Small groups fill spiritual void

This story is part three of three in a series of articles about faith, religion and fellowship at the University

The small enclaves of students who gather on campus most every Tuesday night discuss a wide range of topics- politics, philosophy or maybe just their daily struggles.

They share their experiences and opinions while searching for answers, or at least spiritual guidance in their Bibles opened in front of them.

The lessons they learn don’t earn them course credit, but the knowledge they gain is valuable, nevertheless.

“It’s filled a spiritual void in my life,” Stephanie Sorich, a Wesley Foundation member said.

Campus ministers say college is a critical time in a person’s life. With students away from their parents and familiar churches, faith-based campus organizations are available on and off campus to ease the transition.

University records show 76 registered student organizations on campus, of those, only six are faith based. Of the faith-based organizations only four also have off-campus connections.

Campus ministers said they focus their energy on college students to offer them a religious education not available through a state university.

“We really want to be here for the convicted and un-convicted,” said Rev. Jeff Jordan, Reform University Fellowship campus minister.

He said the organizations purpose is to spiritually connect with students through scripture, reach the lost and confused; equip them to be servant minded; and to serve God.

“We emphasize how we’re made right before God and how we live before God,” He said.

Jordan said the organization emphasizes grace, believes scripture applies in all walks of life and wants to teach students as part of the educational atmosphere in a way that can stand intellectual criticism.

Jordan said every Tuesday night his organization offers praise and worship time and an in-depth Bible study over New Testament book of Ephesians to help quench students’ spiritual thirst.

The organization chooses a different book of the Bible every semester. By doing this they can truly understand the message conveyed in each book, he said.

Baptist Student Ministry director Joe Osteen said it is important for Christian students to get involved with a spiritual organization to support them in their spiritual quest.

He said students reach a point where they’re not at home and they don’t have anyone to keep them accountable for their decisions.

“The reason we do all these things is not to promote the BSM … we want them to know that (various beliefs) doesn’t separate them from a community and fellowship,” campus missionary Kenny Patterson said.

He said the greatest service the BSM has to offer is a caring Christian community of members wanting to see each student grow deeper in their faith.

“We want people to respond to the message of Christ and to his call,” Osteen said.

To further instill the message of Christ, the BSM built a new venue on the corner of Patriot Drive and Varsity Drive. It is scheduled to open later this month for student fellowship, peaceful study time and other activities.

“What we hope first of all is it will be a home base for ministry on campus,” Osteen said. He said next semester BSM officials plan to have evening worship services, concerts and staff meetings in the 3,500-square-foot main room.

“We’re willing to do that because we really want to reach out,” Osteen said.

He said the new facility’s two main functions are to help build a community of caring students and to provide a place to organize and plan campus ministry.

“We’re here to stay and we hope to be consistent by sharing the love of Christ on campus,” Osteen said.

To further show their devotion to serve, the BSM offers free lunch every Monday that costs the organization or sponsoring churches an average of $400 to $500 each week, he said.

“Christ came to be a servant and to serve and we try to immolate that,” Osteen said.

The BSM is not the only organization offering students free food-the Wesley Foundation has a weekly Conversational Faith Dinner, along with an in-depth Bible study.

Rev. Dan Conway said the main goal of the Wesley Foundation is to “find faith in the journey, life in the community and Christ in you.”

Although the Wesley Foundation came from the Methodist denomination, Conway said the group does not have to agree on every religious theory, but must maintain an attitude of respect for each other.

“Our main focus is on Jesus and the Bible,” Conway said.

He said during the organizations dinners members do not place an emphasis on a particular denomination.

Instead, each week members study two chapters of a particular book of the Bible.

He said people must remain respectful and understand other students are at different places on their spiritual journey through life.

Conway said the group is open to any student interesting in their fellowship, Christ and the Bible. The Wesley Foundation also provides a Sunday night college worship service at Fairwood United Methodist Church on Old Omen Road.

Two other faith-based groups offer University students an opportunity for spiritual guidance. Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship and members of the local Catholic Dioceses are two other faith-based ministries helping students find their “home base” on campus.

“Every student that is here on this campus, is here for a reason,” Ross Baker, Chi Alpha campus minister and University graduate said. “We just kind of want to be a beacon of truth.”

Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship’s off-campus location at 2603 Old Omen Road ministers to student at the University and at Tyler Junior College.

“Our reason to focus on this age group is that they (students) are forming a foundation for the rest of their lives,” Baker said.

Although Chi Alpha is not registered as an on-campus student organization for the fall semester, Baker said the organization plans to register in the spring.

Baker said Chi Alpha got its name from a verse in the biblical book of Corinthians, in which the two Greek letters Chi and Alpha represent the phrase “Christ’s sent ones.”

He said the organization is non-denominational and wants to serve students from all faiths. Chi Alpha organizers provide weekly Bible studies in their off-campus location.

Although the locations vary from organization to organization, each group has an equal desire to share the gospel with University students.

For example, Virginia Rounds, a parishioner in the local Catholic Diocese of Tyler said fellow believers also are ministering to students on campus to get them involved in the Catholic community.

“One of the main purposes is to keep students in contact with what they need,” Rounds said. “It’s an important time in their life and they need a home base.”

She said there is a “world of death” and a “world of life” and students need to find the right path and a common place to fellowship.

Rounds said participating believers minister at informal meetings to give students religious options while they are away from the accountability of their parents.

“They need to re-examine their faith walk and accept it as adults,” Rounds said. “It’s a way to connect them with people that can help them do that.”

The campus parishioners do not have an organized on-campus student organization, but plans to in the future, Rounds said.

For right now students must meet in various locations around campus. However, University officials have drafted an Interfaith Chapel into the 2003 master building plan in hopes of one day having a designated place for faith on campus.

Officials are planning to construct the facility in the future and are actively searching for private donations.

By Ashlie Osburn Staff Writer