The genesis of revival at Claflin

The first Bible study this academic year was held on Sept. 4 in the student center, led Titus Galloway. (Panther photo by Hailee Goldwire)

“People should not be walking around campus bound with depression and anxiety. The Way, The Truth, and The Life is an outlet," Titus Galloway says.

The Way, The Truth, and The Life is an official Christ-centered organization at Claflin University. Bible studies take place in the student center on the second floor every Wednesday evening from 7 o’clock until 8:45.

Galloway, senior business management major who is the president of the organization, said The Way, The Truth, and The Life began as a vision “given to him by God.”

"Purpose is in God, and I want people to see our organization as a place where they can find God as well as their purpose. It brings life to campus,” Galloway said. “It does not always need to be a party for people to have fun.”

Last September, Galloway and his vice president, Nailah Outing, began to meet on campus with other followers of Christ even though they were not an official organization.

“Titus asked people who were over the Grace Thomas Kennedy building if they would leave the door opened for us and we had approval for using the building; however, we did not know we needed to have an official organization,” said Outing, senior environmental science major and vice president of The Way, The Truth, and The Life.

“We were not authorized at first, but we were just students simply gathering because we loved the Lord and were eager to learn more about him.”

Galloway and Outing said Bible studies ultimately got shut down by their fifth gathering even as attendance was nearly doubling at every meeting. 

“We met in Commons Lab one night instead of GTK and someone saw us and called the cops,” Outing said. “The security guard did not know what was happening because he just came due to the call, but he was not expecting to see students having Bible study.”

“Really when God stopped the Bible study, he began working on Titus and me by addressing things within our hearts so that we were accurately representing Christ,” Outing said.

“We do not want people who have a foundation of faith to be deceived by the enemy because they do not see another example,” Galloway said.

“We are fed up with the enemy trying to take our generation. We are going to stand firm in faith, and we are excited to simply do kingdom work.”

The Way, The Truth, and The Life if now an official organization. Its adviser is Kevin Murray, a police officer and ordained minister.

“It was a fresh fire and God had to calm us down in order to refine us and the organization,” Outing said. “Titus initially began seeking to follow God alone on a college campus surrounded by temptation. He soon became a new creation in Christ.

"I believe his thought process was, 'I have been brought into freedom, now how can I help others around me be free?'"

“It began a year ago, but now God has allowed us to effectively start again because we are mature in Christ and we want community,” Outing said.

“It’s really God’s plan for Claflin University. He wants to bring revival to campus,” Galloway said.

“Most people really enjoyed our first Bible study, and I am expecting an even bigger turnout (going forward). To God be the Glory! Christian movies, checkups to see how everyone is doing, and many more events are in the works.

"The community is what is going to keep the campus alive so that even when I graduate, there is always someone passing the torch. I want people to see Claflin and want to come because it is a powerful Bible study on campus,” Galloway said.

“This is going to be a new beginning. Remember that Jesus loves you, no matter how deep you are in your sin, or if you feel condemned. Jesus died for you in that very place. In God is true peace, joy, love and happiness. Remember, Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in the student center," Galloway said.