Spiritual development for students, faculty and staff is part of vibrant experience at Olivet Nazarene University. Every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. and Thursday at 9:30 a.m., the campus community meets in Centennial Chapel to hear from leading speakers representing a variety of industries and faith backgrounds. Chaplain Tone Marshall and the team in the Office of Spiritual Development take leadership for organizing the services.
Each year, the chaplain casts a vision for each semester of chapel services and invites top Christian speakers and preachers to present messages that tie into the theme. The spring 2023 chapel service theme is based on John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Chaplain Marshall said of the theme, “We will be discussing how being with God, specifically through spiritual disciplines, helps us to produce fruit. This theme initiates our journey towards enhancing our culture of discipleship and evangelism.”
Each chapel service will feature music led by student and staff musicians to create an environment of intentional worship.
Additional speakers scheduled for spring chapels at Olivet are:
• Dr. Gregg Chenoweth, University President
• Warren Rogers, Senior Development Officer at Olivet
• Casey Tygrett, Pastor/Author/Spiritual Leader
• Josh Parker, College Pastor
• LaMorris Crawford, Pastor & former Cincinnati Bengals’ Chaplain with Matt Forte, former NFL running back
• Preston Sprinkle, Biblical Scholar/Author/Podcaster
• Deirdre Brower Latz, principal of Nazarene Theological College – Manchester
• Zach Tamez, Young Adult Co-Pastor
• Charlie Dates, Pastor of Progressive Baptist Church
• Stephanie Lobdell, Author & Speaker
• Selena Freeman, Pastor of The Well Church
• Jared Horne, Pastor & Evangelist
• Raechel Myers, Co-Founder of She Reads Truth
• Ben Zobrist, former MLB World Series MVP
• Aaron Niequist, Author & Pastor
• Steve Green, CEO of Hobby Lobby
When the Betty and Kenneth Hawkins Centennial Chapel and the Crawford Auditorium were constructed and dedicated in 2010, the primary focus was on bringing the Olivet community together in one place for worship and spiritual growth. Every academic year, chapel messages add significant meaning to campus life. In that setting, many have accepted Christ and committed or recommitted to serve Him.
The Shalom Project, a facet of the Office of Spiritual Development, organizes supplementary spiritual life opportunities including discipleship groups and student-led worship services. The Shalom Project seeks to inspire, empower, and equip the Olivet community in the creative act of restoring broken relationships with God, ourselves, others and creation. Examples of campus ministry groups include Upper Room, a student-led weekly worship gathering; HeArt Ministry, which allows students to explore their creativity through intentional connection to Scripture; Prayer Warriors, a group that empowers and encourages community through prayer on campus; and Heart for Missions, which provides a space for students to delve into missional service.
For more information about life at Olivet, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@olivet.edu or 800-648-1463.
Published: 1/10/2023
