NOLA Students Freed from Dance Dangers by 'Release'

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One of the dreams I’ve had since I came to NOLA Wesley has been to create a wholesome, alcohol-free space for students to dance since the only spaces they can normally dance are frat parties and bars that are filled with debauchery and sexual predatory behavior.

I shared this dream with one of our new Labyrinth cafe workers two weeks ago and she said her friends would love to participate in an event like that. So we created Release: A Judgment-Free Dance Party which we decided to hold on Wednesday nights at 9 pm.

I was a bit nervous yesterday before our first Release. I wasn’t sure anyone would come. But a few minutes after 9, the students started trickling in. They brought a hula hoop. We danced to a variety of different genres of songs. 

There wasn’t an official DJ. So when each song ended, somebody had to go to the laptop to pick a new one. But it didn’t matter that it wasn’t meticulously choreographed.

We moved in all sorts of goofy and silly ways. We laughed a lot. It was the most relaxed I’ve ever seen a group of Tulane students. Almost all of them were non-Christians. They loved it and they’re planning to make it part of their regular weekly routine.

I think this is what evangelism looks like right now for us. Building trust and creating spaces where joy can be unleashed. I’ve never had this many relationships with non-Christian students. Please pray that the Holy Spirit would show me how to embody God’s love for them. Please also pray that the Labyrinth would become the space that God wants it to be for our student body.

Blessings and love,

Morgan

The Rev. Morgan Guyton, along with his wife the Rev. Cheryl Guyton, serves as co-director of the NOLA Wesley Foundation, the United Methodist campus ministry to Tulane and Loyola universities in New Orleans, La. This post is republished from an email newsletter sent to NOLA Wesley supporters.