The alpha and the omega

It’s Tuesday night at the Phi Delta Theta house, and theyaren’t rolling out a keg. They’re studying when Jesusfed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish.

One month ago, Matt Young and Sonny Davis started a Bible studygroup at the Phi Delt house.

The two told their friends in the fraternity about the studygroup and put up fliers on the doors.

“I think I need it, and I think everyone can benefit froma Bible study,” Young, a sophomore pre-business major said.”It’s a good way to get to know people.”

This scene is not unusual. Over 50 percent of the sorority andfraternity houses on campus hold a regular Bible study during theweek.

In an environment that many feel are at odds with the Christianbeliefs, students are attempting to live as witnesses to Christianteachings.

“I try to live my life in a godly fashion,” Youngsaid. “I try to show kindness to people in a world that isnot always kind. Jesus said to first love the Lord your God withall your heart and then to love your neighbor asyourself.”

Because of the nature of a college campus, it would seemunlikely that students participating in a Bible study group wouldreceive support from other students, but this has not been the caseat SMU.

“There is no animosity,” said Emily Robards, ajunior journalism major who participates in a Chi Omega Bible studygroup. “No one gives me a hard time. Lots of people areinterested in it, and those that aren’t don’t reallysay anything.”

Those who participate in Bible study groups at SMU say they area way for students to keep life in perspective on a campus thatoften seems to value material things above all else.

Junior journalism major Maya Mahoney is a member of a Biblestudy group in her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta.

“I have some sisters who are materialistic, but I have tokeep a balance,” Mahoney said. “I don’t letmyself stay in that mindset all the time.”

Robards said a Bible study group is a place where she and hersorority sisters can be real, a place where they don’t haveto worry about materialism.

Most of the students involved in Bible study groups participatein regular greek social life, including parties.

“I go to all of the parties,” Mahoney said.”It’s just comforting to know that I have sisters thatshare my beliefs, sisters to keep me accountable.”

Robards, who leads a Bible study group for one of ChiOmega’s pledge classes, said she finds it gratifying to be arole model for the young women in her sorority. She findssatisfaction in knowing her sorority sisters in a secular andreligious sense.

“I have met some of my best friends through my Bible studygroups. They are the girls that I call the most, the girls that Ispend the most time with,” Robards said.

Robbie McDonough, a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternityand junior political science major, said that an all-greek Biblestudy may be in the works.

“It would be a way to bring all greeks into a Christianfellowship,” McDonough said.

Creighton Alexander, the director of Wesley, an on-campusministry group at SMU, first conceived the idea of an all-greekBible study group. Greek members of Wesley are discussing theidea.

The Bible study groups in the greek system at SMU cover avariety of themes.

In Chi Omega, the older pledge class is currently studying whatit really meant when Christ died on the cross and the kind of powerit gives Christians.

The younger pledge class, the group that Robards leads, isstudying The Song of Solomon: Love, Sex and Dating which coverstopics, such as how to have a godly relationship and what to lookfor in a partner.

Robards said that members who are not committed to the study ofChristianity and the Bible study group are not a problem.

She said that everyone in the Bible study groups she is involvedin definitely “has areas they struggle in, but everyone has adesire to grow.”

“It’s a process,” Robards said, “but wehave a diverse group of girls and the insight that they bring todifferent issues is invaluable.”

The biggest concern for greek members involved in Bible studygroups is how to make time for the study group.

“My only challenge is balancing the two Bible studies withmy school work and making it the priority that I want it tobe,” Robards said. “But I’m so happy when I makeit the priority. It’s definitely worth it.”