By Lauren Abraham
College of Humanities and Social Sciences Student, Bachelor of Arts in Communications

Riccardo Stewart from Redemption Church in Tempe, AZ spoke at Grand Canyon University’s Chapel service this week. He delivered a compelling message about the importance of having a personal relationship with Christ.

Riccardo started by explaining the difference between religion and relationship. While religion consists of the activities we do to make ourselves right with God and others, having a personal relationship with Christ means we know we can never do anything to truly make ourselves right before Him.

By Lauren Abraham
College of Humanities and Social Sciences Student, Bachelor of Arts in Communications

Welcome back, Lopes!

Grand Canyon University President and CEO Brian Mueller started off the new semester with a motivating message about doing impossible things through Christ.

President Mueller started by showing a video about Ernie Johnson, a famous sportscaster. Ernie and his wife decided to adopt a three-year-old little boy named Michael from a Romanian orphanage.

Michael was severely autistic, and the doctors said he would never be able to talk, walk or bond with anyone. Despite this, Ernie and his family saw Michael as beautifully and wonderfully made.

By Paige Ferrari
Global Outreach Student Leader

It’s time to deck the halls around Grand Canyon University! At this week’s Christmas Chapel service, the Worship Team jammed out to Christmas classics, and students listened to the story of Christmas.

During the season, it can be easy to forget why we celebrate this special day.

By Paige Ferrari
Global Outreach Student Leader

Please is defined as “a cause of enjoyment or delight.”

Jeremy Jernigan, pastor of Central Christian Church in downtown Phoenix and author of “Redeeming Pleasure: How the Pursuit of Pleasure Mirrors Our Hunger for God,” spoke at Chapel at Grand Canyon University this morning. He touched on the topic of his book, which delves into the idea of searching for pleasure and finding God.

By Paige Ferrari
Global Outreach Student Leader

Tom Shrader from Redemption Church joined Grand Canyon University students, faculty and staff for Chapel this week. He talked about the Christmas story and its roots, including Mary, Joseph and Jesus.

In his message, Tom brought the crowd to John 3:16, where God says that He loves us and that we love Him.

By Paige Ferrari
Global Outreach Student Leader

Chapel looked a little different this morning. The band from Love International Ministries took over the stage this morning to give us a multilingual worship service. Ryan Nunez from Palm Valley Church spoke in Chapel this morning as well.

“Guilt is a gift from God.”

That is how Ryan started his message to the listening audience. This statement took the audience back a little bit.

“Guilt is an indicator that you did something wrong,” said Ryan. It’s an indicator from God, saying that we have to take some kind of corrective action to fix what we did.

By Paige Ferrari
Global Outreach Student Leader

Ron Merrell from Heights Church in Prescott, AZ spoke at Grand Canyon University’s Chapel this past Monday morning. He started off this morning with a great laugh, sharing a story of when he was in college and he “screamed at a deaf person.”

Unfortunately, Ron shared that it wasn’t the worst thing that he has done—there have been other things in his life that he covered up. 

By Paige Ferrari
Global Outreach Student Leader

Come and Go.

That is how Beth Guckenberger of Back2Back Ministries summed up the Bible.

First, God calls us to come and follow Him. God is calling us to be in His presence, to be in relationship with Him.

By Paige Ferrari
Global Outreach Student Leader

Todd Clark, a teaching pastor from Christ’s Church of the Valley (CCV), joined Grand Canyon University students and staff at Monday morning’s Chapel service. Pastor Clark’s message was about the importance of a diligent prayer life.

Referencing Matthew 6:5-7, Pastor Clark broke down three things we should be doing when it comes to prayer:

1. Pray regularly
2. Pray humbly
3. Pray privately

By Paige Ferrari
Global Outreach Student Leader

“Therefore, love truth and peace.” (Zechariah 8:19)

Author and apologist Mark Mittelberg visited Grand Canyon University today to share his passion and confidence in our faith, backing up his beliefs with facts and truth. Mittelberg brought the audience through four out of the 20 reasons why Christianity is true, all of which are outlined in his book.  

By Paige Ferrari
Global Outreach Student Leader

Travis Hearn, senior pastor of Impact Church and the Phoenix Suns chaplain, spoke at Chapel services this week on Grand Canyon University’s campus. When we say, “Here I am God – send me,” we have to be willing to listen to God when He tells us to do something.

Pastor Hearn spoke of his first time preaching at the young age of 17; his first audience was second graders. He chose the story of Jonah. When he went through the book of Jonah, he realized that God was asking Jonah to go into dangerous territory and preach to the Ninevites.

By Paige Ferrari
Global Outreach Student Leader

“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:21)

Brian Kruckenberg took to the Grand Canyon University stage at Chapel again this morning. Coming from New City Church, Brian spoke at Chapel just last year. His familiarity on stage woke up the students who attend his church in Central Phoenix.