Unlike most weekends, South Quad residents woke up Saturday morning and were awakened in more than one way.
The sound check for band equipment resounded off the walls of the residence halls promptly at 10:00 a.m. With it, SMU’s newly-chartered chapter of the Brothers Under Christ fraternity kicked off their Island Party.
“This couldn’t have gotten off the ground without all the guys in the fraternity, and without God’s blessing in funding,” said Vice President Billy Lawley, sounding thankful and relieved. As vice president, Lawley was in charge of coordinating the party, and had hoped for its success.
Clearly, though, the launch was successful in the minds of the brothers and those in attendance.
“Quite a few people came out and had a great time, and through the bands’ music, the speaker’s words and even people simply enjoying themselves tossing the Frisbee around, God was glorified,” said President Emeritus Japheth Broeg.
The Island Party is the fraternity’s major campus event on all 12 campuses where it exists. Started by the Brothers Under Christ chapter at the University of Texas at Austin in 1985, the event has grown quite large at some schools. For example, at Texas and Texas A&M University, the event draws 30,000 to 40,000 people each year. At SMU, about 200 people stopped by, creating more of a relaxed, backyard barbecue-type of atmosphere.
“It’s not about the numbers, though.” Broeg said. “It’s about whether or not people are touched by the event.”
“If just one person who didn’t know Christ is touched, this event will be a success,” added Kat Bell. Many people shared the sentiment that the event was for believers and non-believers alike, to show that Christians can have fun, too.
“It was good for the community and non-believers to see that Christians don’t just sit in church,” Lawley said. “We wanted to do this for the community, and as a fraternity, it really stretched our faith in facing some adversity and persevering through it.”
Difficulties came in trying to raise an extra $1,000 last week and in clashing the loud speakers from the band with weddings going on in Perkins Chapel.
