 "Photo: File Photo--The Battalion")
Breakaway has started its 20th anniversary year with record-breaking attendance, and the non-denominational campus Bible study will be making history today.
Started in 1989 as a small group of friends gathered in an apartment, it has increased to more than 6,500 students this fall and is the nation's largest college Bible study.
Since Breakaway's humble beginning, the Bible study has outgrown 14 different locations, moving most recently to Reed Arena. With the Memorial Student Center renovation displacing the bookstore to G. Rollie White Coliseum and relocating women's volleyball to Reed Arena, Breakaway has had to find alternative locations to meet.
"For years we had talked about how neat it would be (to be on Kyle Field) but it was never like let's actually jump in and try and do it. It wasn't until late this summer, with some of the musical chairs athletics is having to do, it was getting difficult to schedule; so we just had a brainstorming session of where could we go and we thought let's just try it, let's try Kyle," said Breakaway director Ben Stuart.
Breakaway founder Gregg Matte said he never thought it would grow so immensely and one day take place on Kyle Field.
"To look back on the days of it being in my apartment, who would have ever thought that would happen?" Matte said. "I am amazingly excited. I just think it is such a testimony to the power of God and to the students of A&M that something so neat would happen as having a Bible study on a football field."
Stuart attributes the reason for the Bible study's exponential success to something higher than himself.
"I certainly would have to say I can't take credit for it. I can't say it's because we really plan a great service, or we really have this strategy that we accomplish," Stuart said. "As simplistic as it sounds to say, it's something I believe that God decided He wanted to do."
Breakaway has a message for students, no matter backgrounds or experiences, Matte said.
"Whatever (your) conceptions are of what a Bible study is, Breakaway is going to be different," Matte said. "I think that it is real. We are able to come in one hour and students are able to authentically connect and look at real issues in their lives, get help, be encouraged, be challenged."
Junior early education major and self-proclaimed "Breakawayer" Katie Foote has attended every Breakaway she can and said she would not miss this week.
"I'm really excited, I've been thinking about it all week," Foote said. "Breakaway in itself is a really cool experience. Every time seeing the body of Christ at A&M all worshipping together and seeing the huge crowds that come is really moving, but being at Kyle Field is going to be perfect."
Stuart said this Tuesday is about more than just the turf.
"I want students to come not because we want to break records so Breakaway can be awesome. It's never been about the awesomeness of Breakaway," Stuart said. "It's about the awesomeness of God, and what He is doing and the person of Jesus Christ. That is what we want to celebrate. That is what we are going to be doing at Kyle."
