38Student Life AWAY FROM Students have the opportunity to partake in at home Bible studies hosted by various faculty and staff members. “Lift up thy voice: A group of students sing praises to God during one of the weekly Lilypool devotionals. Although most of the devotionals were never held at the Lilypool, tradition held that they be called that. Reprinted from Petit Jean 1985-1986 Every Wednesday night, Harding students had the privilege of attending home Bible studies hosted by various faculty and staff members or fellow students. Some Bible studies that were available for students were hosted by Jill Davis and Kelsie Turley, by the Ganus family, and by David Mayes. Sophomore Bella Caballero started going to one particular home Bible study the first week of her freshman year. She attended the 606 College Bible Study hosted by five couples – the Adams’, the Traughber’s, the Hicks’, the Ragsdale’s and the Eudaley’s. After one visit, Carol Adams, one of the main hosts for the Bible study, reached out to Caballero directly to get to know her better. This was meaningful to Caballero since she was new to Harding and did not know many people yet. “This Bible study became like my family. Carol [Adams] and the older girls at the study were so influential to me and focused on getting to know me,” Caballero said. When Caballero first began going to the study there were about 15 attendees, but it grew to over 80 by spring 2024. Caballero continued to attend the 606 College Bible Study every Wednesday night at 7. Junior Shaelyn Woody takes part in two home Bible studies – one on Wednesday nights and one on Sunday nights. Director and assistant professor of architecture Mike Steelman and his wife host a Bible study on Sundays, and as an Interior Architecture and Design major, she decided to try it out. Chair and professor of communication Laurie Diles and professor of Bible and church history Allen Diles host a Bible study on Wednesdays. The Diles started the study with the HUG group they went with and it started to grow as those students invited their friends. Woody was invited by a friend. “I have met so many new people through it and I am learning so much every time I go,” Woody said. “It is nice to be surrounded by people who love you, pray with you and for you, and who genuinely care about helping you grow and mature in your faith. It’s also great to be able to spend time with professors outside of a school setting. You get to connect on another level and develop more of a mentorship/friendship that way. They have so much wisdom and great insight and are so eager to share it with us.” Chair and associate professor of English Jonathan Singleton started hosting a home Bible study with his wife in his first semester working for Harding. Singleton moved from a closeknit church family that bled into the Harding community, so the Bible study began as a “New Yorkers and friends” Wednesday night study. Through the years it morphed into 7-10 students who Singleton invited or invitees brought along. “I have been growing most in my understanding of the Bible through our Bible study,” Singleton said. “The center of our Bible study has been reading a significant part of scripture together and talking about what we hear and different peoples perspectives on how to understand the scripture. Having the students point of view on how they understand the Bible and how it meshes with their lived experience is so valuable and deepens my understanding of the Bible.” Singleton was inspired to host a Bible study after attending two home Bible studies as a student. Janine and Harold Alexander hosted a Bible study Singleton attended as a freshman at Harding, and former president of Harding University David Burks and his wife hosted a Bible study he attended at the end of his time as a student. “They took a backseat role in the discussions,” Singleton said. “They would always cook or bake for us. That hospitality shaped the way we wanted to be for students. The kindness from the Burkes and the Alexanders made such a huge difference in my life as a student.” Woody had gotten more than she thought she would out of the Bible studies, and encouraged others to take the leap. “I want to encourage people to be uncomfortable and get involved,” Woody said. “Starting something new and getting outside of your comfort zone can be hard. I get it, I had to do it, but it is so rewarding. The community of a home Bible study is irreplaceable and so worth putting yourself out there. If you see an opportunity to get involved, take it.” Written by Randi Tubbs
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