Kyle Rains, of Epicenter, addresses students at New Life Church.

“Epicenters real purpose is to be an outreach to students to sort of be a place where they can grow spiritually while they are still in college.” Kyle Rains, leader of Epicenter remarks.

Local students from all different colleges around the Dubuque area have been broadening their outlooks of religion at New Life Church’s Epicenter program.

“Anybody is welcome,” says Clarke student Kim Lyon, “Even if you don’t believe in God you’re still welcome.”

For students like Melissa Bowden and Kim Lyon, Epicenter has brought new respect for their beliefs on their religion.

“I wasn’t really used to the way things are set up, there’s a certain pattern to everything, you have to really know what’s going on when you go into one of the masses and here you just um come in and you sing songs; there’s a lesson so it’s pretty casual,” says Melissa Bowden.

“God gives me my life purpose and just so much love and amazingness I can’t even express it in the English language,” proclaims Kim Lyon.

Epicenter has brought students of all denominations together to worship. A majority of the students that attend these meetings are students from the nearby colleges: Loras, Clarke, and University of Dubuque. The meetings provide students with the opportunity to worship in a different way.

To find out more information about Epicenter go to www.epicenterdbq.com or attend one of their Tuesday meetings at 8:30pm.

Lauren DeWitt can be reached at Lauren.DeWitt@loras.edu