Faith and Service
An Authentic Faith Community
Faith and service
Spiritual growth is an essential part of a ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ education. We incorporate our shared Christian faith in the classroom, through residence life, at chapel, on sports teams, through the arts and in clubs and organizations. Our motto, "Christ Preeminent," shapes every experience you'll have as a student here.
At ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, we see ourselves as partners in your spiritual journey and are committed to helping you prepare for whatever vocation or service God has called you to. We don't want you to feel like you have to have it all figured out when you come to ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ though. Our hope is that through your time here, you'll explore, discover and commit to your own personal faith perspective and beliefs—guided through strong Christian convictions—and leave with a strengthened heart for service, a commitment to common good, a faithful intelligence, and a passion for community and justice.
Statements of FaithBy the Numbers
Named to National President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction
Choose from 60+ off-campus study locations in 40 countries
35+ denominations represented in our student body
Grow your faith
At ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, we want you to grow in your faith and have a passion for Christian community. Join a small group. Find a personal mentor. Challenge yourself in a campus ministry role. From the first day you step on campus to your last, we hope your time at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ is a time of growth for you spiritually and academically, and a time where you’ll learn to explore and deepen your core convictions and Christian beliefs. The Office of Campus Ministries coordinates many programs and resources to help you take the next step in your faith journey at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ.
Chapel
Student-led Worship
Small Groups and Bible Studies
Grow your faith
Chapel
Chapel is a central expression of our identity as a Christ-centered community with a deep commitment to spiritual growth and academic excellence. It is a required cocurricular opportunity that exposes you to various forms of worship, speakers and ideas.
Chapel is offered on Tuesday morning, Tuesday evening and Thursday morning and is designed to strengthen biblical literacy and faith formation within the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ community.
Some chapels are marked by dynamic student-led worship music, prayer and a brief message from a speaker such as student chaplain, campus pastor, academic scholar, notable leader or individuals from outside organizations.
Other chapels feature a more intimate, contemplative setting of worship and intellectual reflection on the Christian faith and life. Another chapel option is a small group atmosphere in which students commit to meet for five-six weeks to discuss and explore a specific topic or book or learn about and engage in a spiritual discipline. These chapels are led by ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ educators and other invited guests.
Students are expected to attend 14 approved chapel opportunities each semester. You are free to choose the chapels in which you will participate to fulfill that requirement. For all chapels, you will record your attendance electronically with your student I.D. card.
Grow your faith
Student-led Worship
At ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, you'll have the opportunity to grow your faith and become a spiritual leader. One area where you can combine the two is through student-led worship. Choose from leading or participating in groups ranging from student chaplains and small group Bible studies, to music ministry groups, dance ministries and other worship arts. Our student ministry leaders strive to help the entire campus community commit to a life of faithful discovery and service to Jesus Christ. At ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, you’ll find there are numerous ways to learn and grow together with your friends and classmates.
Acclamation Dance Ministry provides an outlet for students who share an interest in dance as both a medium of worship and an opportunity for ministry to others through creative expression.
On Thursday evenings, students pack out Hostetter Chapel eagerly anticipating the time of corporate worship and reflection known as Powerhouse. Though attendance is purely optional, Powerhouse never fails to fill the chapel with students ready to worship God together.
Powerhouse began as a small student-led Bible study. Today, Powerhouse is still primarily student-initiated and student-led, but has grown to include a team of worship leaders who have devoted their talents to honoring and responding to God through music. It is more than just another weekly event that students add to their schedules. It is a diverse community of worshipers who come together weekly to praise and worship God in a powerful way through shared music and prayer. Read more
A cross-section of ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ students forms Seven, a group of musicians who share not only musical talent and skill but a heart to share Jesus through musical worship and creativity. Seven collaborates to write music, perform concerts and lead worship in a variety of settings and contexts, both on and off campus. Read more
Grow your faith
Small Groups and Bible Studies
Small groups and Bible studies give you the opportunity to connect with your peers in a more informal setting. The University’s main small-group ministry on campus, propelled by student leaders, is Koinonia--dedicated to small group ministry, leadership training and relationship building. A core team provides leadership, structure, accountability and intergenerational contact in order to equip students to create and run their own small group Bible studies. You can create your own group or join an existing group.
View a full list of opportunities to get involvedService opportunities
ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ is committed to equipping you for a life of service and there are plenty of opportunities to hone your passion for service during your time here. Each year, ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ students collectively volunteer thousands of hours to community service—locally, nationally and around the globe. The University’s Agapé Center for Local and Global Engagement is the coordinating hub for service organizations and opportunities both on and off campus.
Local Service
Looking to serve those closest to you? Our local service outreach teams focus on the communities surrounding ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ.
National Service
Put your faith into action by volunteering in communities across the nation through short-term service trips.
Global Service
Do you have a passion to serve others abroad? Opportunities for international service trips are abundant at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ.
Academics as Service
Students, professionals and partners from multiple disciplines collaborating to increase hope and transform lives.
Local Service
Looking to serve those closest to you? Our local service outreach teams focus on the surrounding communities around ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ such as Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg and Dillsburg. Our teams work with organizations focusing on such things as poverty, literacy, relationships, mentoring, homelessness, migrant partnerships and special needs. Most of these teams volunteer on a weekly basis.
See local opportunitiesNational Service
Each year, service trip teams spend their time volunteering in communities across the nation through short-term service trips. Through participation on a service trip team, you can put your faith into action to obtain a deeper understanding of what servanthood is and how to apply it to your own life. In the past, groups have taken trips to the Appalachia region to help with home repair and health assessment, and urban centers like Chicago, Bronx and Philadelphia to work with inner-city ministry groups.
Global Service
Opportunities for international service trips are abundant at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. Work with teams in Ecuador or Poland, among others with the Agapé Center. Combine your love of sports and ministry on an (A Revolution of Missional Athletes) trip to countries such as Uganda, El Salvador, Panama and others. Provide research assistance and real-world solutions to sites in Burkina Faso, Nicaragua or others through the Collaboratory.
See global opportunitiesAcademics as Service
The Collaboratory for Strategic Partnerships and Applied Research is a center for service, scholarship and project-based learning at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. It is a collaboration of students, faculty from a variety of majors that apply academic knowledge and live out their Christian faith through imaginative, hands-on problem solving with non-profit organizations, governments and business partners in our region and around the world.