Students Invited to Participate in Small Group Bible Studies
Feeling lost? Needing encouragement? Looking to grow your faith? There’s a Bluefield University small group study for you.
Over the last year or so, lack of structure and social distancing restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic have prevented Bluefield Collegiate Ministries (BCM) from creating and sustaining Bible studies on campus. That’s all changed, thanks to BCM discipleship leader John Balthaser.
Balthaser said he wanted to do something different this year that would be more sustainable and engaging on campus. That’s when he introduced the Roots Initiative, a community-based Bible study format that uses questioning and discussion to promote learning and growing one’s faith in community with others.
Currently, more than 30 people have signed up and become involved in the small group studies on campus. There are a total of five groups — two women’s only, one men’s only, and two mixed — that meet weekly. In addition, all the groups combined meet on the last Friday of every month at The Grind, a coffee shop and eatery in Bluefield, VA.
The goal of the Roots Initiative is to support and connect students with reading the Bible, growing in their faith, discovering their calling and true identity, and learning from each other in community. Group leader and fellow student Daniel Mullins said, “It’s about fellowship, community and accountability. It’s about getting closer to God and closer to each other.”
Right now, the groups are going through a several-week study through the book of Ephesians covering Christian identity and community and how that affects students’ lives.
If students are interested in getting involved or finding out more about the Roots Initiative small group studies, they can follow the Campus Ministries Instagram @bu_campusministries or email Balthaser with their name, questions, and preferences for group placement. Students may also reach out to Mullins or other small group study leaders Angela Wallace, Hunter Bowers and Gabby Courtney.