Daily chapel continues as cornerstone of student experience

By Sophia Ramberg ’23

Imagine walking into the sanctuary at your school for chapel and seeing three giant ladders set up on the stage. You may be as confused as I was when I arrived that day and heard Mike Burnette, the pastor at LifePoint Church in Clarksville, Tennessee, preach on loving the ladder that you have.

Burnette’s message encouraged us to be content with the responsibilities that we have instead of envying those with responsibilities at a higher level. As students, we were challenged with the question, “What am I doing with what I’ve been given?” To this day, Pastor Burnette’s sermon has stuck in my head and heart as words of conviction and encouragement.

Daily chapel has been a part of North Central University’s culture since the founding of the institution in 1930. It continues to create an atmosphere of community and faith for students, faculty, and staff alike. Chapel is an important time for students to be intentional with their faith and spend time with the Lord in the midst of a busy week. Jonah Spadgenske, a senior pursuing his degree in Youth, Children, and Family Ministries, appreciates the influence that a daily chapel has had in his life. The opportunity to experience a community inside of a spiritual atmosphere was one of the reasons that he chose NCU. He enjoys being able to connect with the worship and his faith in both an academic and community setting. His favorite chapel experience this year was communion with Dr. Vinnie Zarletti, Dean of the College of Fine Arts.

Chapel is a place in which students can both learn from and be poured into by leaders from around the country. Fayth Roos, a junior Elementary Education major, stated how unique of an experience chapel really is. She remarked on how edifying it is to hear from speakers across the country as well as leaders from within the NCU community who truly care and pour back into students. Roos recalls the sermon that Martha Tennison, the Moen Chair, shared with the student body. “Part of the reason that she is such a good speaker is that she knows how to tell stories,” Roos said. “When you are sitting there, it does not feel like another Bible lecture.” Roos admires the contagious joy that Martha Tennison, a crowd favorite, brings with her teachings.

The closer I get to graduation, the more I appreciate chapel as an opportunity to have space and time to spend with Jesus in my everyday life. The ability to build community, worship, and learn from people willing to pour back into students is something I wish I had not taken for granted in my first couple of years here. Being able to worship as a school is an experience that helps North Central University to stand out. Chapel has become a part of the school’s legacy and will continue to leave a lasting impact upon the hearts and minds of students, faculty, and staff alike throughout the years to come.