On Sept. 27, College Green was filled with groups of students singing about Jesus. If you heard these devoted voices of worship, you may have unknowingly witnessed something called Freedom Night.
Unity for a Christian means choosing to see themselves as connected with other Christians because of their shared relationship with Jesus, rather than separate because of their varying beliefs. This unity can inspire believers to prioritize cooperation, humility and care over division and competition.
Today, division between churches makes unity feel nearly impossible. Engaging with Christians from different churches and backgrounds is a practical way to work toward unity. Freedom Nights strives to offer such an opportunity in Athens.
Kendall Hickey, a junior studying communication studies, was a part of creating Freedom Nights. Recalling the origin of the idea, Hickey said she and a friend had an idea: to bring all campus ministries together. The first Freedom Night, hosted in September 2024, gathered students and Christians from a variety of backgrounds and ministries under one roof.
“All the ministries are just wanting to make Jesus known,” Hickey said. “And so, honestly, the goal was just to bring together people of all nationalities, all denominations … just to lift up the name of Jesus because that is something that can unite us … Jesus is king, he is our savior."
Hickey said two individuals were baptized at the first Freedom Night, a public act symbolizing commitment to the Christian faith.
“There were a lot of spontaneous worship moments that were awesome,” Hickey said. “It was very spirit-led.”
Freedom Nights have been held every semester since. Hickey said the most recent Freedom Night was especially impactful because those passing College Green could hear worship music and the gospel, the message of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
Kaylee Johnson, a freshman studying psychology, was a part of the Freedom Nights prayer and worship team. She said the event’s purpose goes beyond a single night of worship.
“Worship is so much more than a one-night event … the whole point of Freedom Night is to be a catalyst for everyday living,” Johnson said. “I want to see my community come together (and) for all believers to be able to worship under the banner of his name, under Jesus.”
Freedom Nights, created for all students, seek Christians from all denominations and campus ministries. This event aims to incite an attitude that everything from school to work to working out can be done in a way that brings honor and glory to God.
The most recent Freedom Night concluded with a challenge to carry the good news as listeners go into the world. The origin of this challenge, otherwise known as the great commission, comes from Jesus’ command, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. This command was for his disciples, his closest followers, to go into the world and preach the gospel, thus making disciples and baptizing them. This command was not just for the disciples, but for every Christian.
For Christians, this action is an act of love, based on the understanding that every individual should have the opportunity to know God personally.
“Nobody will be able to hear the full gospel and understand the full love Jesus has for them if somebody doesn’t tell them,” Simon Lupfer, a sophomore studying journalism, said. “We actually have a duty to share that hope we have in Jesus with everybody.”
Lupfer said the gospel’s impact on his life inspired him to share this good news on campus and embark on a summer-long mission trip, sharing the good news of Jesus. He admitted it can be scary to go into conversations about Jesus, but taking a step of faith could change someone’s life and eternity.
“Every conversation is an opportunity for somebody to hear the gospel, which is the greatest news we could ever tell,” he said.
A Freedom Night may only last a few hours, but the unity, worship and mission it inspires continues long after the final song fades.
Izzie is a freshman studying communications at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Izzie about her column? Email her at ij321924@ohio.edu
