Fall lineups for Chapel, The Gathering announced

By Rick Vacek Published August 4, 2016

The Chapel service draws a big crowd every Monday morning in GCU Arena.

By Karen Fernau
GCU News Bureau

To senior Josh James, Chapel is more than just a weekly worship service at Grand Canyon University. It’s a touchstone that connects him to his faith, friends and campus.

Students get inspired at Chapel, where the message is spiritual, not political.

“Chapel helps me deal with all the stresses of student life and has been the lens through which I’ve experienced college,” said James, a Christian studies major from Phoenix.

“It’s how I hit the reset button.”

Today, James is one of a six student leaders and 28 band members behind Chapel, a mega-worship service that attracts nearly 6,000 students, staff and faculty on Monday mornings in GCU Arena.

Chapel begins at 11:15 a.m. sharp and combines a 15-minute musical worship performance with a 30-minute inspirational talk by a guest speaker, usually from a local church.

Speakers are chosen for their ability to connect with millennials, said Jared Ulrich, GCU worship manager. Their messages are spiritual, not political.

Like James, he believes Chapel is more than music and worship.

“It’s become part of our DNA. Chapel gets the week off to a great start,” said Ulrich, who credits student leaders like James for Chapel’s appeal.

For others, Chapel’s success is tied to its open-arm spirit. The reason it is attractive, they say, is that people of different church backgrounds can come and be involved.

"This is what makes it so special, makes it such an important part of GCU,” said James, a guitarist and singer who, like all band members, auditioned for his leadership role.

In addition to Chapel, GCU hosts The Gathering, a worship service for students at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays in Antelope Gym. About 1,500 students attend weekly.