On Jan. 31, the first My Two Words event took place in the lower section of Seeger Chapel. The room was filled to capacity with students who wanted to come and fellowship with each other while hearing their peers’ testimonies. The room was full of laughter and attentive listeners while the speakers Ashlynn Kennedy, Daniel Roshak, and Susan Mahaffey shared their personal stories.
The trio brought a variety of messages to the chapel that night. Mahaffey’s words were “certainty” and “hope.” She went on to express her battles with mental health and anxiety. She included that she got professional help and went to therapy and that therapy is helpful.
“God is faithful, God will continue to move things in your life if you trust them, and we are a lot more capable than what we think,” she said.
She emphasized the certainty of God’s favor and the hope you have to have to believe in Him.
Roshak came from a different perspective than most during his time on stage.
His words were the Spanish word “esparar,” a combination of hoping and waiting, and “pause.” He initially talked about how he wasn’t a believer in Christ. He thought the whole idea of it was “foolish.”
Roshak went on to talk about the impact of his grandfather, who showed him scripture, in particular a verse from Isaiah 6, and started to open his eyes to the ideas of Christianity. After enduring a hot day at his grandfather’s house, Roshak went into a deep “pause” and by examining nature, he began to see the power of God. After a time of waiting and hoping patiently with his relationship with God, now he finds himself a Christian who respects God.
Kennedy concluded the night with two words, “fear” and “community.” She wasn’t up there long, but she described her struggle with panic attacks and anxiety. However, she went on to explain that by leaning on her newfound friends at church she found comfort. She found a community that accepted her for who she was, what she was going through, and wasn’t judgmental through the process. That is something that many would agree all people, especially college students, truly need. This message of unity and community was a nice touch to put the night to a close.
Many students had a positive reaction to the event.
Milligan graduate student Skylan Stephens described My Two Words as “another successful event” and really related to Mahaffey’s words about self-talk and self-doubt. Stephens, who is also a former participant of My Two Words, encourages people to go to these events regularly.
“Humans relate to stories and this is an event full of stories,” he said. “This is an event we can all relate to in any way, shape, or form.”
Headline photo by Milligan University