Walla Walla University exists to prepare students not only for successful careers and impactful service, but also for lifelong walks with Jesus. Spiritual life on campus is a cornerstone of building faith, but what do student-led services look like?
Every Sabbath at WWU, students come together in a variety of ways to seek God and grow closer to one another. Berean Fellowship is one of many campus worship services. A group of student leaders organize and produce a Berean-style church service every week, along with evening activities like game nights or karaoke for students to further enjoy the strong and welcoming spiritual community.
This year, the Berean Fellowship leadership team hosted the group's first communion service. Joshua Torres, WWU sophomore theology major and Berean Fellowship co-pastor, led the service with a focus on creating an atmosphere of learning and joy. This is what student worship so often looks like at WWU.
Berean Fellowship services include music, prayer, sermons and fellowship. Uniquely, it's entirely led by students, a portion shown here, all passionate about sharing their love of Jesus and walking in Christian faith with their peers.
Their tagline for this year is “The Church That Studies.” In fall 2024, their services explored the four pillars of a meaningful life: belonging, purpose, transcendence and storytelling. Next up? A close reading of Philippians.
While entirely organized by students, Berean Fellowship frequently invites guest speakers to preach. The group has heard from mature Adventist theologians and speakers like Andreas Beccai, Alex Bryan (pictured), Carl Cosaert, Tim Golden and Stephen Pilgrim. They also listen to their peers, especially their student co-pastors.
Berean Fellowship celebrated a communion service shortly before Christmas break. Everyone had the chance to break bread with one another as Torres read scripture passages on communion from Luke. He shared the meaning and importance of their actions as they took the symbols of the blood and body of Christ.
Torres took to the pulpit again to show the act of foot washing and to read of its significance directly from the Bible. Attending students then got to fully participate, with people overflowing into the halls for room to wash each others’ feet.
Torres took to the pulpit again to show the act of foot washing and to read of its significance directly from the Bible. Attending students then got to fully participate, with people overflowing into the halls for room to wash each others’ feet.
As the foot washing came to an end students were encouraged to pray over one another. The room was filled with small groups of bowed heads, quiet prayers and students investing in each other's spiritual walks. “When I look at Berean,” said Torres, “I see a diverse group of people who love God. Whether your faith feels unshakable or it feels that it is crumbling, it is still there. And with this Berean family, we want to foster that faith and do the walk with you as we grow and learn together.”
The service also included an opportunity for students to speak up about their own testimony. Berean Fellowship leaders passed a microphone through the crowd as different students found the courage to share their faith experiences with their peers. “Berean isn’t just a church, it’s a family-like community and it’s been one of the greatest sources of joy I’ve had being at WWU. I’m excited to see where God takes us,” said one student involved.
