By Rick Vacek
GCU News Bureau
Dean of Students Pastor Tim Griffin kicked off the second consecutive summer of Chapel services at Grand Canyon University by urging attendees to go beyond the weekly worship time to spread the Word of God.
“Things are changing in our world, and you and I will have to decide how to respond,” Griffin told a group of 60 in Chapel’s home for the summer, room 28-100 in the Tell Science Building.
Of major concern, Griffin said, is the trend toward viewing faith as “something to be limited to the four walls of a worship center.” Over the weekend, Griffin heard a talk in which syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer spoke on the subject and also saw a news story in which Doc Rivers, coach of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team, explained why he forbids his team to conduct a pregame prayer.
Griffin’s point is that the vast majority of people still want to pray as a group in the secular world, and yet prayer is being eliminated because a small percentage object. But of equal concern to Griffin is what people do when they gather in church.
“We go in this mode when we walk in the doors of our church – we go into Neutralville and don’t really think about what we’re there for,” he said. “We need to think about this: What do we do when we get together, and what’s our view of that?”
Griffin quoted from Hebrews 10:19-25, which includes this passage: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.” He noted that when he was chaplain for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, chapel meetings often were in a pit stall and still were powerful.
“It has nothing to do with the environments we have but more with the preparedness of our hearts,” he said.
The key, in Griffin’s view, is to feel the freedom to rededicate ourselves this summer to talking directly to God and being sensitive to what is happening in the lives of everyone around us. “We have a lot to do before Aug. 26, but between now and then, let’s draw closer to Him and let’s draw closer to each other,” he said.
Chapel will continue at 11:15 a.m. Mondays through July 28 (except Memorial Day) in room 28-100, with the exception of June 2 when it moves to room 139-140 in the College of Arts and Sciences. The speaker next week is scheduled to be Michael Kary of the College of Fine Arts and Production. Music is being led by GCU Worship Coordinator Jared Ulrich, assisted by sophomore Dylan Elliot.
Contact Rick Vacek at 602.639.8203 or [email protected].
