Written by Monique Jacques
One of Harding’s most novel Bible studies first met Jan. 26 in the barn of alumni Wayne and Kim Robertson, 12 miles away from campus. Fifty students, from freshmen to seniors, made the trek for food and fellowship.”Meeting in a barn changes things because it’s out of the way and different from a church building; it is more homey and informal,” freshman Alexa South said.The Barn Bible Study finds its roots in six families from the College Church of Christ, three of whom met at Harding as students and have remained friends for more than 35 years.”The adults who have started this group are great leaders,” South said. “They let us know that they are here for us, and we can go to them for anything we are struggling with.”Before the study begins, all who attend eat dinner, which the families take turns providing, and are invited to sit back and fellowship, emphasizing the importance that friendship has in a Christian walk.”We want to develop relationships and share the love of God in everything we do,” Liz Howell, director of alumni relations and mem- ber of one of the founding families, said. “Small group fellowship allows those kinds of relationships to grow and a stronger faith to develop.”After they take time to eat and get to know one another more, the group enters into an hour of praise and devotional discussion. This semester, they are going through Francis Chan’s book “Crazy Love,” and discussing the lessons gleaned from each weekly reading.”We rely on the Bible first, but Francis Chan, the author of “Crazy Love,” has a gift of making God more real; he causes all of us to think about our relationship with God,” Howell said.Freshman Hayley Carroll said she is encouraged by having a Bible study to be a part of.”As a freshman, being included in things really helps with feeling accepted,” Carroll said. “I think that students need to try this out because it is a good way to help your faith grow. It has helped me think about the way I take things in,and it’s made me pay attention to the way I pray.”For more information, contact Howell at lhowell@ harding.edu or call the Alumni Relations Office at ext. 4276. Howell requests that students RSVP to help with dinner preparation. If students do not have a means of transportation, Gary and Susan Hill, who live in town and are among the founding families, are willing to provide it.
