News by Stephanie Fox

Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous News | Send mail to The Voice Student starts morning Bible study in the A-Frame Zachary Jeans leads students in a Bible study that begins at 6:30 a.m. -Thomas Moss, photo A sophomore at Multnomah Bible College leads a Bible study every morning to help students mature in their faith and refresh their excitement about the Lord. The Bible study meets Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Zachary Jeans began the study after noticing that many students, as well as himself, felt strained in their relationships with God. "Students were coming up to me and confessing that their intimate walk with God was disappearing," Jeans said. "I also felt attacked and knew that the answer is having a personal relationship with God and His Word, which should happen first thing in the morning." After praying, Jeans wrote a proposal to open the A-Frame in the mornings for students to meet. Jeans then talked to the student ministries department and filled out the necessary applications for setting up a regular meeting on campus. The schedule for the morning is simple and casual: At about 6:05 a.m. Jeans opens the A-Frame, builds a fire, and starts a pot of coffee. Other students begin to arrive around 6:30 a.m. "We spend about a half-hour praying together, taking turns," freshman Amanda Smith said. Smith, a frequent attendee, said that she began coming because she was having difficulty keeping a daily quiet time. Then, closely huddled together in front of the fireplace, the students sip their steaming coffee and take turns reading from the Bible. "We just read through the scriptures and take notice of the character and quirkiness of God as the Spirit reveals," Jeans said. The meetings began about a month after the beginning of the fall semester and have continued since then. Jeans feels that the time in the morning has been a tremendous blessing to him. "It's kept my walk strong because I get one hour of devotion every morning whether students show up or not," Jeans said. Smith said that the Bible study has renewed her value and appreciation for God's word and reminded her of how much of a gift it is. She also said that the study is a good source of accountability to build the habit of spending personal time with God every day. "It's really powerful how powerful God's word is," Smith said. "No relationship or chapel could replace that." Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous News | Top Of Page Send mail to The Voice| Journalism department website © 2003 The Voice. No part of this publication may be reproduced in written or electronic form without prior written consent from the journalism adviser of Multnomah Bible College. All rights reserved.