Southern Nazarene University’s campus slowed down this October for one of the most spiritually transformative weeks of the year: Spiritual Deepening Week. For three days, students filled Bethany First Church not just to attend chapel, but to reconnect with their faith and rediscover what it means to live a Christ-centered life.
“This week is about letting God do something in the middle of the busy week,” said Cooper Milford, associate pastor of spiritual development. “We hope students take time to listen to what God is saying to them, to slow down, and let Him work.”
Held Oct. 7–9, the event featured guest speaker Rev. Carla Sunberg, general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene, who shared messages centered on finding spiritual direction in a distracting world. “The theme they gave me was True North,” Sunberg said. “I spent a lot of time studying, reading, and preparing to speak to where students are in their walk with Christ.”
Speaking to college students brings a unique kind of energy and honesty, Sunberg said. “When I speak to younger adults, I want to meet them where they are,” she explained. “It’s about helping them hear God’s truth in a way that connects with their everyday life. I could sense that the students were listening deeply—they were hungry for God’s Word and open to what He was saying.”
Behind the scenes, Milford said planning the week takes months of preparation, coordination and prayer. “There’s a lot of prayer that goes into it—prayer for Carla, for worship, for our students,” he said. “We want to make sure that everything that happens in that space points people back to Christ.”
Choosing a speaker like Sunberg involves discernment and alignment with SNU’s annual message. “We look for speakers who embody what it means to live out the gospel,” Milford added. “Carla’s leadership and her heart for students made her a perfect fit.”
The worship team also played a vital role in creating an atmosphere of reflection and worship throughout the week. Elizabeth Howard, a member of the team, said preparation began weeks in advance. “We practiced six songs that we used throughout the week,” Howard said. “We made sure to pray before each service, asking God to move through what we were doing.”
Howard noted that performing during Spiritual Deepening Week feels different than an ordinary chapel service. “There’s something deeper about this week,” she explained. “You can feel that everyone is more open to what God wants to say. It’s not just another service—it’s a space for people to be still and listen.”
According to Milford, that openness led to powerful moments of worship and prayer. “The altar was full every day,” he said. “We saw students come forward, worshiping, praying, and responding to what God was saying to them.”
Sunberg echoed that reflection. “I love watching students take ownership of their faith,” she said. “When I look out and see them worshiping, listening, and praying, I see a generation that truly desires to follow Christ.”
For Milford, that’s the ultimate goal. “My heart breaks if a student leaves SNU and doesn’t know Jesus,” he said. “We want them to encounter Him in everything we do, and weeks like this are one way we make that space.”
As the final notes of worship faded and students lingered in prayer, Spiritual Deepening Week ended the way it began—with quiet reflection and renewed purpose. For a few days in October, the noise of college life gave way to something greater.
Photo by SNU Creative