With hands raised and eyes closed, students gathered in song Monday at the opening event for UT Rez Week.

UT Rez Week is a week-long event of prayer, worship and evangelism. Some of the events include performing artists, speech boards for students to add text to and tents for coffee, food and prayer, open 24 hours.

“We have students from all different ministries on campus come together,” said Kevin Ling, director for Campus Renewal at UT. “Our hope is that people will come and engage. If they have questions about Jesus or Christianity as a whole, that’s what students are here for.”

On this particular evening, the Gateway Band from Gateway Church played, a student shared his testimony, and Matt Bartgis, a campus pastor from Hillsong, New Jersey, discussed his faith. 

“(We use Rez Week) as a demonstration of unity,” said psychology senior Paulina Citzman, core team member for Campus Renewal. “We show that we are all equal in front of the cross, that we are all sinners and all in need of somebody to help us out.”  

The theme chosen for this year’s Rez Week was “Perfect Love.”

“The theme highlighted that God’s love is the only perfect love,” biochemistry freshman Daniella Tran said. “For example, a boyfriend or girlfriend can love you, but they can come and go. God’s love will always be there for you.” 

The event, held in front of Gregory Gym, was open to any person of any denomination to come and join the crowd. Students, faculty and even other Austinites of different denominations came to the event. 

“My senior year I wanted to get closer to my spirituality,” supply chain management senior Jacob Fisher said. “It was an event where God was presented to me, and I decided to go to it. I just felt like it was a good time for me to come, especially because Resurrection Week is coming up, for me to reflect on what I’ve been doing.” 

Campus Renewal, the host of the event, seeks to unite all Christian denominations, according to the organization’s website. 

“(The event) was uplifting because I don’t attend church regularly, but I still consider myself a devout Catholic,” Tran said. “This reminded me of God and how I can return to Him.”