The Bible says in Matthew 18:19-20, “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” At Northwestern College, faculty and staff strive to provide a plethora of opportunities for students to gather together and grow deeper in their faith. A shining example of this would be the campus-wide discipleship groups fondly known as D-groups.
Each housing complex has its own system of D-groups. Some buildings go by floor and others go by wing. Each building strives to have groups of four to six students that consistently meet together and study God’s word.
Natalie Wheeler oversees all these groups and consistently meets with the different student leaders bimonthly to pour into them and prepare them to lead other students. This year, Wheeler has helped the D-groups focus on three main goals: to grow in Christ, build community and live missionally. Each group has taken its own spin on these goals, but nonetheless, these goals have been achieved throughout the campus.
The first goal is to grow in Christ. Some groups chose to jump into a gospel where they can study Jesus’s actions here on earth and apply that to their own lives. Other groups chose books of the Old Testament that often get overlooked, and have been digging into what these books teach about God’s character. Even though these are two different angles to approach the study, groups usually use an expository style of study. This means that they work through books of the Bible instead of moving through them based on topics. This allows for a more cohesive study of the Word and for more contextual study.
The second goal is to build community. D-groups are not meant to be a rigid environment where a strict schedule must be followed. Instead, they have a more fluid schedule that allows members to share struggles and praises. As described by a D-group, “We try to make the first 10 minutes about community building, 45 minutes about the study, and the closing 5 minutes about prayer.” Christ remains at the center, but community is still highly valued.
The final goal is to live missionally. Currently, the different groups are working together to collect food and toiletries for local food banks. This is a tangible way they can care for their community and live missionally. Praying for organizations locally and worldwide is another way they make an impact.
NW has also been blessed to be in a community that values raising up the next generation and providing Bible studies specifically geared toward young adults, like college students, and other studies that are valuable to people of all ages. One student, Kalley Vitek, a D-group coordinator in Christy Suites, mentioned a Bible study at Trinity Reformed Church here in Orange City. The group is currently working through the book of Esther, and Vitek commented that she “enjoys getting to hear wisdom from other generations.”
Vitek also mentioned that it’s okay if students can’t make it every week. Even by stopping by for one week, students will still be able to learn from the weekly passage and feel a sense of belonging in the group
Abigail Martinson, a resident assistant in Stegenga Hall, also shared her experience with community Bible studies. Martinson makes the long trek to Sioux Center in order to attend Christ Community Church. This is a larger group for a Bible study setting, but Martinson has really appreciated getting to know new people throughout the experience.
When asked about the environment, Martinson expressed that it has been “really cool getting to know other Dordt students that I probably wouldn’t interact with otherwise.” Although this group is less intimate than a typical D-group setting, it has still been beneficial to Martinson’s faith journey.
Similar to Martinson, Ella Erickson has had the opportunity to attend a college-age Bible study on Sunday before service at Dover Church in Orange City. She has found this experience to be impactful, especially since it is led by someone older than herself. Although she enjoys attending D-groups and other campus ministry events, she finds it to be a “really good time of being led by someone who is older and more knowledgeable about the Bible.”
Everyone generally agrees that NW and the community of OC have great opportunities for growing deeper in your faith with fellow believers; it’s just a matter of knowing where to look. The options in this article are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Bible studies in the area. If you’re looking for a place to grow in your faith, you’ve come to the right place.
Students enjoy studying the Bible with their community in D-groups.
