The first chapel of the fall semester at Olivet Nazarene University opened in front of a packed house. Students, faculty and staff filled Centennial Chapel as University President Gregg Chenoweth, Ph.D. challenged the community to live with intention and pursue both academic success and spiritual growth.
“I was meeting with the five new faculty members here at Olivet last week… talking to them about chapel and I said, this is a really special thing because two times a week all of us get together — faculty, staff and students,” said Dr. Chenoweth. “And that doesn’t happen any other time during the week. So, it’s very, very special. It’s this wonderful communal experience of worship and learning.”
The “Year of You”
In his message, Dr. Chenoweth called students to embrace what he described as “the year of you.” The phrase, he explained, is not about ego but about growth.
“I’m starting to wonder whether or not you might begin this year with the year of you. It’s not self-promotion; it’s self-development. It’s not about ego; it’s about stewardship of this precious opportunity that you have. One way to understand that and get yourself deep into it is to understand this: you’re not just a you sitting here during the year of you, you are a you who’s becoming something. You are not static. Things are changing in your mind, heart and life right now.”
Drawing from Philippians 3:12, he urged students to take hold of their purpose in Christ.
“Press on and take hold of that for which Christ took hold of you,” Dr. Chenoweth encouraged. “What He was saying was: press on. You need to sprint toward this. Take hold. You can actually catch it — it being your purpose in God.”
Practical Encouragement
Dr. Chenoweth reminded students that spiritual and academic growth require daily choices.
“If you keep pressing on, you’re going to take hold of it — that for which Christ took hold of you,” he said.
Dr. Chenoweth also encouraged the campus community not to treat chapel casually but to see it as essential.
“Please don’t skip chapel. Being here is part of you pressing on that you will eventually take hold of. Please don’t skip fall and spring revival services. I’m so glad that on the voluntary attended nights, every seat is usually full. There are people in their 50s, 60s and 70s who are Olivet alumni who still have a fresh memory looking back at how God did something important, deep and lasting in their life during a revival service.”
Then, Dr. Chenoweth added practical advice about academic diligence.
“Don’t skip class sessions. We know college is expensive… given the opportunity you have and the mere expense, why would you skip any class that you’re paying for when you show up? That’s how you demonstrate you’re pressing on and taking hold of [God’s purpose].”
Lasting Momentum
As the message drew to a close, Dr. Chenoweth returned to his theme: the steady, faithful pursuit of calling.
“Nobody can expect to be an overnight success,” he reminded the student body. “But if you craft an intention, if you ask God what the desire of his heart is for your heart, if you keep serving that sacrificially in all these small ways, it’ll roll up into a momentum of your life that you’re going to see progress.”
To watch the full chapel message, click here.
