Spiritual Formation

Spiritual enrichment through Christian living at Olivet University is an opportunity for everyone – students, staff, faculty, and administration – to receive the power of the Holy Spirit and live moved and emboldened by Jesus Christ.

1. Personal Spiritual Formation

Olivet challenges every community member to live totally committed to Jesus Christ, in the image of the apostles and saints of the early church. Students honor Christ and express love for him by assuming his humility and attitude of self-sacrifice, revealed through a life of faithful service.

To this end, Olivet University actively seeks to cultivate the habit of continuous scriptural study and the practice of personal spiritual disciplines in our students.

Daily “Quiet Time”

Olivet encourages students to devote time each day to bible reading, “Quiet Time” meditation and prayer. However, this foundation of biblical knowledge should not be the end, but the start of deepening the relationship with the scriptures. Such a relationship requires reflection, especially in the forms of meditation and writing. Towards this end, the Olivet University community collectively engages in “Quiet Time” (QT) at the beginning of each day for the purpose of meditating on the scriptures.

Prayer

Olivet University strongly encourages individual, daily prayer-time. “Set-time prayer” is prayer set for a scheduled time of day over a certain period of time. “Continuous prayer” is done spontaneously.

Olivet University Chapel is open for morning and evening prayers to the entire community.

Students who attend Olivet on-campus are required to attend Friday Prayer Meeting, which is recorded and broadcast internationally. Students abroad are encouraged to attend and participate at this and all broadcasted services live, or view the taped recordings.

Fasting

Fasting is abstaining from food for a time in order to master the cravings of the physical realm, thus opening ourselves to our spirituality. Fasting is more than a diet adjustment; it involves spiritual intensity and intercession. Fasting should always be accompanied with prayer, meditation, and scriptural study.

Anyone may fast voluntarily for a personal prayer topic or self-discipline; however students are strongly advised to counsel with the University Chaplain or Prayer Center Staff before deciding to fast.

Evangelizing

Olivet University desires to train disciples of Jesus Christ to serve as leaders in Christian mission and ministry. Thus, Olivet’s community members should not end at knowing God; rather, they must practice the teachings in the scriptures by actively seeking to make Him known to the world. To this end, Olivet University strongly encourages students to incorporate daily evangelism into their academic and personal routines.

Lecture Training

Anyone who wishes to preach and teach about the bible more effectively is welcome to contact the University Chaplain to request informal training with an Olivet Assembly USA pastor or ministry worker. Such training is viewed as an extension of evangelism, and is not eligible for course credit at Olivet.

2. Corporate Spiritual Formation

The University is concerned with each student’s personal spiritual development, and the spiritual growth of the whole community. For this reason, the University Chaplain seeks to introduce programs and activities that nurture this spiritual growth in the context of a Christian faith community at the beginning of every semester. Students are expected to take full advantage of these opportunities by participating with enthusiasm in the various activities and disciplines.

It should also be noted that the Olivet community is distinguished by a culture of shepherding, even among its student body. More senior students are expected to support and facilitate the emotional-social, spiritual, and academic maturity of newer students in accordance with the University’s mission and core values.

Wednesday and Friday Chapel Services

Olivet University students are required to attend Wednesday and Friday Services, (as well as Sunday Service) and should have a participatory attitude towards worship.

Retreats

Olivet University holds regular retreats co-sponsored by Olivet Assembly USA and other mission fellowships featuring sustained time for prayer, discernment, and fellowship. These gatherings usually take place seasonally and are led by a selection of OA USA pastors, worship leaders, and administrators at Olivet University. Olivet students frequently assume leadership roles at these gatherings, and hold responsibility for organizing event activities. Participants often testify that retreats encourage a deeper experience of spiritual life at Olivet, and stronger community bonds. Retreat locations vary. In-person participation is required to pass Chapel class.

Prayer Meetings

Olivet University recommends that its students attend regular prayer meetings at their local churches. As previously mentioned, on-campus Olivet students attend Friday prayer meetings at Olivet University Chapel.

Small Group Spiritual Discipline – The Cell Church

Olivet University community members practice faith and discipline as participants in small groups, known as cell churches. New cell churches develop at the start of each year, when entering Olivet University students are organized into groups of five to eight students led by an Olivet University administrator, alumni, graduate student or local Olivet Assembly USA pastor.

This opportunity is intended to help prepare students for the challenge of serving as spiritual leaders in their own respective contexts of ministry.

On-Campus Students

Students who study on-campus at Olivet University must participate in the cell church system organized through Olivet Chapel. The Olivet University Chaplain coordinates cell church formation with Olivet University Chapel leadership.

As previously mentioned, each cell church has roughly five to eight members. Cell churches designate a name for themselves upon formation.

Online Students

Students who take courses online are required to join a small group organized by their local Olivet Assembly USA churches. Online student participation must be documented by a letter sent to Olivet University’s Dean of Students each semester from the head Olivet Assembly USA pastor of the church hosting the small group confirming the student’s participation.

Breaking Bread

Olivet University students get together once a week in small groups for the purpose of “Breaking Bread” – or sharing the grace received from reflection and application of biblical teachings.

On-campus students gather following Sunday Service at Olivet University Chapel by cell church to “break bread”, for thirty minutes to one hour. Online students assemble in a similar manner in Olivet Assembly USA congregations and other mission fellowships at least once every week.

Evangelism

Olivet University encourages students to evangelize with the members of their cell churches. Cell church leaders are responsible for setting evangelism standards and schedules, with input from cell church members.

Counseling

Students are encouraged to communicate openly, but respectfully with all Olivet University staff members, and to seek spiritual guidance at any time, especially from the Dean of Students, the University Chaplain and the Director of Christian Service. Personal counseling is intended to help students better adjust to their University experience and to provide support for their personal walks of faith. Olivet University also encourages students to maintain ties with Olivet Assembly USA church leaders throughout their study at Olivet University, especially students who attend online.