Earlier this year, Bob Jones University launched the 2024 fall semester with some changes to weekly chapel. These changes were made by the new school president, Dr. Joshua Crockett, in hopes of encouraging students to become more involved in chapel.
Some changes included minor adjustments to the Founders Memorial Amphitorium, including lower screens and a smaller pulpit. There were also some changes to the schedule, as shown below.
- Mondays – Spiritual pep rally. (Sometimes a literal Bruins pep rally with chapel led by students in the Davis Field House.)
- Tuesdays – Ministry Chapel
- Wednesdays – Expositional Series
In addition, individual schools or divisions are hosting monthly chapels to help students see how their major relates to ministry and to sharing the gospel while also building lifelong friendships with faculty and with each other.
However, the greatest change to the weekly chapel was an overall increase in student participation. For example, the school decided to double the number of student-led chapels this semester. They also increased student-produced announcement videos, as well as student-led music during services. Students were asked to sit with their Discipleship Groups on Tuesday and Wednesdays, while using physical copies of the Bible and chapel journals for study to avoid distractions during services.
The Collegian reached out to Pastor Jeriel Ontoy, the Assistant to the President & Chapel Director, for some insight into why these changes were made.
“Dr. Josh is passionate about engaging college students so that they can deepen in their understanding and love for God,” Ontoy said. “We pray that the spiritual temperature of our campus raises every time we gather for chapel.”
Ontoy also made it clear that BJU does not consider weekly chapel to be a replacement for student involvement in local churches on Sunday.
“BJU is not a church, so chapel is not a church service,” Ontoy said. “It’s certainly not a classroom! We view chapel as comparable with a camp service where we grow through strong, biblical preaching, engaging music, compelling testimonies, and other elements that will connect with college students and challenge them to own their faith.”
