the first time. A prayer for those who have believed in Jesus before but haven't been living that way, and a prayer for those who have believed but have finally understood what it means to truly have faith in God. That's where I got the chills and tears began to run down my cheeks. In the midst of all my stresses and all the evil within the world, I just like those 10,999 others, were completely covered in His grace, mercy, and love. We were not separated by color, religion, or sexuality. We were united in Christ. Feeling small and ignored was not a thing in that big gymnasium. God's arms were wrapped around each and everyone of us, just as they always are.

The good news is the words of Christ. His crucifixion and His resurrection. His love and His mercy. Think of a moment when you've felt His presence like I mentioned above. Is there a moment where you've just been so overwhelmed by His presence in this big world? Have you witnessed anything similar to Fields of Faith?

In the aftermath of the Vegas shooting, many people are calling for gun control. Politically dividing our nation once again, but remember, Cain killed Abel with a rock. It's not an outright gun problem, it's a heart problem.

On October 11th, I encourage you to find your nearest Fields of Faith event. Experience something that is bound to bring love and positivity among you. The world may be full of evil, but His light will always shine through the darkness. There is still good in this world even when the evil seems to have taken over. So, spread love. Spread truth. Spread the Gospel. We are in dire need of hope and we hope for the things we cannot yet see, like the Gates of Heaven where no evil is found.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the Las Vegas shooting. "For I reckon that the present sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." -Romans 8:18