life together groups – Houghton STAR

Life Together Groups

by Sadie Nakamura ('26)

Houghton University (HU) offers a variety of weekly small groups around campus called Life Together Groups. These gatherings are open to all students and designed to foster a sense of community and encourage meaningful spiritual connection.

Interim Dean of Spiritual Life J.L. Miller explained that Life Together Groups were created to help students share their spiritual experiences and grow together in faith. Each group features a unique focus, providing opportunities for students and faculty to engage in deeper spiritual connection.

“I chose the name Life Together Groups from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s seminal work called Life Together,” Miller said. “The book explore[s] what it look[s] like living together. I think it’s such a gift to be at an undergraduate institution like Houghton where you are surrounded by peers, faculty, and staff all interested in being at a Christian University, growing in their faith, and studying together.”

Miller emphasized the importance of creating intentional spaces for Bible study, prayer and spiritual discussion.

“I think one aspect of doing Life Together as Christians is creating [these spaces],” he said. “I wanted to be sure the Spiritual Life office was doing something to enhance the offerings across campus.”

Miller’s overall vision is to ensure that a variety of small groups and Bible studies are consistently available for students because he believes “it is important for students during their college years to be connected with peers and classmates on a spiritual level.”

Although student-run small groups already existed on campus, Miller sought to provide additional support to help students easily find groups that fit their interests and schedules. One aspect Miller appreciates is the flexibility and creativity of these gatherings. “I love the variety of styles in the different groups,” he noted.

One such group is Daily Prayer. Lee James ‘26, a double major in bible & theology and history, is one of the students who helps lead the Daily Prayer Life Together Group. The group meets every weekday at 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the Spiritual Life Office, located on the lower level of the Campus Center.

“Daily Prayer is open to everyone,” James said. “It’s a great way to take a breather in the middle of a chaotic week.”

James emphasized the positive impact of leading a small group, sharing that daily prayer provides a safe opportunity to connect with others, adding, “It would be really cool to see more people get involved!”

Another popular group is Board Games and Big Questions led by Julia Collins ‘26, a history major. The group combines fun with meaningful conversations, inviting participants to engage with both games and thought-provoking questions.

“I think it can be really encouraging for people to come together in a small group setting,” Collins shared. “Everyone has burdens and it is so beautiful to help each other carry these burdens.”

Collins believes the Life Together Groups provide opportunities to form friendships with “people that you might not otherwise meet!” She added that some “of my best friends are the ones that I’ve met in life together groups.”

Through Life Together Groups, HU continues to cultivate a spiritual community where students can build meaningful relationships and deepen their faith. ★

By Anna Cathermann

Bible studies, book studies, and basketball are just a few of the opportunities that exist for spiritual life outside the Chapel doors.

“Life Together” groups began last semester as a way to support students’ return to in-person spiritual life activities after the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Chair of Religion, Associate Dean of the Chapel, and Adjunct Professor of Youth Ministry J.L. Miller, there was a lot of folklore surrounding small groups in the past. “There are a lot of small groups on campus” was a frequent mantra, but they often lacked publicity. The Life Together program was designed to bring these groups to the forefront of campus life as well as to provide an organized support system,with the chapel office providing counseling and publicity to leaders.

These groups vary widely in membership and content: some are single-gender, others are co-ed. Morning, afternoon, and evening times are all available.

Numerous Bible studies make up a large portion of the “Life Together” groups. Meeting in the Paine Greenhouse from 3-4 p.m. every Tuesday, led by Junior William Tormey. “Caring for God’s Creation” is a co-ed study for those interested in a Biblical look at sustainable living.

All men on campus are welcome to study the book of Acts at Roth’s Bible study led by Junior Will Allen, which meets in the first floor lounge, Echo Base, from 8-9 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. On Thursday evenings from 7-8 p.m., the Ezra and Nehemiah Bible Study group led by Sophomore Matthew Foster also meets at Echo Base.

“Life Together” groups are more than just Bible study groups, though. There are also fellowship, support, and book study groups.

“Bible and Basketball” Co-Founder Isaac Little said the group is a “unique competitive fellowship that you cannot get anywhere else on campus.”

From 7-8:30 p.m. every Sunday night, men and women come together in Nielsen for a brief devotional followed by a game of pick-up basketball.

“Tea and Porn” is a small group of men that meets from 8:30-9:30 p.m. every Thursday in Echo Base.

According to the group’s leader, Senior Adam McCutcheon, “Open and honest discussion of an issue which is largely associated with shame is a first step in helping us realize through the acceptance of our family in Christ that we are not alone and that we are accepted.”

There are also two book study groups this semester. “The Garden City”, led by Seniors Isabelle Murch and Zoe Utterback meets in the main room of the Dining Hall on Thursday mornings from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Over breakfast, the group discusses “Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human” by John Mark Cohen.

Women’s Area Coordinator Raegan Zelayaand Senior Arianna Zampella are currently leading a book discussion group that meets in the Gillette RD apartment. Around a dozen women are reading through “Sexless in the City” by Kat Harris.

“There are a lot of different people with different beliefs and boundaries,” Zelaya noted.

They come together to discuss living lives of integrity in a world ravaged by the extremes of hypersexualization and purity culture.

While the groups cover a number of different topics and interests, the program does have an overarching goal.

According to Miller, “Life Together“ groups exist “to make sure we’re being intentional in creating spaces that people can experience discipleship in small groups.”★