Spiritual Life

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...

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...

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...

By Jarren Rogers A special chapel discussing LGBTQ issues will be held tonight at 6 p.m. in Boone Convocation Center. The idea for this exclusive chapel came about after university chaplain and assistant professor of Christian worship Shawna Gaines spoke with LGBTQ students on campus. “It came about from conversations with students on campus and how they find their place in the Christian community here,” said Gaines. University president Dan Boone will open the chapel with a few words of introduction. The chapel will feature junior Dylan Green and the director of Equip Ministries Peter Valk. Following the service students can gather in the fireside room in CLCS to ask Green or Valk questions. These conversations about sexuality aren’t so much about the issue at hand but caring for th...

By: Blake Stewart Spiritual Deepening week begins Monday and will continue through Thursday. Special speakers, daily devotionals, and prayer meetings are just a few of the things students can expect. Deirdre Brower Latz, the principal and senior lecturer in pastoral and social theology at Nazarene Theological College, is the featured speaker and will hold conversations involving this year’s chapel theme “I am”. (more…)

By: Blake Stewart Spiritual Deepening Week kicks off today and a 30-year veteran of compassionate ministry in the Nazarene Church will be speaking at several sessions over the next few days. Phil Stout, a pastor for more than 30 years has focused his leadership in the church on ministries of compassion and justice. Stout did his graduate work in Peace studies at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and would move on to receive his Doctorate of Ministry degree at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (more…)