September 25th-27th, 2011
By Chris Godfrey
National Advisor
Arkansas. Sweet SEC
and land of mountains and trees, so good to see you again! I boarded my plane and headed to the U of A;
I landed in a little airport in Northwest Arkansas called XNA built for the
Wal-Mart families nearby. Xi Chapter
Chaplain, Patrick Grace, picked me up on his way back from Pledge Retreat
Weekend. The pledges really enjoyed
camping out and sharing life getting to know their fellow pledge-class
brothers. He got me up to speed about the
weekend’s events and recent activities at Arkansas as we headed to officer
meeting. Officer Meeting was at a few of
the men’s house which happened to be right off of campus—closer to campus than
just about anything else. I came in on a
busy meeting with discussions of many things going on with the men. It is always encouraging to see the officer
corps work so well together bouncing ideas off of each other and then coming to
an agreement to knock it out. After
diving right in to meetings after arriving, we had dinner at a chicken
restaurant similar to Zaxby’s but homemade.
I took a brief break back at my hotel after dinner until Patrick came
and picked me up from the local Holiday Inn Express to have our
one-on-one.
Patrick and I went to a local coffee and dessert shop on
their main street in Fayetteville. We
had some great pumpkin cake and hot chocolate to kick off the fall season. I enjoyed our conversation and getting to
know his story as well as his heart for BYX.
Cell Groups had just begun and worked hard to make sure they would be
really meaningful for the men in such a large chapter. Patrick’s story is one that shows how God can
use BYX in collegiate men’s lives after growing up in a family that doesn’t
strive after the Lord. Really
encouraging to hear how much he has grown in college and making sure to use his
time to grow in his relationship with Christ and pour in to other men on campus
and in the chapter.
Monday morning started too early after a late Sunday
night! Fellow National Advisor Jordan
Difani is a local of the Arkansas Chapter so he and I caught up over a 7am
breakfast. There are so many exciting
things going on in Jordan’s life as he recently got married and continues to
have two chapters he works with. Ryne,
the pledge captain, picked me up from the hotel and we went to breakfast at a
local bakery after catching up with Jordan.
What a great way to get all fired up for the day after eating a load of
baked goods! Ryne has taken the reigns
of pledge captain and really done a great job of encouraging the pledges and
challenging them. At chapter meeting he
gets everyone pumped for upcoming activities and giving out weekly awards. Two awards were the ladies choice and Mr.
Patriotic—just an example of some creativity.
Xi Chapter Treasurer, Eric, picked me up from the bakery and
we went to campus to talk. The guys at
Arkansas continue to budget wisely and do things with excellence! Biker week was beginning in Fayetteville, but
thankfully the bikers weren’t there rumbling through the city just yet as John
(the vice-president) and I went to lunch on the main strip. They have had some great events this semester
and have a great line-up of activities left.
Founder’s Day Tailgate was a huge success as they had a cookout and were
sporting new BYX tailgate tents out on campus and giving away BYX event cups. After lunch I met up with President Taylor
Hall at the house they had officer meeting at right off campus and we went to a
local coffeehouse that the chapter supports to help an international
ministry. The coffeehouse also serves as
a prayer house for prayer time in the mornings and evenings—it’s a really neat
opportunity the guys have to be in prayer for the community and world.
Chapter was a great time of community! The Cell Group Leader meeting before chapter was a great time of prayer and encouragement. The announcements and awards were at the
beginning part of chapter and then had a great time of worship and encouragement
after a brief break. The pledges were looking
sharp as they were dressed up with black pants and white button downs for
pledge time on Mondays. They have
continued to have functions and coke dates this semester to really get them
involved on campus and in various organizations. Pledge time was great because 80+ pledges
came together and had a good time investing in one another. Tuesday I had the opportunity to sit by the
Starbucks in the middle of campus and talk with men as they walked by between
classes and during class breaks! Josiah,
an active member, shared how BYX has really held him accountable and grown him
as a man in college. The chapter really is
on fire for the Lord as well as living it out for Him on campus through Greek
life.
Thomas Jenkins, Secretary, took me to lunch before I left
for the airport. I enjoyed my time with
him eating at local restaurant that was very similar to a restaurant called
Peaches in Georgia! So good drinking
Sweet Tea out of the mason jar and hearing what the Lord is doing in Thomas’
life. The men at Arkansas continue to
push forward and to do things well and with excitement! It was a very encouraging visit and a lot continued
positive growth with the Xi Chapter.
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