Issue date: 3/31/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: Jordan Bryan [Click to enlarge]

Bible studies are one of the most popular and encouraged organizations in Aggieland. For every type of religion and every sort of Bible, someone has created a study group. Across campus, and all over College Station and Bryan, students are making time in their busy schedules to focus on God.

A group dedicated to freshman Bible study known as Upstream has been around for more than 10 years, leading freshmen to the study and worship of God while instilling a sense of community and family.

Upstream at 8 p.m. Thursdays. The first 45 minutes is dedicated to praise and worship as a group.

Joseph Holm, Class of 2008, is the lead singer in the Upstream praise and worship team along with three other band members.

"We do it to direct people to Jesus through music and invite the Holy Spirit to be with us," Holm said.

After praise and worship, the group divides into smaller groups which spread out all over campus. Groups can be found anywhere from Rudder Tower to the Commons Lobby.

Small groups are made up of two group leaders, usually a male and female, a prayer teamer and a group of eager freshmen. Group leaders meet separately before meetings to prepare to lead discussion and the prayer teamer acts as a listener for freshmen.

Sophomore anthropology major Josh Bain became a prayer teamer after having a positive experience as a freshman in Upstream.

"The groups write their prayer intentions on note cards and we pray individually everyday for them," Bain said.

Above the small groups are the coordinators who plan, pray and ensure all of the logistics and organizational aspects of Upstream.

One of the things the coordinators decide on are the "theme streams," which occur two or three times per semester. The night is created around a theme, and groups are encouraged to dress up. Most recently, the group hosted a TV-stream where everyone was encouraged to dress up like television characters. Costumes ranged from "Oompa-loompa's" to Gilligan's Island characters.

Freshman visualization major Lauren Canon was dressed as the Geico cavewoman and declared that the TV-stream had been her favorite so far. Canon joined Upstream the first night it started in fall 2008 and was encouraged by her sister, who was a team leader last year.

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