The Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church is conducting a fall series called “q:” directed at answering the questions that bombard many students today.
“Q:” is an initiative that attempts to tackle the major areas that can cause people to lose faith. Some of the topics addressed include depression and suicide, divorce and remarriage, the behavior of God’s people, race relations, LGBTQ community, church attendance and the assurance of salvation.
There are frequently asked questions that accompany each of these points, and the Collegedale Church has been collecting them for some time via an online link shown on the screen at the end of the service. There is also a q: sign on the promenade and in the library where students can write their questions. But the aim of these lectures is not to establish an irrefutable answer; it’s to cultivate a place where conversations happen.
“It’s dangerous to think that a sermon is the answer to a question – it’s a one-sided conversation and doesn’t entertain immediate dialogue,” said Dave Ferguson, pastor of the Collegedale Church. “The purpose of this series is to establish a clear pattern that this is a good place to ask the questions that influence and affect our culture. We’re not scared of those questions.”
Student Development sent out a survey last spring to collect data regarding the spiritual temperature on campus and the issues that matter to the student body. The feedback’s highest rated issue was that the campus did not feel like a safe place to process or discuss doubts regarding one’s faith. Student Development partnered with all the worship services within walking distance, including Merge, Connect, SuCasa and Renewal to change this environment.
“Sometimes having doubts makes you feel spiritually immature, so I really like that this theme encourages asking questions,” said Jessica Kim, junior chemistry major, about her experience attending the series so far. “There have been times where they have talked about things like the God of the Old Testament and the need for a church community, and it felt like God had a direct message for me. I think He’s using our speakers in big ways to encourage us to stop ignoring certain topics and start finding where we stand.”
Image credit: Madison Gang