University Ministries: 37five

Introduction to 37five

Should students be required to participate in religious activities at SPU? 

This was one of the biggest questions on the table in Spring and Summer of 2007, when President Eaton gave the Office of University Ministries and the Center for Worship the task of re-structuring our chapel program.  During the ensuing soul-searching, we studied the history of SPU’s chapel program, and had extensive conversations with our friends at other Christian Universities. 

None of our colleagues had the perfect answer, and everyone was wondering if they were doing it right.  But one thing was certain: in every context where participation was required, students were penalized--punished--if they did not participate.  We wondered … is this what we want?  Can we turn the tables on that approach?  How could we offer some positive motivation? Is there a way to help students nurture their love for one another, for God, and for his Kingdom?    Is there a way to “reward” students that is honorable? 

At the same time, we were ever more committed to the idea that what we do in our worship services and discipleship groups should have some concrete connection with what God is doing in the world.  It’s just too easy to become self-absorbed in our own religious experience.

The 37five Project is our attempt to give students a simple, positive structure through which they can bring balance to their busy lives. 

The 37five Project inspires meeting in small discipleship groups, worshiping regularly with our community, and connecting to organizations doing God’s work in the world.

Each year the Project has grown and morphed with the changing needs of our community.  For 2009-2010, the 37five Project has become a joint project of University Ministries and the Associated Students of Seattle Pacific (as ASSP’s Sharpen ministry will sponsor and run the 37five Project). 

The 37five Project

• 3: Minimum of three SPU students in a group.
• 7: Each member of the group attends seven SPU worship events (such as gather, group, grace) per quarter.
• 5: Groups meet for prayer, discussion, encouragement, and/or study five times per quarter.
• This year, the 37five Project challenges student groups to give of their own resources. The Project will match whatever money students give or raise, up to $100.

• Five women in Hill Hall form a group, attend worship, and want to give to an international mission with which one of the girls serves. They give up their lattes for the quarter and raise $70. The 37five Project matches this at $70, and $140 goes to the mission. $70 (Hill Women) + $70 (37five Project) = $140 (Central Asia Institute)

• A UFDN professor invites her students to participate. Students form four small groups. Here are some example groups with some example organizations students have given to in the past:
  $40 (Group 1) + $40 (37five Project) = $80 (Young Life)
  $75 (Group 4) + $75 (37five Project) = $150 (Operation Nightwatch)
  $100 (Group 5) + $100 (37five Project) = $200 (World Vision Child Sponsorship)
  $400 (Group 2) + $100 (37five Project – $100 is our maximum gift for one group) = $500 (El Sauzal Orphanage)

What students are saying about the 37five Project

“We started this group as a project for UFND but it quickly became an important part of the week for each of us.  We enjoyed getting to know each other and setting time a side to concentrate on each other and God.  In choosing who we are going to give money to we wanted to give to something we were connected to and not just some organization we would have nothing to do with later on.”
— Karlee Gaston, Bunches of Love Small Group

“Our hope by donating to this organization is that we help further their cause to bring the gospel to the people who live locally among us.  This is important to our group because we believe that local ministry is quickly forgotten or pushed aside for foreign ministries, because of the common sense that foreign ministries is more important.”
— Andrew Matsumoto, Two Boys and a Man Small Group

What organizations say when they receive a 37five grant from students

“Thank you so much for the recent donation you gave our ministry. It has been such a privilege to have your SPU students work alongside us in the Dominican Republic and Guatemala! As a graduate of SPU, I consider it an honor to work with your students.”
— Dave Hansen, Students International

“Wet, cold nights are tough on homeless people. We had some nights in May when we served food, shelter, and good will to over 200 men and women. Your donation allowed us to give a night’s food and comfort to 40 homeless women.”
— Rick Reynolds, Operation Nightwatch. Seattle, Wash.