Spiritual Life

Chapel added another dynamic speaker Monday when Dan Steffen of Pure Heart Church visited for the first time to talk about how to get past being offended and turn those moments into your greatest blessings. “Your greatest adventure is on the other side of your most painful moments if you just trust God,” he said.

Dr. Tim Griffin learned about the importance of margins when, as a youngster new to life on a farm, he invaded the personal space of a chicken. As the Vice President of Student Affairs, Dean of Students and University Pastor has watched the world’s challenges peck away at all of us, even online, in the last year, he has become increasingly aware of how we must manage those margins. And it starts, he told Chapel on Monday, with making the Bible our manager.

Terry Mackey is such a powerful speaker, his forcefulness practically burst through the computer screen in his livestreamed Chapel talk, released Monday. The Pastor of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church had a lot to say about the danger of pride and the importance of continuous prayer, and he brought the whole message together with the biblical story of King Uzziah.

It’s a window of opportunity for Student Leaders. The window is on the Student Life Building, where a large graphic art piece was installed Tuesday that showcases student leadership and the chance for students to apply for positions for next academic year. It’s not the biggest that GCU graphic installer Martell Robinson has done, but it’s close. Even bigger is what it represents: Student Leaders who set the tone for campus life.

The list of Chapel speakers for the spring semester is an interesting mix of dynamic voices who haven’t visited for a few years and newcomers who will offer new perspectives. Among the returnees is Chris Brown of North Coast Church in Vista, California, and one of the first-timers is Donald Glenn, GCU’s Director of Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion.

Students volunteers had the chance to roll up their sleeves Wednesday for the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program distribution event at the 27th Avenue complex, an event hosted by GCU in partnership with CityServe International. About 165 students loaded and delivered more than 1,050 boxes of food prepared by Shamrock Farms, each weighing about 30 pounds and filled with everything from meat to bags of apples and carrots, cheese, milk and more. The boxes went to more than 20 community service organizations and churches, which then distributed those boxes to families in need. It was just the first event in an even bigger project with CityServe in which the University would be the Arizona distribution hub for products that will go to needy families.

Danielle Rinnier has endured some challenges in her life but says her faith has carried her through. Speaking at Chapel on Monday, the Assistant Dean of Students urged students to build their lives around the teachings of Jesus — that will give them the foundation He spoke about in the Sermon on the Mount. “He wants us to understand that wherever you’re at, you have a choice,” she said.

It’s not home but GCU campus is the next best thing for the holidays. Administrators and students are using their creative spirit to celebrate with campus events and food while staying safe and avoiding travel over Thanksgiving. They are gathering for a “Friendsgiving” or taking part in GCU Dining’s fabulous meal, or even offering their own recipes from home, such as student Nate Lowery’s winning caramel apple salad.

Ron Merrell began his Chapel talk Monday by making light of what it’s like for him to go to the gym and try to lift weights. Then he educated his audience about the biblical meaning of “stronghold” and how that relates to our lives. He closed with three positive trades Jesus will make with us if we’re willing to live in relationship with Him. It came together in another powerful message from the Teaching Pastor of Heights Church.

Multicultural Office Director Donald Glenn views diversity as a stained glass window made up of different sizes, colors and textures, each piece beautiful in its individuality — but they’re magnificent when they come together. It’s that message of unity that the University is embracing in its approach to diversity — the Christian worldview of bringing people together. For GCU, that means unifying its diverse student body of approximately 90 countries and cultures so that everyone has a seat at the table.