Video cameras and emotions flowed through the crowd Wednesdaynight as students, faculty, and staff gathered to celebratediversity and faith as part of SMU’s “One Night”event, which was put on by various campus ministries and ProgramCouncil.
Musical guests Shane and Shane and Dallas Cowboys’quarterback Quincy Carter all had an opportunity to share theirbeliefs, and reiterated that there is no right or wrong answer whenthe question of faith arises.
Hosts Amy Messer and Rich Cray kicked off the evening with anintroduction of the festivities and the band. “OneNight” began as the brainchild of Cray about two monthsago.
“A few buddies and I wanted to create an event that wouldbring the SMU community together,” he said.
Shane and Shane opened their musical set before a packed housewith enthusiasm and purpose, as a series of inspirational songsreverberated off the walls of McFarlin Auditorium.
Spreading their message through more than just lyrics, the bandspoke of their faith in between songs.
The final musical number, “Namesake”, got the crowdstirring more than any other. The song, as Shane and Shaneexplained, “is meant to be a prayer. We want the Lord tooverwhelm us with Himself.”
“Namesake” was a series of motivational lyrics,interrupted only by an electrifying percussion performance, onethat got the enthused audience to clap in unison to the beat.
First-year M.E. and math double-major Britton Linstead”enjoyed how Shane and Shane used their talent to boldlyshare their faith.”
The band was followed by local pastor Todd Wagner, who gave ashort introduction before introducing Carter.
The Cowboys’ quarterback touched on a number of differentareas, yet the common theme linking the ideas together was the factthat being a professional athlete has not changed his faith. Infact, Cater attributed much of his success to God.
“[God] helped me through all of the tough times in mylife,” he said. “Without Him, I would not have beenable to overcome the obstacles that have been thrown atme.”
Growing up in Georgia without a father, Carter’s motherserved as the key inspiration for him as a child.
“My mom instilled God in me,” he explained.”God is the only thing I know and the ruler in my life.
“The knowledge that He is always watching over you is abit frightening. You want to make sure you’re headed in theright direction.”
While the success of being the starting quarterback for”America’s Team” is nice, Carter made sure toexplain that he is not done praying and giving thanks.
“I’m so thankful that God has helped me to thispoint in my life,” he said. “But even with a lovingGod, things don’t always go your way.
“What people have to understand is that God has a plan foreverything and everybody.”
He continued, “Life after football is going to be a muchbigger story than playing the game every Sunday.”
First-year rugby player Brad Julsonnet felt that, “Quincyreally caught fire at the end. His message was veryencouraging.”
Other students felt that his down-to-earth demeanor was the bestmedia through which to relay his message.
First-year art history major Elizabeth Francesconi enjoyedCarter’s, “humility and willingness to share hisfaith.” Many in the audience remarked on thequarterback’s modesty, like marketing and creativeadvertising double-major Courtney Coffin.
“I didn’t get the impression that he was talking atus,” she said. “He was talking to us as humanbeings.”
The evening came to a close with thoughts from Wagner, whoemphasized that, “even through all of our rebellion,foolishness, and sin, God still loves us.”
SMU would like to thank Omni Hotels, Macfarlan Real EstateCompany, and Student Senate for making “One Night”possible.