Student voices: Enhancing NGU chapel
Treasure Hardwick, Staff Writer
At the beginning of the fall 2024 semester, Dallas Vandiver, associate vice president of CMSE (Campus Ministries and Student Engagement), gave a message outlining the purpose of chapel at NGU. He said that the mission behind it is to cultivate transformational leaders by gathering regularly to worship Jesus and think about all of life in relation to Jesus.
In the past, the messages at chapel have been scripture based and gospel focused. Chapel is a place that every student, believer or non-believer, has the incredible opportunity to hear good news that has the capacity to transform their life. However, as of this semester, chapel has undergone some changes.
While chapel continues to impact students’ lives and many of the messages have been insightful, not all students feel that it’s accomplishing its purpose.
Here is what NGU students have to say:
Eli Rogers, a junior majoring in Christian studies, appreciates the variety of speakers. But he believes that the speakers should place a greater emphasis on the gospel and the Bible. He explained that he has heard many messages laden with personal anecdotes and valuable wisdom, but several speakers have failed to open the Word of God first.
Rogers also noted that the messages have shifted from gospel messages to more educational topics and TED talks. He believes that these forms of communication can be encouraging, but they also fail to tell the most powerful message – the gospel.
“Anything that comes from the mouth of man is not going to change anybody spiritually. Only the gospel, only God’s Word, has the power to change and save others,” said Rogers.
Brett Conn, sophomore interdisciplinary major at NGU, explained his thoughts on the recent chapel speakers and gave recommendations on how the experience could be enhanced.
As a student who is both appreciative of chapel’s role in the college community and thoughtful about its execution, Conn explained that he has enjoyed the variety of messages. He does not feel as if any of the messages have been repetitive or out of context.
Conn also believes that the recent messages on identity are crucial to discuss because it is foundational for believers to understand and fully believe. Furthermore, he has enjoyed the messages from speakers who engaged with the audience by keeping them on the edge of their seats and making them laugh.
However, Conn believes that the recent messages have not been super insightful. He said that he hasn’t learned anything incredibly memorable, and he thinks that chapel overall requires lots of room for improvement because of its shift to a more lecture-based approach.
He also has realized that the audience is not always engaged or interested, leading him to recognize that a change needs to happen on the speaker’s part.
“Sometimes it can feel like a lecture in a crowd that’s not really there,” said Conn.
Ultimately, Conn appreciates chapel, but believes that everything said, sung and implied in chapel must be informed by scripture.
Rebekah Eron, freshman physical education major, offered a thoughtful look at her chapel experience, blending both positive feedback and constructive criticism.
Eron has enjoyed the different chapel speakers and their stories. Particularly, she appreciates the variety of ages and backgrounds. However, she explained that she has had challenges following the messages because there has not been a clear topic.
Eron also has recognized a decline in gospel teaching and scripture reading. She feels as if recent messages have been more opinion based rather than focused on the Word of God.
In addition, Eron explained that the messages are pointless without the incorporation of scripture. She noted that people in chapel who do not believe in Jesus must first and foremost hear the gospel. She said that it is unkind to stand on stage and share personal testimonies without sharing the ultimate story of Christ, because only the work of God can change a person’s life.
To better chapel and make a change, Eron suggested less speakers on stage and more focused messages that are intentional and built upon the last message.
Seth Pracht, senior business management major, has also enjoyed the diversity of chapel speakers and the wide variety of messages. He enjoys the speakers’ testimonies because it is relatable to everyone in the crowd, and their stories have the ability to touch people’s hearts.
Specifically, he appreciated Sandeep Maity’s message on John 6, in which he taught on the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand. Pracht also enjoyed Maity’s personal stories on his time growing up in poverty in India.
On the other hand, Pracht has felt like several of the recent messages have covered the same topic, making it more of a challenge to stay engaged. He also has noticed that there has been less worship songs and more lectures, which may cause people who don’t claim Christianity to check out.
Pracht said, “I think worship is really important because it gets people more involved with it. Even people who aren’t believers, you know, music is music. And so, if they’re hearing that, they’re at least going to be interested in the song.”
Esther Dostie, freshman interdisciplinary major, has appreciated the worship and sense of community that she has found in chapel this semester. She has enjoyed the music, though she does want to see more songs in chapel. She also has enjoyed the diversity of speakers and the themes which help her connect the messages.
However, Dostie would like to see more scripture used in the messages, since she believes it is foundational, especially for Christians who aren’t Christian studies majors but want to know more of the context of scripture.
Dostie noted that many of the chapel speakers have shared stories from their lives that are relatable, yet they haven’t brought in the Word. When they do use scripture, it is to support their story.
She said, “The speakers tend to add scripture to their testimony, instead of adding their testimony to scripture.”
Photo courtesy of Harrison Kunselman
