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Student Leaders Make Broyhill Chapel a "Refuge"
by Michael Costello
David Oesch and C.S. Lewis
Holly Cable
Jamie Stephens
Stephanie Brown
Lindsay Shrenkel and Aaron Buchanan
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Amid hard study sessions, long classes and homesickness, many students look for an outlet after classes. Many just want a place to relax and not think about the day or week, while others are looking to find their place on campus to "plug-in," or some just want to feel like they belong. The Refuge, an on-campus ministry/discipleship program, is one of those places.
A student-led ministry, The Refuge comes together on Wednesday nights in the fellowship hall of Broyhill Chapel with a coffee house opening at 6 p.m. followed by a main service starting at 7.
Students go to the coffee house to meet new people and to enjoy the relaxing, meditative ambiance of candles, soft music and coffee. The main service involves intense worship and challenging messages by youth minister Dirk Helmling.
The Refuge represents the combination of "The Theater," another Wednesday evening student-led worship service that was held in old movie theater on Main Street, and a worship and a Bible study group Helmling was leading in the office of his then independent 29:11 Student Ministries just down the block. Both were supported by Woodland Hills Baptist Church of Weaverville where Helmling is now fulltime college pastor.
At the invitation of former college chaplain Daniel Terry, Associate Professor of Religion Marc Mullinax, and several campus Christian organizations, the two groups merged and launched The Refuge in the fall of 2004, financed by Woodland Hills Baptist plus several other local churches.
Nevertheless, many will say that student, not professional youth ministers or college faculty, make the Refuge the "safe-house," that it is. The student leaders believe that they benefit not only from enjoying this place of rest, but also from serving and giving their time.
David Oesch, a junior from Jackson, Tennessee plays soccer for Mars Hill and is known for his friendliness and high spirits and a passion for God that far outweighs his love of soccer. Being the president of the leadership team of the Refuge, he has many responsibilities. He was appointed by Dirk to lead meetings and to maintain communication between the discipleship group leaders and Helmling. He is also trained to run the Refuge should Dirk be unable to make it.
"I'm still learning," remarked Oesch. His job also involves, "assimilated relationships," which is meeting with new people at the Refuge and keeping them plugged in. "I love them and make them feel welcomed."
He recalled that a few years ago many students wanted a chapel apart from the Tuesday morning Crossroads program, the on campus chapel service that explors many ways of believing and thinking. "I saw what God was doing and I wanted to be there, to be in a place where I could serve," he says. "God taught me servanthood. Everyday is seeing God move in lives, challenging lives, and changing them."
Holly Cable is also a junior on the Refuge leadership team. She mainly does the sounds equipment set-ups, plus whatever odds and ends need to get done. She became involved with the Refuge after being part Helmlings Bible 29:11 study group (named after Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you."). She recalled that several Christian groups on campus, wanted to combine forces to have a spiritually challenging service where students would "step out of their boundaries and get in the Bible more."
Holly feels that she is challenged everyday as she is encouraged more and more to witness to others about Jesus Christ.
Freshman Allison Collins who mainly helps Holly Cable with the sound and set-up. She also helps people feel comfortable and accepted during the coffee house time.
Jamie Stephens is a freshman, whose smile and perky attitude is widely known around campus. She recalls trying CSM as well as FCA but says "they just didn't do it for me, I wanted to give more." After learning that the Refuge was in need of student leaders, Jamie prayed intensely and brought the subject up with leader, Stephanie Brown.
Miraculously, Stephanie responded, "I've been waiting for you to say this for months." Jamie now sets up chairs and is extremely social, calling herself a "social bug." She makes her effort trying to make people comfortable.
Stephanie Brown herself takes care of the SGA side of the organization." She began her ministry her freshman year in the "Theater." With a nostalgic grin she recalls, "God wanted us to move, particularly because the theater was being sold. The Refuge allows me to give back to the students who come here."
She is passionate about the discipleship programs and messages that encourage students to grow in their faith in Christ.
Freshman Lindsay Shrenkel and Senior Aaron Buchanan write nametags and greet people at the door. Lindsay is the "energy " of the Refuge, noted for her outgoing and somewhat loud life. They help clean up as well as set up the service. Both consider the Wednesday night institution literally a "refuge," a safe house where they can be active in the students' lives and a place where they and others are refreshed and recharged, finding preparation to live a godly life.
Katy Branch is a sophomore who runs the coffee house, serving beverages and making sure that candy and other food are always in stock. Her first time at the Refuge came about from an invitation from a friend, and she kept going ever since. Dirk later inquired about her interest in serving. "Dirk's talks "keep me humble because I'm serving others, it's not about me," she says.
Like so many of the others, she hopes that people understand that the Refuge is more than a worship service; it's also a haven for free worship of God without feeling criticism for doing so.
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