At Southern Nazarene University, faith does not end when the final class of the day does. On Thursday nights, after the textbooks close and campus quiets down, students gather for something deeper, time to reconnect with God and one another. Through late-night worship events like Kerygma and Kingdom Come, students are finding that spiritual growth often happens after hours.
Behind many of these gatherings is the Student Activities and Leadership Team (SALT), a group that helps create spaces where faith and community intersect outside the classroom. Senior exercise science major Anthony Cox, a member of SALT’s Social Life team, explained that their goal is simple: to bring students together in meaningful ways.
“Our overall goal is to create a community through these events, giving students a chance to build new friendships or strengthen the ones they have,” Cox said, adding that planning often overlaps from one event to the next. “We work closely with staff, student leaders, and campus pastors to make sure everyone has a chance to be involved, whether they are in athletics, fine arts, or anything else.”
Cox shared that these gatherings, which range from worship nights to lighthearted traditions like Fall Disco and Roller Rag, are designed to help students feel a sense of belonging. He believes smaller and more intentional events invite deeper connection. “Smaller and more intimate gatherings allow for deeper conversations and a stronger sense of community. They give students space to step away from their routines and share meaningful moments together.”
For junior nursing major McKenna Franks, that kind of intimacy is what makes Kerygma stand out from regular chapel. “It is such a personal experience to see the people I go to class with get up there and be vulnerable,” she said. “It is beyond humbling to see my friends in such a state of joy and peace.”
Franks was asked by student chaplain Allie Miller to share her testimony, something she admits initially made her nervous. “I was literally shaking that night,” she said, laughing. “But it is so effective because it is not a crowd of strangers, it is your friends. These are people you live next to, see in class, and eat lunch with. They care, and that is what makes it special.”
Preparing for her talk involved a lot of prayer, rewriting, and encouragement from mentors like Kezia Weaver. “A lot of prayer was used,” she reflected. “And a lot of rewriting. It was emotional, but so worth it.”
Junior pastoral ministry major Samuel Giffin shared a similar sentiment about Kingdom Come, a Thursday night worship event led entirely by students. “It is more relaxed, a time to unplug, take a break from the routine, and spend time with peers in worship and the Word,” he explained. For Giffin, speaking at Kingdom Come offered both a challenge and a gift, a chance to slow down and reconnect with God in the middle of a busy semester.
“It is a great time to support our fellow student leaders and ultimately connect with God and with others,” he said. “It has always been a favorite time of the week for me to recharge and reconnect.”
While chapel remains central to SNU’s spiritual life, these After Hours gatherings highlight how faith continues to thrive outside traditional spaces. Through SALT’s coordination and student leadership, worship extends beyond pews and podiums, into dorm lounges, fellowship halls, and candle lit rooms filled with laughter, prayer, and a shared pursuit of purpose.
As Cox put it best, “The better the community is on campus, the more opportunity we have to spread the message of Jesus. People should see how strong our community is and want to know what makes us different.”
Photo by: SNU Creative