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The Eastern Echo Saturday, July 26, 2025 | Print Archive
The Eastern Echo

Unite EMU

'Unite EMU' spreads Christian principles

The ballroom at the student center last Thursday was packed with people on their feet, hands in the air, singing along with music from the live band.

But this wasn’t just any concert: this was part of Unite EMU, an event started by Eastern Michigan University senior Jon Whaley and headlined by the band from his church, Metro South, located down river.

“I went through school, chasing the wrong things in life,” Whaley, who was also event coordinator and lead singer for the band, said. “But what I really wanted to chase after was God.”

What started as an urge to make other people as happy as he was turned into an organized event that packed the ballroom with Eastern students and visitors alike, some coming from as far away as Trenton, where Metro South Church is based.

“I really enjoy being around other Christians,” Metro South Church-goer Kristina Kontour said. “It’s more open, more effective to learn the word with such a crowd. It’s magnified.”

The Unite EMU event has been going on for several years as a way to spread the Christian word and to bring the different campus ministries together to reach one common purpose.

“I hope to demonstrate to individuals that our work is bigger the one individual ministry,” said His House Christian Fellowship ministry leader Eric Hammond. “I want to give people a bigger vision.”

The event was headlined by Metro South’s resident band, The Alive Band, and began with the band rocking out while spreading the message.

“The music is important because this is a celebration, a get together to worship God,” Alive drummer Ian Bacon said. “It gives us a sense of community. We can all sing the same songs.”

That sense of community was part of what this event was about, bringing people of different faiths and different ministries together.

“It’s really encouraging to see Christians coming together,” Bacon said. “A lot of times, you see churches as rivals, trying to get members to get more money. Here, people of different backgrounds can get together, and worship the same God.”

Afterwards, the band took to the stage once more to wrap it up with some high-powered rock, worship music.

“When you think about what the rest of the world does with entertainment, what’s done for God should be as good or better,” Bacon said. “The bible says praise the lord with clashing cymbals and horns, shout to the lord, make a bunch of noise. That’s what we want to do.”

For those who helped plan and organize the evening, the term “unite” held true through out the event.

“All the campus ministries are divided,” Whaley said. “People don’t want to follow Jesus if they see Christians fighting with each other. Tonight is moving us forward. Who cares about the translation of the Bible or your style, get them to God.”

But it wasn’t just those in charge who felt a sense of unity, but those who attended as well.

“It brought everyone together,” said freshmen and exercise science major Meredith Fairbarin. “We shared a passion for God. Sharing faith with so many people is awesome.”

Another big part of the evening was people moving past the things that were troubling them with the help of those at the event.

“I saw a lot of people deal with the issues in their secret lives that eat at them,” Whaley said. “I saw people deal with those issues and move toward change.”

In the end, it wasn’t just for those part of campus ministries, or even just Christians: it was about changing lives and uniting people.

“I hope people’s lives are touched,” said sophomore and sociology major Melanie Blackney. “I hope they go home different then when they came in. The music, awesome times with people who genuinely care about you: everybody needs that.”