Spiritual Life Week is underway with events happening through Friday.
Each semester Campus Ministries designates one week to a specific spiritual enriching theme and hosts events organized by students. Campus Pastor Stephen Intagliata said this week is about becoming messengers of God’s peace. The theme is derived from Isaiah 52:7 (NRSV):
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
who announces salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
“We wanted the theme of Spiritual Life Week to tie in with the Mirror of the Martyrs exhibit, which is here all month,” said Intagliata. “We wanted the theme to be related to being a witness and standing up to convictions related to the Christian life.”
The Mirror of the Martyrs exhibit tells the stories of Anabaptists and their life being a messenger of their faith through persecution. The exhibit opened Oct. 1 and will remain on display in the Albrecht Gallery located in the Sauder Visual Arts Center through Sunday.
Each Spiritual Life Week brings in a guest speaker to lead different events. This week’s speaker is Isaac Villegas, the pastor of Chapel Hill Mennonite Fellowship in North Carolina.
Isaac Villegas of Chapel Hill (N.C.) Mennonite Fellowship is the featured speaker for Spiritual Life Week, which runs through Friday. Photo provided
This is not the first time Villegas has spoken at Bluffton University. According to Intagliata, Villegas spoke at a residence life and ministry event about eight or nine years ago.
“Isaac also has strong connections with some of our faculty,” said Intagliata. “So we wanted him to come back.”
Not only are faculty and staff excited to host Villegas, but so are students.
“I am most excited to hear Isaac’s message and how he thinks we can be messengers of God to our world,” said Katie Keesbury, a senior Spiritual Life Week coordinator.
Villegas spoke at the Monday evening event and forum Tuesday and will give the message at Chapel Thursday.
When asked what students were looking forward to this week some talked about the message while others look forward to worshiping with their peers.
“I am excited to learn how to share God’s love and peace with those around me,” said junior Morganne Faler.
Sophomore Takayla Gadberry said she is also excited for events that revolve around the relationship with other students.
“I’m looking forward to the fire circle because it is a time of worship and sharing,” said Gadberry.
Three more Spiritual Life Week events remain this week:
- Movie: “To Save a Life” at 8 p.m. tonightin Stutzman Lecture Hall (Arts & Lecture credit available);
- Chapel: “The politics of Mary” presented by Villegas at 11 a.m. Thursday in Yoder Recital Hall;
- interactive painting class based on Isaiah 52:7 at 7 p.m. Thursday in Bob’s Place.
