Jesus, Community, and Donuts
Jesus. Community. Donuts. Three main themes of the student-led Bible study, which occurs every Wednesday from 6:45 a.m. – 7:15 a.m. in Room B124, history teacher Belle Schultz’s room. The leaders, seniors Jaden Schultz, Sierra Hayes, and Grace Bayer, are all volunteers, and they prepare all of the passages and discussion questions for the weekly meetings.
“We hold Bible study to bring a group of people to meet and talk about Jesus,” Jaden Schultz said.
While there have been “Christian-centric” groups in Howell’s past, there wasn’t a true Bible study held until 2019 graduate Noah Schultz and some of his friends formed the group five years ago. Now, his younger brother Jaden continues the mission.
“We want to bring a light into the school,” Jaden Schultz said.
Besides studying the Bible, another purpose is to develop bonds within the group.
“I also like to go to Bible study because I get to hang out with a lot of my really good friends,” Hayes said. “I have definitely made a ton of new friends too.”
We have hangouts, usually after football games,” Hayes said. “People can come over, have a chill hangout with food and snacks. We also try and do a hang out per season, so a fall hangout, a Christmas one, an end-of-the-school-year one, and a back-to-school one.
— Sierra Hays
Creating community and mentoring future leaders is part of the organizers’ goals.
“To do Bible study in a community, with believers, is important because its a comforting place to learn about the Lord,” sophomore Caleb West said.
To encourage the strengthening of these relationships, leaders plan activities for the members.
“We have hangouts, usually after football games,” Hayes said. “People can come over, have a chill hangout with food and snacks. We also try and do a hang out per season, so a fall hangout, a Christmas one, an end-of-the-school-year one, and a back-to-school one.”
The first 10 minutes consist of eating donuts and joking around before the discussion. The discussion consists of the leaders reading a passage they selected in a off-campus meeting, and then asking questions about the contents of it to the group.
Whether a person comes for the donuts and friendship or for a deep discussion on the word of God, everyone is welcome.
“We all come as we are and the people accept everyone for who they are,” West said.
