Every year, SNU holds Spiritual Deepening Week on campus. It is a chance for students to set aside their normal activities and dive deeper into a relationship with Christ. This year’s Spiritual Deepening Week speaker was Chris Collins, executive pastor at Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene in Tucson, Arizona.
Although Collins was unavailable for an interview, several campus pastors shared their reflections on the week’s impact.
Dr. Blair Spindle, one of SNU’s campus pastors, appreciated Collin’s direct delivery throughout the week. “I loved kind of the direct approach that Chris had; he just didn’t mess around and went right to it. I was especially challenged on Thursday during the sermon when he talked about fighting for holiness.”
Spindle commended Collin’s challenge for the campus community to spend more time contemplating and seeking Jesus.
“I thought, man, that’s good,” Spindle noted. “ Sometimes we overcomplicate things, and that was a good reminder to say if you want to be holy, then turn your attention to Jesus in the way he lived.”
One point that stood out to Spindle as especially challenging was the call to find an accountability partner for confession.
“I think confession is huge,” Spindle acknowledged. “You know, it’s important. You gotta have somebody that you can share your stuff with. We all heard it all week, we’re broken, but if we confess our sins, the Bible says God will forgive us.”
Campus Pastor Cooper Milford also spoke highly of Collins and his messages, noting that he enjoyed the rhythm for the week.
“I just felt it was powerful and convicting,” Milford expressed. “I think part of Spiritual Deepening Week is breaking the mold of our regular routine. I think our regular routine is awesome, but I like that we take one set aside week to hear the same speaker and theme.”
Milford noted that even the slightest of change in routine can fostering and servitude among students. “That Wednesday chapel throws off routine and makes you a little more aware of this week and what’s going on, and it’s all in an effort to continue to point students to Jesus and to continue to make Christlike disciples.”
Milford added that the primary goal of this event is to create an intentional space for spiritual growth on campus.
“I think it used to be called Revival Week, and I think that’s exactly what the intention is there,” Miller mentioned. It’s not that the Lord can’t move in any week, in any day, at any time, but we want to set the tee up as excellently as we can.
Overall, Spiritual Deepening Week made a meaningful impact on campus this year, leaving both students and faculty deeply moved by Collin’s preachings. SNU thanks him for his ministry and wishes him the best in Tucson, Arizona.
Photo by: SNU Creative