Ottawa University Pastor Bud McCluney does not want Ottawa University students to be a statistic.
McCluney said 86 percent of college students step away from their faith once starting school.
“My goal is that 86 percent of our students will come to, or grow, in their faith while here,” he said. “If I can make that happen, I will feel like I am doing my job.” Sophomore Cody Knapik says he enjoys the way chapel services are conducted small group style. He says it is more of a one-on-one growth within yourself because you are allowed to think and reflect about your thoughts compared to a regular church service.
“It is beneficial because the love of Jesus is shared with each other in the Chapel,” Junior Vincent Sawyer said. “We can forget all our problems and leave them outside and just feel the love Jesus has for us.”
One way that he is implementing this is by changing the format of Thursday chapel, to a workshop style, small group discussion. The chapel will have a planned lesson each week and then break up into small groups to talk about the lesson and answer questions related to it.
McCluney said he is especially looking forward to some of the guest speakers that will be contributing this year. One of the planned guests is someone who has done research into the historical background of Ottawa University involving the Meekers, Christian missionaries to the Ottawa Indian tribes in the 19th century
Sophomore Tyler Hazen, who plays in the worship band, Higher Calling, said there is a reason he takes part in chapel services.
“I choose to be a part of this and attend chapel because not only am I serving God, but it is a refreshing experience to help me lead and discover new things about myself during the week,” he said.
The service is approximately 45 minutes long and typically includes an ice breaker, followed by a few songs of worship performed by the praise team, opening prayer, discussions, the daily challenge and it ends in closing prayer.
McCluney wants to focus on making chapel a fun way to learn what faith is. He says it is not another lecture, but a time of learning and growing in a different way. His hope is that while students are here for an education, they will receive more than that. Students can develop a relationship with God and
Chapel services take place at 11 a.m every Thursday.