Ministry & Worship

Spiritual Development at Biola

Chapel

University chapels and conferences are intended to bring the Biola community together regularly for worship, spiritual nurture and education regarding relevant issues facing us in our lives. The overall program brings a unique distinction to the ethos of Biola as a Christian university.

Spiritual Life Office

The Dept. of Spiritual Life serves as a lighthouse to inspire students in their spiritual development. The focus is to challenge students to take intentional steps to develop a closer relationship with Christ and to share their testimony to the world.

Student Missionary Union

The largest student-led organization in the U.S., SMU (in consultation with the Cook School of Intercultural Studies) seeks to motivate and mobilize students to align their lives toward the Great Commission.

Fives

"Fives" (named for its time, 5 p.m. every Tuesday) is a more intimate chapel setting where we practice and model the daily rhythms of prayer together. At Fives, students are led in quiet prayer, reflection, confession, praise, and meditation on scripture. It is a place to come and gather yourself before God, to listen to his voice, and to present your own heart's concerns to Him. Come and join us. Rose of Sharon Chapel, Tuesdays, 5:00-5:35 p.m.

Sabbathing

In "Sabbathing," we offer students a chance to experience what we all rarely get: a large block of time to be with God--speaking with Him, listening for Him, and resting in Him. Held on occasional Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, Sabbathing is divided into three parts: 1) an introduction to spending time alone with God, 2) 90 minutes of quiet time with Him, 3) and a time of debriefing with others, led by a trained facilitator.

After one Sabbathing morning, a student wrote,  "It was more restful to spend my morning with God than it would have been to sleep in...There is no replacement for the restoration He gives." Three chapel credits are given for each Saturday. Come and see for yourself how God wants to meet you. Fall 2009 Sabbathing: Oct 17, Nov 21, Dec 5. 9 am to noon, Calvary Chapel.

Center for Spiritual Renewal

The Center for Spiritual Renewal is part of the Institute for Spiritual Formation and was developed in order to serve the training and mentoring needs of faculty, the Biola student population, ISF graduate students, and the community beyond. It serves as
• a center for spiritual direction and mentoring of undergraduates by ISF graduate students, faculty, and other outside trained spiritual directors,
• a center for developing undergraduate Bible majors in the experiential,mentoring and soul care dimensions of spiritual formation,
• a center and resource for Biola's RDs and RAs regarding training and referrals in spiritual formation and soul care.