On Wednesday, January 21, students and faculty attended chapel at 10:05 am to kick off small groups for the 2026 spring semester.
2 weeks ago, all students returned to campus from winter break, bringing with them both joy at being back with their friends and a longing for community. The Spiritual Formation Office offers a way to connect by relaunching small groups, providing community to students who have been missing it.
Spencer Loman, Indiana Wesleyan’s Discipleship Pastor, said that 65-70% of IWU students are engaged in small groups. Last year, the Spiritual Formation Office saw 200 small group leaders sign up and during last semester, 40% of leaders were new group leaders.
“Jesus had a small group, and I think you should too,” Loman said.
Anna Pettitt, a junior, has led a small group focused on Bible study and prayer for the past 3 semesters and continues to lead it this spring.
Pettitt said that there has been a movement of encouraging students to join small groups from the Spiritual Formation Office (SFO).
“I wasn’t even in a group freshman year; it seemed no one really was.” Pettitt said. “This year it feels like there is more emphasis on getting involved in one. It is important to get in those small group communities.”
Ali Denton, a junior Psychology Major, began leading a small group for the first time in the fall semester. Her group is named the “Good News Circle.”
Denton said that it is beneficial and that the launch was a great way to showcase the power of small groups.
“I think it’s really important that people gain depth of insight for why we should even participate in small groups,” Denton said. “Not just at a surface level, but to create deep ties that cultivate what God designed gathering to be.”
Many students have been joining new groups, but some have decided to stay in ones from the fall. Riley Stewart, a sophomore, said that he is joining the same small group that studies the Bible.
“Yes, I got involved through the football team, one of my teammates invited me to join his small group, and we all have the same mission, to build the kingdom on our team,” Stewart said.
The relaunching of small groups has been the spiritual talk of campus. Wednesday, January 28, was the first meeting day of the new semester.
Many groups were meeting in dorm rooms, education buildings, and even McConn. If you are interested in joining a small group, ask your hall chaplain or get connected with an SFO leader.
