With the mission of Olivet Nazarene University being to offer an “Education With a Christian Purpose,” spiritual development for students, faculty and staff is a vital priority. Every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. and Thursday at 9:30 a.m., the campus community meets in Centennial Chapel to worship together and hear from speakers representing a variety of industries and faith backgrounds.
Chaplain Mark Holcomb ’81/D.D. ’18, Associate Chaplain Antonio Marshall ’13/’17 M.A./’20 M.Div., and the team in the Office of Spiritual Development cast a vision for each semester of chapel services. Widely recognized pastors, athletes, authors, artists and influencers are invited as guest speakers to present messages that tie into the theme. Spring 2022 chapel services will explore how to walk in faith in the midst of darkness.
“It is better to learn how to walk in the dark rather than always wishing the darkness away,” the Office of Spiritual Development explained in an email to the campus. “If it is true that some of the most important lessons are learned while in the dark, then maybe we should learn to sit in it and to walk in it. Isaiah 45:3 says, ‘I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness — secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.’”
Each chapel service will feature worship music led by student ministry groups, City on a Hill and The Narrow.
Additional speakers scheduled for spring 2022 chapels at Olivet are:
• Dr. Gregg Chenoweth, University President
• Eric Samuel Timm, Artist & Author
• Andy Dalton, Professional Athlete – Chicago Bears
• LaMorris Crawford, Pastor & Former NFL Chaplain
• Casey Tygrett, Pastor, Author & Spiritual Director
• Samantha Chambo, Preacher & Author
• Ginny Owens, Singer-songwriter & Author
• Charlie Dates, Pastor
• Gabriel & Jeanette Salguero, Pastors
• Andrew Peterson, Singer-songwriter & Founder of the Rabbit Room
• Ruth Haley Barton, Author & Founder of Transforming Center
• Brian Loritts, Pastor & Founder of The Kainos Movement
The schedule also includes student-focused services such as a special communion service before Easter, senior chapel and an honors chapel service. Chapel attendance is mandatory for residential students and highly encouraged for employees, but also streamed online for the broader Olivet community to watch. All services can be streamed live or watched on-demand on the Olivet portal.
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.
For more information about life at Olivet, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@olivet.edu or 800-648-1463.
Published: 1/18/2022
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