Spiritual Development & Discipleship

At Taylor, our spiritual lives aren’t limited to a few hours of chapel each week or Sunday morning church. As a non-denominational liberal arts university, our belief in Jesus and our commitment to following Him is part of everything we do. Not only does our faith in Christ determine the choices and decisions we make as individuals, but it also determines the way we do life together. From participating in service projects to sharing daily meals to how classes work, our faith is at the forefront.

A Common Foundation

As part of Taylor’s community, you’ll experience the foundation we are built on: a common belief and commitment to Jesus Christ. Spiritual life at Taylor is really just life—the highs and lows of living out a shared faith and purpose. Day in and day out, you’ll experience a community that seeks to build up and hold each other accountable in sharing our faith, values, and ideals.

Because every member of the community—your peers, professors, housekeepers, etc.—has professed a relationship with Christ, there is a general belief that everyone is striving to know God better every day. This gives students and faculty, alike, a boldness to reach out and challenge each other, to sharpen those around them as “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17).

This happens in the classroom, where faith is integrated regardless of whether or not it’s a Bible class. This happens in the Dining Commons, where conversations flow seamlessly from trivial to identity-shaping matters. This happens on athletic fields, where coaches encourage athletes to compete for more than this world’s corruptible crown (1 Corinthians 9:25). And this happens in campus activities, chapel services and on-campus ministries, and both academic and mission trips.

Service-Centered Learning

With more than 60 majors in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences—and a foundational core curriculum that ensures all students develop a broad base of knowledge—Taylor exists to prepare you to reach the world for Christ, using whatever gifts and passions God has given you. That means most of our programs give you hands-on, practical experience outside the classroom that allows you to make a difference.

Taylor hosts partnerships with a variety of companies and organizations, and you could assist them. Whether you’re serving cardiac rehabilitation patients in an exercise science class or building a financial campaign in a business course, you will be growing your skills through service in a real-world environment.

But, service learning isn’t limited to academics. Through our wide variety of local and global missions programs, we hope to develop servant-leaders excited about sharing the love and truth of Christ with the global community. Whether it is volunteering as a small group leader for local elementary school kids or evangelizing in the streets of India, our students are reaching out to those in need and, in turn, becoming forever changed.

Discipleship

Our students and faculty seek to encourage and challenge one another in their faith through a process called discipleship. Discipleship is a conscious choice made by our students to partner with fellow believers and reach for the incorruptible crown that we will ultimately lay at the feet of Jesus (Revelation 4:10-11). This spiritual formation process allows us to hold one another accountable and dedicate our whole lives to companionship with the Triune God. We are asked to observe and live in accordance to the words spoken by Jesus in Luke 10:25-27 to love God and love others.

To promote discipleship, student leaders and special programs within our residence halls are specifically designated to help develop, encourage, and support spiritual growth. Discipleship Assistants work alongside our Residence Hall Directors and Assistant Hall Directors to nurture and strengthen the faith of students through small groups, wing and hall worship, and other activities that engage in spiritual formation.

Discipleship Assistants (DAs)

Discipleship Assistants (DAs) are an integral part of Residence Life for the purpose of fostering discipleship relationships through spiritual formation opportunities in order to grow as a Christian community. The hope would be that each person would be welcome to live life together in the residence halls. Discipleship Assistants work with the Personnel Assistants (PAs) to build and sustain healthy, Christian community on the wing/floor by being present on a consistent basis in their physical, spiritual, emotional, relational, and mental responsibilities.

Small Groups

Organized for students by their wing or floor Discipleship Assistant, these groups encourage students to open up to each other and support and pray for one another, as well as hold each other accountable in their walks of faith. Small groups spend time praying, doing Bible studies and devotions, serving together, and just hanging out, talking about life.

Read the Small Group Leader Handbook to learn more about leading a small group at Taylor.