Duremdes Christian Emphasis Week 2026
Photo provided by Rampage student photographer John Thompson
The 35th annual Duremdes Christian Emphasis Week, held September 21-25, was a memorable experience as guest speaker Danny Morales’s creative and passionate preaching helped students go deeper in their walk with the Lord.
According to a BU press release, Christian Emphasis Week was created in 1992 by Drs. Gene and Jane Duremdes of Princeton, West Virginia. Thanks to their faith and generosity, hundreds of BU students have made professions of faith and been baptized over the past three decades.
Sensing a special calling to “share with the students of Bluefield University some of the blessings they have received from the Lord,” the Duremdes created the event with BU leaders to allow students and the public at-large to “examine their spiritual lives” and to “seek answers to life-impacting questions.”
Ashlyn Newman, BU’s assistant director of Campus Ministries, spoke about the Duremdes family and their commitment to partner with Bluefield University in prayer and financially to support Christian Emphasis Week. She said their ongoing contribution will help continue the legacy of Dr. Gene Duremdes, who passed away this summer.
“Dr. Duremdes was passionate about sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and he was incredibly faithful to that calling,” Newman said. “His family has continued to honor his calling and servant heart by continuing to sponsor this week.”
This year, events included Home Nights, three chapel services with guest speaker Morales, and a fellowship night with free food and baptisms. The chapel services focused on Galatians 6:9, BU’s theme verse for the year. Throughout all of the events, students were able to make professions of faith, relieve stress from school, and go deeper in their faith.
Several students shared how they enjoyed the event. Ethan Kenneda spoke about how he grew closer to God.
“What I enjoyed about Christian Emphasis Week was coming together as a family and worshipping God,” Kenneda said. “During that time I felt like my heart grew closer to him as a whole.”
Students not only enjoyed the event, but also learned how to be better Christians and be bold in sharing their faith.
“The message that challenged me during Christian Emphasis week or Harvest Week was the message on Thursday, the day Danny was talking about obedience,” said student Chelsea Boothe. “I personally struggle with obedience as a Christian. Sometimes it can be hard to obey God, especially when I do not see how he is working in my life.”
Taylor Selfe spoke about how Morales’ message on “this ain’t home” resonated with her, “especially when he spoke about being on assignment, and the day when he did the altar call for stepping fully into God’s authority and praying about carrying the power of the living God inside of us.”
Baptisms were held in Harmen Chapel on Thursday, and the night was a success.
“We had 18 baptisms, including both salvations and re-dedications of faith,” Newman said. “We had 10 signed up, but the Lord put it upon the hearts of eight more to be baptized. It was amazing to visualize the sin washed away as individuals came up out of the baptism waters. The joy, love, and support shown on Baptism Night was incredibly encouraging and gave us a glimpse of what is to come in Heaven.”