University Ministries
The department exists to help students integrate their faith with the way they learn, live, and serve. University Ministries strives to foster relationships and shared experiences with the hope of transforming students’ lives, so they might commit their lives to making a difference in the world for the glory of God. The staff of University Ministries works with student leaders to create environments and experiences that are conducive to this transformation: personal yet shared, relevant while countercultural, meaningful but challenging. University Ministries seeks to live out the Kingdom mission of Jesus: becoming all we were created to be and making a difference in this world through communal worship, local and global service opportunities, Life Groups, social justice initiatives, and racial reconciliation. All students in the North Park community are invited to participate in the opportunities provided by University Ministries, regardless of their faith background.
Students, faculty, and staff are invited once a week to attend these campus worship services that include music, prayer, and teaching. The campus pastor, members of the community, and speakers from across the country engage our hearts and minds with the truth of scripture and challenge us to live it out in practical ways. A variety of worship styles—from contemporary to classical, African American to Hispanic, liturgical to free—make each service something unique. Chapel takes place every Wednesday morning at 10:30 in Anderson Chapel.
Collegelife is our Sunday evening service. We gather for worship, a relevant message, and encouragement; followed by a time to build community over a shared meal together. It is our hope that students would feel welcome to come to this space just as they are, with all their questions, to explore the Christian faith in a real and authentic way. Join us as we engage in life’s big questions, conversations about faith & mental and emotional health, healthy relationships, justice and restoration, current events, and student testimony. We hope to see you soon!
The Prayer Team consists of a group of students, faculty and staff dedicated to weekly prayer for this campus. The team sponsors many opportunities during the year for students on campus to pray. As well, students can be prayed for in person by a member of the prayer team after CollegeLife. Prayer requests can be submitted to umin@northpark.edu.
Sankofa brings together readings, films, class lectures, and conversations with a pilgrimage to major civil rights sites in the southern part of the U.S. focusing on black/white relations. We explore the biblical, theological, sociological, political, cultural, and psychological dimensions of the struggle for racial justice during the Civil Rights era and its contemporary implications. We also seek to provide experiences that lead to personal transformation on the difficult questions of race and justice.
Life Groups are small groups of students who are seeking to build strong community, have intentional conversations, deepen their understanding of Jesus, and support one another in life and faith. No matter where you are in life there is a place here for you.
Local and Global Outreach
Local and Global Outreach seek to provide opportunities where your faith, learning, and service will meet in transformative experiences locally and globally. Whether you serve alongside local partners right here in the City of Chicago, in national disaster relief zones here in the United States or as far as Ndola, in Zambia or Mumbai in India, we hope participants, in their own way, will contribute to helping make this world a better place. In the spirit of Jeremiad 29:14, we seek the flourishing of the City by responding to the felt needs of our neighbors. Students have will be able to serve and learn from the Homeless, the migrant community, students in after school programs among other opportunities. It is our hope that through service to others, participants will grow in their understanding of who God is, who they are, the world around them and their role in it.
The Huddle
The Huddle is a monthly gathering where student-athletes come together for encouragement, and connection around the Word of God. It is designed for student athletes, but opened to non-athletes to help students integrate faith into their sports, relationships, and everyday life so that they can live authentically and purposefully.