Fount: biblical community on campus
Caroline McNeely, Visual Arts Editor
It’s not the local church and it’s not chapel, but it’s Fount. Fount is North Greenville University’s (NGU) Baptist collegiate ministry on campus that allows students to gather together once a week.
Fount is held in Hamlin Recital Hall on Thursday nights at 7:17 p.m. Fount includes worship and a sermon for students. The worship and welcome are both student-led and allow students to serve and grow in their leadership capabilities.
Students mingle and save seats for friends before the service begins. Connor Graves, director of student ministries, said, “We value creating a space for students to connect with one another, to talk about what the Lord is teaching them and to pray for one another.”
The name “Fount” comes from the idea of a fountain in scripture, according to Graves. It’s an analogy that as students come to fount they are able to be nourished and receive teaching, while pouring out to others and giving back in return. One passage in scripture is John chapter four.
Graves (far left) stands beside the college ministry speakers for the evening: Joy Emery from Rocky Creek Baptist Church, Alex Smith from Taylor’s First Baptist Church and JG Faulk from Greer First Baptist Church.
Fount is about praying and connecting together as fellow classmates, roommates and friends. At the end of each service, students gather in groups of three to five to talk about the sermon or pray for each other in specific ways.
Graves, Emery, Smith and Faulk talk about the importance of being rooted in a local church during college. The speakers share their personal collegiate experiences and share based on what they have learned while being college ministers.
Whether it’s your first time or fifth time visiting Fount, you are given a card where you can connect with someone, share a prayer request or jot down notes from the service.
To encourage students to visit Fount, Graves said, “Gather with the NGU family for the sake of growing and being sent on mission in this place and in this unique season.”
