If you walk through a dorm hallway or common area at Union Adventist University on any weekday night, you’ll likely see a group of students praying, studying the Bible, crafting or exercising — and often mixing three or more of those activities. For the last two years, the Residential Life team at Union has been emphasizing small groups as a way of creating low-anxiety social connections.
Gen Z has been dubbed “the anxious generation” and “the loneliest generation,” with surveys suggesting that nearly a third of 12-27 year olds experience strong social anxiety. Many struggle with the large and loud student events Gen X and Millennials enjoyed as students. Students have expressed an appreciation for the limited size of their group, which allows them to feel comfortable opening up and participating in whatever activity the group is focused on.
Eight groups meet in and around the women’s residence, Rees Hall:
- Pop-In is a casual craft-based small group where members can “pop-in,” make something, and enjoy conversations with others. The event meets Tuesday mornings and is led by Stacy Stocks, dean of students, and Emily Patterson, associate dean of women.
- Sweat Squad is an exercise group led by students Olivia Sweet and Kylee Anderson on Tuesday evenings. They are focused on healthy living, exercise and prayerful meditation. They meet in the Rees lobby but usually walk to other places on campus for varied activities.
- Flowers and Prayers meets in Rees Hall on Wednesday evenings. Led by students Madison Prokosch and Abby Ottinger, the group delivers flowers and handwritten prayers to other students in the dorm.
- Organized by students Annie Cobaxin and Calista Covel, Baking and Bibles meets in the Rees Hall Club Room Kitchen. Every Wednesday evening, members bake something and have a Bible study while waiting for their oven timers to go off.
- Prayer Pages is another Wednesday evening option. Hosted by students Elina Aparicio and Bianca Ybarbo, journaling supplies and refreshments are provided for an hour of creative prayer and quiet journaling.
- Students Katie Zeismer and Cam Burgos lead Hooked on Happiness on Thursday evenings in Rees Hall. They knit and crochet together while sharing devotional thoughts.
- The WWJD group (Worship and Workout Joyfully Done) gathers on Friday mornings to exercise, bond and study the connection between health and faith. Student Ashira Campbell leads the group in the basement of Rees Hall.
- Picnic and Prayer has been meeting in front of Rees Hall on Friday afternoons while the weather has been pleasant. Led by students Annie Cobaxin and Calista Covel, food is always provided so there’s no need for other students to bring anything.
Five groups meet in and around the men’s residence halls, Prescott and Culver:
- Kicking with Christ and the Endzone of Faith meets on Sundays in Culver Hall. Organized by Benie Kiyala, the students pre-game with a Bible study then watch sports together.
- The Disc Golf group meets every second Tuesday evenings to play disc golf. They play at locations across Lincoln, and student leaders Jonah Zwiefel and Caleb Tam bring extra discs for new members and prizes for winners.
- Bible Reading is a group led by students Ethan Needles and Fernando Montes-Lopez. The students are currently focusing on reading the Pentateuch together in short and casual meetings.
- Led by students Braden Essex and Lucas Mamier, Interactive Bible Study brings together residents of the second and fifth floor of Prescott Hall for Bible study, prayer and discussion each Wednesday evening.
- Time to Question is a Friday evening Bible study in Prescott Hall led by Moises Cruz-Lopez. Participants work through questions they have in a spirit of collaboration and honesty.
These are in addition to even more small group Bible studies organized through Campus Ministries with names like “Christ on Demand,” “Band of Brothers,” and “Evidential Faith,” as well as groups based around understanding specific books of the Bible. All together, students have 19 small group opportunities on the calendar each week to connect socially and spiritually. And if none of the existing groups sounds interesting, the Residential Life deans and the campus chaplain are always looking to support students who want to start new small groups.