Spiritual Life – TrevEchoes Online

7Apr

By trevechoesonlineNo Comments

Campus News, Coronavirus, Spiritual Life

Nashville churches use livestreams to keep congregations connected

By: Allie Crumpton As Trevecca students return home, local churches all over the United States are finding unique ways to connect with their congregation during a time of mandated quarantine because of the novel coronavirus. “We act in these ways not out of fear that we might get the virus but out of love for those who might get the virus and not be able to fight it off well,” said Erik Gernand, Trevecca chaplain. Many Trevecca students’ local churches have taken innovative approaches to continue their ministry. A popular local church for Trevecca students, Kaleo Nashville, used a Zoom call on March 29 to take communion over video. “Everyone either found a piece of bread, or a cracker, or someone even had an animal cracker to do this eucharist across the way,” said Noah S...

31Mar

By trevechoesonlineNo Comments

Campus News, Spiritual Life

Chapel resolution fails to pass SGA

SGA rejects effort to reduce chapel to 18 credits in a 4-15 vote By Maria Monteros Members of the Student Government Association overwhelmingly voted against a resolution that would have reduced the number of chapel requirements to 18 from 24 credit hours each semester. The resolution failed to pass the SGA for the president’s cabinet to review in a 4-15 vote during the regular Monday meeting last week. Six members voted to abstain. On Change.org, a petition to “drop chapel requirements from 24 to 18” gathered over 500 signatures and 153 shares within three months. The petition cited stress, workload, commutes and chapel burnout as factors to reduce the required hours. Failure to complete the required credit hours could result in a $10 fine on the first absence, $20 on th...

9Oct

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Campus News, Spiritual Life

Tennessee Governor shares testimony in chapel

By Maria Monteros Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee shared his personal faith experience, including the death of his first wife and his journey from businessman to politician, with the Trevecca community in Tuesday’s chapel service. The Tennessee governor agreed to share his testimony when a Trevecca student invited him to speak in one of university’s worship services. Lee told students about the tragic death of his first wife when their four children were young and how that time solidified his faith. “The Lord does his most powerful work, I’m convinced, in the midst of struggle and difficulty and pain,” he said. “I could speak for hours about what God did in the nearness that I felt in the most broken of days. I believe that to the degree a person is broken they can experience wholeness.” Le...

9Oct

By Naomi OverbyNo Comments

Campus News, Faculty, Spiritual Life

Space for prayer and discussion offered by faculty to students during chapel

Around 20 students and faculty and staff gathered in the Fireside Room in Bud Robinson to talk and pray during chapel on Tuesday. The event was hosted by a few faculty members who had heard from students that they were uncomfortable attending chapel if Gov. Bill Lee was speaking. Some students on campus expressed concern about Lee’s views on issues like immigration and tuition for DACA students. “When the chapel schedule came out…we just started listening to students, having conversations with each other. There were faculty that were being curious about how to be a part of charitable discourse but also how to support students,” said Elizabeth Nunley, assistant professor of social work. Twelve students and 10 faculty and staff members attended the meeti...

9Oct

By Naomi OverbyNo Comments

Campus News, Events, Spiritual Life

Gov. Lee’s visit sparks discussion on campus; officials hope experience will help prepare campus for civil discourse before next election

By Maria Monteros, Kayla Williamson, Kallie Sohm and Naomi Overby Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's visit to campus generated multiple conversations and meetings in the weeks leading up to his appearance in chapel. As word spread that the governor would be speaking in chapel it garnered mixed reactions from students and faculty on campus. Some said they were looking forward to having the Republican governor on campus and others questioned why he would have a platform in chapel. Some students and faculty expressed concern about how the governor's visit impacted students of color or students with DACA status. Earlier this year, Lee signed the proclamation establishing July 13 as Nathan Bedford Forrest Day. Nathan Bedford Forest was a Confederate Army gener...

16Sep

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Campus News, Events, Spiritual Life

Spiritual Deepening Week Starts Today

By Lily Russell Trevecca’s new chaplain, Erik Gernand, is hosting this year’s spiritual deepening week on Sept. 16-19. “Spiritual Deepening week is a time to intentionally set some time aside, and in the midst of our busy schedule, turn our attention and hearts to God and give God some extra space in our life to do some things that we may not always have time or attention to lean into,” Gernand said. The theme for this year is “In the Name of Jesus”. According to Gernand, the theme was inspired by Colossians 3:17 and Philippians 2:5-11. With professors being encouraged to limit tests and large assignments, spiritual deepening week has become a staple in Trevecca’s schedule. “We want to create a space for God to do significant work. …Trevecca’s about the holistic development of our stu...

24Apr

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Campus News, Faculty, Spiritual Life

New University Chaplain selected

By Brooklyn Dance Trevecca’s new chaplain will come to campus with 17 years of experience as a church pastor and a desire to minister to college aged students. Erick Gernand, currently the pastor of Real Life Community Church of the Nazarene in Murfreesboro, will be Trevecca’s new chaplain. “Ashley and I have spent quite a bit of our ministry working with young adults and college students, so we’ll be with an age group and season of life that we love. I love the kinds of questions and exploration of faith that generally happens in these years,” he said. (more…)

11Apr

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Campus News, Faculty, Spiritual Life

Students and faculty prepare to spend summer abroad

By Joshua Michel It has been 20 years since Kathy Mowry, professor of intercultural studies and Christian education, and her husband Jon were missionaries in Ukraine. This summer, the Mowry’s will return to Kyiv leading a TAG trip, where for two weeks they will work with youth and children’s ministries at a local Nazarene church. (more…)

SOMA offers multiple ways to get involved on campus this semester

26Feb

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Campus News, Events, Spiritual Life

SOMA offers multiple ways to get involved on campus this semester

By Joshua Michel In addition to their weekly Tuesday night worship, SOMA has this semester introduced morning prayer, new service opportunities and a revival movement. “It’s a safe environment. If you don’t have a community at Trevecca, you will find it here. We have bomb worship and cool messages from our peers and friends,” said Maeve Tamez, one of the student leaders. (more…)

21Sep

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Campus News, Events, Spiritual Life

Spiritual Deepening Week starts Monday

By: Maria Monteros From Sept. 24-27, Spiritual Deepening Week will explore spiritual freedom with the general superintendent of the Church of Nazarene David A. Busic as speaker. Busic, who has held the highest office of the Church of the Nazarene since 2013 and was previously the president of Nazarene Theological Seminary, will be given the flexibility to discuss either a topic of his choice or around this year’s theme "Free at last." Busic expressed his fondness for the Trevecca community the last time Shawna Songer-Gaines, university chaplain and assistant professor of Christian worship met him. “I know that [Busic] is an excellent preacher and executer of scripture. And so, whatever he does, I know and trust he’s going to bring something about scripture to light in a way...