April 5, 2012
Inspired by summertime and his admiration for the music of a Christian band, OBU student Joshua Hale recently earned recognition in the National Association of Evangelicals' Creation Care Video Contest.
The contest, in its inaugural year, was open to college students across the United States who submitted videos on the topic of how the Bible calls people to care for creation and what Christians can do about that call. All eight winning videos were created by students from Council for Christian Colleges & Universities' member institutions.
Hale's video features the song, "Summertime" by Audio Adrenaline.
"My love for the band Audio Adrenaline was on full blast that day, and that's when I came across the song," Hale said. "I wanted to showcase the amazing Creation that God has created, during my favorite time of year."
A freshman digital media arts major, Hale's hometown is Elemendorf AFB, Alaska. But with family in the Owasso area, he considers himself an "Okie." While he completed the project outside of class as an independent project, he said the recognition was a great honor as it relates to his chosen major.
"God created us to be storytellers, and when I use a story to honor Him, it's wonderful for people to notice," Hale said.
Hale's participation in the contest supports OBU's mission for students to integrate faith with all areas of knowledge and to pursue academic excellence.
"We are pleased that the faith of our students and the creativity of our students are being recognized by others on such important issues," said Ronald A. Johnson, associate professor of electronic media production.
Sponsors for the contest included Care of Creation, Christianity Today, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), Evangelical Environmental Network, Renewal and the National Association of Evangelicals.
OBU is a member of the CCCU, a higher education association of 185 intentionally Christ-centered institutions around the world. The 116 member campuses in North America are all fully-accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities with curricula rooted in the arts and sciences. In addition, 69 affiliate campuses from 25 countries are part of the CCCU. The Council's mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help its institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.