On August 30 the beginnings of a student-led Bible study gathered for the first time. Led by junior Joshua Mangano, a Bible major, and sophomore business major Andrew Cox, The Refuge will meet every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Building (SUB 7).
The Refuge is intended to be a safe space for students to get away from the stresses of daily life. The idea for the name came from Psalm 46:1-2, which says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”
“We want The Refuge to be a space for us to come together to know God better and to help each other do that,” Mangano said. “We want people to be genuine and real here.”
The Refuge will start with weekly video devotions before breaking into small groups for discussion and prayer. There is also the possibility of taking hiking trips as a group.
Andrew Cox and juniors Jon Guy, Ellie Mullins and Heather Van Cleave mediated the small groups, which are meant to give students a place to talk and grow closer as a community as well as offer a time of prayer.