Bethany First Church of the Nazarene’s College Ministry is fueling a growing fire for the Lord among students. This year, God has used BFC Late Night—a weekly time of community, worship, and teaching designed for college students—to strengthen believers’ passion and boldness as they come together to worship Him.
Every Wednesday night, students gather at Late Night to step away from academic work and spend time with God and His people. The ministry is led by Rev. Tiffany Hazel, BFC college pastor and SNU athletic trainer. She shares God’s Word through preaching and encourages students to devote their lives to being like Jesus in community with others.
Late Night does not shy away from difficult topics such as forgiveness, transformation, and inviting God into messy situations and relationships. After each service, the altar often fills with students praying and worshiping together, working through challenges with God. Pastor Hazel has seen God’s grace at work in students through repentance and spiritual renewal. “They’re no longer desiring things that take them from the Lord,” she said. “They’re hungry for something, seeking something—and that’s Jesus.”
Hazel also noted how many students are accepting calls to vocational ministry. “More students are answering the call to live out the mission of Jesus,” she shared.
Through this year’s implementation of The Journey, students have found an intentional space to share their stories and grow together. The Journey is a weekly discipleship program focused on spiritual growth, accountability, and sharing faith with others. It helps students develop discipline in their walk with Christ and encourages them to live out their faith authentically.
Each Late Night service begins with worship to prepare hearts for the message God has for His people. Recent SNU graduate Jolie Nantze serves as the student and college worship leader for BFC, coordinating worship across middle school, high school, and college ministries. She has witnessed a powerful shift in the atmosphere of worship this year.
“It has been incredible to see the Spirit of God in this student body,” Nantze said. “It’s different, fresh, and passionate! These students show up week after week with a yearning and hunger. It’s evident in the way they worship, how they interact with one another, and how they listen intently. There are nights when I feel the Spirit stirring so much that I feel worship could just go on and on.”
Student involvement is an integral part of Late Night’s ministry. SNU senior Madelynn Hada helps lead worship each week. As a freshman, she discovered BFC at the SNU Club Fair and decided to visit Late Night—and she never left.
“I loved the atmosphere and decided to make it my church,” Hada shared.“I found a comfortable atmosphere where I could move and raise my hands while singing praises to the Lord. Now, as a worship leader, I’ve seen God work through others as they worship freely, too.”
The impact of BFC Late Night extends beyond the church and into SNU’s campus culture. Students on fire for God are sharing what He is doing and inviting their classmates to experience it for themselves. Late Night provides a space where students can worship freely without the distractions of classes or chapel credits—a place to simply spend time with God and His church
Photos provided by: Tiffany Hazel