In addition to being an academic institution,
Patrick Henry College is a Christian organization. Unlike most schools, Patrick
Henry College isn’t just concerned with the quality of a student’s education or
their social, economic, or mental health either. As a Christian school which
dedicates itself to an unwavering Biblical worldview, Patrick Henry College
seeks to look after the spiritual wellbeing of the students on campus. And
because of that same Christian worldview, it’s the conviction of the faculty
here that the spiritual element is easily the single most influential aspect of
life at Patrick Henry College.
Here's why.
For the believer, the spiritual life cannot be
separated from other areas of life. As a Christian, not only does spiritual
life have a direct impact on the way students behave and think, but it also has
long-lasting ramifications for the student’s development as an individual. Thus,
taking care of a student’s spiritual life is one of the highest aims of PatrickHenry College.
But here there are complications. It’s not up to the
administration to try and pry open the hearts of students and force them to
grow—personal development is something that has to happen on the individual
level. It can’t exactly be institutionalized or ‘required’ like some sort of
house chore. But it can be nurtured.
That’s why at Patrick Henry College, we have wing
chapels.
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, the entire
student body gets together in Town Hall to have “Chapel.” It’s a forty-minute
event which features a speaker, a few worship songs, and a benediction for the
day. The goal is to unite students around their common faith and to remind them
about the core principles behind Patrick Henry College.
Well, “Wing Chapel” is different. But the spirit and
the purpose of the event is the same. Put simply, it’s to encourage the
spiritual growth of students—specifically in the context of community with
other students.
Next week I will explain further on What’s a wing
chapel.
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