Campus Life

There are plenty of new ways to get outside and stay fit this year, thanks to GCU Campus Recreation. There are new Intramural sports, such as indoor soccer, this fall. There are dozens of new hiking trips, led by GCU Outdoor Recreation. And there are new facilities and fitness equipment on campus. “These are all opportunities to be ‘non-digital’ and connect with people,” said Matt Lamb, GCU Director of Campus Recreation.

Beth Guckenberger said she was ill-prepared for her life in missional work and found herself in over her head many times. But she shows up, with her pink Bible, her heart and her mind and knows that God will show up for her, too. “Do you know how many times I’ve been in over my head? Every day,” she told students at Chapel. ” … But here’s what happens. When you get into God’s business, and you get in over your head and you cry out to him, he’ll say, ‘Hey, whatever it is you’re asking of me, I’m already in agreement of it.” Her talk came just before Monday night’s mission fair at GCU Arena and tonight’s The Gathering, where several mission groups will conduct break-out sessions. Her talk also came at a time when the Worship Team was celebrating something of their own — the release of the new Canyon Worship album.

To celebrate the release of Canyon Worship 2019, Amanda Riffe performed “Isaiah 55” at Chapel this morning. The story of how she conceptualized her song is remarkably similar to those of other student artists on the album. “It’s definitely a Holy Spirit thing,” she said.

The Canyon Worship albums quickly have gained a national reputation for their depth and quality, which makes the Monday release for the 2019 version a big day for old fans and new. And this year, the push is on to get it in the hands of even more people. “We want to get it as far-reaching as we can,” said Dr. Randall Downs, Coordinator of the Center for Worship Arts at GCU. Last in a nine-part series on GCU academics.

The principles of Conscious Capitalism are ingrained in the Colangelo College of Business culture — its dean, Dr. Randy Gibb, has made sure of that. His philosophy: “It has to be part of who you are. You have to live it every day. You can’t just flip a switch.” It’s an approach built for where business is going, not where it has been. Fourth in a nine-part series on GCU academics.

GCU President Brian Mueller’s Chapel message Monday morning centered on the University’s mission, both on campus and in the community. “If you could a pick a word that says, ‘What are we here for?’, I would say to you we are here about restoration. We are here to be restorers,” he said.

Lope-a-Palooza was “hyped,” in the words of one freshman. That’s a good thing. The Friday night GCU Arena event was full of music and excitement, produced by GCU Spirit Programs for the benefit of new students who want to learn what all the buzz is about, and how to sing the school song. “Each year, this event just gets better and better — this year was no exception,” said Jacque Genung-Koch, Dance Team Head Coach.

The international and out of state student social brought together students from far away or far, far away and made them feel a little more at home at GCU. “The time that they get to spend here, whether it’s four years, whether it’s two years, we want them to cherish the memories, we want them to cherish the friends and the moments that they make here,” ASGCU President Samuel Yonan said. “I hope that they take away that they’re welcomed here, that we’re excited to have them here, that we want to make this the best opportunity of their life.”

Photos by David Kadlubowski and Elizabeth Tinajero GCU News Bureau The final days of Welcome Week provided an opportunity for out-of-state and international students to learn more about the University with orientation and get to know each other with a mixer. And then the Glow Party on Saturday night was just wild and crazy fun.       

Yes, they set the record. That was the main thing people on campus wanted to know about Friday’s “Welcome Back at the CAC,” a Welcome Week event designed to draw students to the Canyon Activity Center with an attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record in knockout basketball. The patience of the 728 participants also was record-breaking — the event took awhile.