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Spiritual Life

Warner’s first calling is to provide space for you to believe in Jesus Christ. 

No matter where you are on your spiritual journey every student is encouraged toward Christ-like character and intellectual maturity. 

WHAT IS SPIRITUAL GROWTH?

At Warner we believe that the deepest part of your personhood is your spirit. It is where the building blocks (deepest beliefs and guiding-values) of your life-decisions are stored.  It’s the real you. Spiritual growth is when you intentionally attend to your relationship with God, yourself and others. We hope the spiritual growth opportunities provided will improve, heal and pour into the deepest parts of your spirit and will shape the way you engage humanity in the most God-pleasing ways. 

PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH AT WARNER UNIVERSITY

Spiritual Growth Opportunities connect students with God, others, scripture, topics and events that we all may contribute more significantly toward the affirmation of others in our current and future communities. These opportunities posture those who would so choose toward developing a vibrant relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

SPIRITUAL LIFE REQUIREMENTS

All Warner traditional residential students are required to earn 21 Spiritual Growth Credits each semester. Commuter students are required to earn 16 spiritual growth credits. Residential students must earn 10 of their required 21 Spiritual Growth credits by attending the weekly chapel service in person. Additionally, all students (commuter and residential) are required to earn half of their required semester Spiritual Growth credits by the midpoint in the semester. If you have not earned half your credits by the midpoint in the semester, you will be withheld from participating in any non-academic (curricular) activities.

Commuter students are required to earn 16 spiritual growth credits. They are not required to be at chapel in person, and may earn Spiritual Growth credits through any venue they choose (in-person or virtual). Chapel is held every Wednesday at 10:00 am in the Christian Ministry Center at the South Lake Wales Church of God across from the Ratzlaff Building. The other remaining credits may be earned by attending approved spiritual growth opportunities provided through the Student Life office. 

Helpful Links:
Moodle– to view and track your Spiritual Growth Credits
University Calendar– to view upcoming events
Spiritual Growth Credit Exemption Application– to apply for an exemption (the application is on a semester-by-semester basis)
Spiritual Growth Opportunity Evaluation– to provide feedback on a Spiritual Growth Opportunity you have participated in please fill out this survey.
Watch Chapel Videos Online – All previous chapels are on our YouTube page.
Host a Spiritual Growth Opportunity – fill out the form to host a Spiritual Growth Opportunity

HOW DO I EARN SPIRITUAL GROWTH CREDITS?

HOW DO I EARN SPIRITUAL GROWTH CREDITS?
You get Spiritual Growth Credits by attending approved Spiritual Growth opportunities presented through the Student Life Office. Available spiritual Growth programs are posted on posters around campus, on Moodle, and on the university online calendar.  Students are encouraged to attend growth events at their pleasure, however, every opportunity for learning does not earn a Spiritual Growth credit.  Students will know that a program is worth Spiritual Growth Credit when they see the phrase, “Worth one Spiritual Growth Credit”.

Each semester faculty, staff & students eagerly plan spiritual growth programs through the Student Life office for your enjoyment and enrichment on and off campus.  There are several ways to engage growth opportunities. Some are required, others are elected. Below is a short list of ways to earn the credits.

1.In-Person Events

      • Chapel – University Chapel is our flagship program for spiritual growth. The Chapel gathering is open to all students, even those who are exempt from earning credits. Here, we 
        1. worship our God, 
        2. gather with our community, 
        3. celebrate and support our teams and peers
        4. express the Good News of Jesus
        5. confess, repent, pray and respond to God
      • In-Person Spiritual Growth events – These events may be on or off campus. Just be sure to scan the QR code for your attendance.
      •  Student Enrichment Opportunities – These personal and professional development opportunities will be provided by the Student Life office for students who desire to learn and grow in a specific area. Student Enrichment opportunities will allow students to prepare for post-college life and community.

Listed below are the five categories of Spiritual Growth opportunities for students:

1. Discipleship– Students who would like to step into for the first time, or deepen their Christian faith

2. Personal Enrichment– Development of self and social management through soft and emotional skills 

3. Life Skills– Students who desire to develop skills beyond their academic/professional discipline to improve their marketability 

4. Service– Students who desire to grow in Christlike service to others through on or off-campus opportunities 

5. Courageous Conversations– Students who desire to dialogue, understand, and/or interact with current and impactful social realities.

 

2.Virtual Events

      1. Virtual Chapel – (For commuters)- Commuters can view the recorded chapels that residential students attend and still earn credit. Credit is earned by watching the whole video and answering the quiz questions at the end.. The earned credit will post to Moodle immediately after submission. (Commuters may watch the livestream, but will not receive credit for this since we have no way to track the view).
      2. Virtual Live Spiritual Growth events – Some hosts offer their programming through Zoom. Students can engage the host even when they are far away from campus.
      3. Virtual Videos – There will be recorded videos on a variety of topics that students can learn from.

     

    HOW CAN I TRACK MY SPIRITUAL GROWTH CREDITS?

    HOW CAN I TRACK MY SPIRITUAL GROWTH CREDITS?

    The Student is responsible for keeping track of all of their earned Spiritual Growth credits. There are two ways to do so: (1) Moodle LMS (QR Code) or (2) Written name and ID# (students need to check with the Student Life office to be sure the credit posts to their Moodle account).

    1. All other Spiritual Growth Credits are obtained and tracked using the Moodle Learning Management System ( Moodle LMS). When attending a Spiritual Growth event, use your smartphone to scan the QR code for the Spiritual Growth event you are attending. You can immediately view your uploaded credit on Moodle.
    2.  If you do not have a smartphone or if no QR code is available, be sure to communicate with the event host and provide that person your name and student ID number. The host will turn in your attendance within two business days. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm that their attendance was submitted to the Student Life Office. 
      CAN I HOST SPIRITUAL GROWTH PROGRAMS?

      Yes! Students are strongly encouraged to host Spiritual Growth programs. The Student Life office is happy to provide assistance for students establishing quality, substantive programming for their peers. We encourage students to exercise their creativity  in their programming according to their gifts, talents and passions.  If you’re interested in sponsoring an event for credit, please submit a Spiritual Growth Programming Request Form. The form will ask you questions to be sure your programming is robust.

      I am a Staff or Faculty member that wants to host a Spiritual Growth Opportunity.

      SPIRITUAL GROWTH & CHAPEL CREDIT EXEMPTION

      SPIRITUAL GROWTH & CHAPEL CREDIT EXEMPTION

      We want every student to experience God in the Chapel experience. However, if you believe your class schedule, internship experience, or other extenuating factor qualifies you for a chapel exemption, you can submit our Spiritual Growth Credit Exemption Form. Applications do not guarantee approval for exemption. See the stipulations and guidelines for Spiritual Growth exemption for the semester on the beginning of the form. Also, there are deadlines for applying for Spiritual Growth exemptions. If you do not apply for exemptions in the time allotted you will be responsible for completing the Spiritual Growth Credits for the semester.

      WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT COMPLETE THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH CREDITS FOR THE SEMESTER ?

      WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT COMPLETE THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH CREDITS FOR THE SEMESTER? 

      Spiritual Growth credits are a requirement for all traditional students. Students who accept enrollment at Warner University agree to the completion of Spiritual Growth credits each semester. Residential students must meet their 10 in-person chapel requirement and 11 other credits from various Spiritual Growth Opportunities (SGOs) offered through out the semester. Commuter students must meet their 16 spiritual growth credits through in-person, virtual chapels, and myriad of other events. A student who completes all Spiritual Growth Credits, but does not hit the chapel count will still fail. The same is true for a student who complete their Chapel requirements but not their other additional Spiritual Growth Credits. Students who do not complete the requirements within a semester will receive an “F” for that semester on their transcript. The following semester, an additional 4 credits will be added to the student’s requirements (Residential students, 25/ Commuter students, 20). Students who fail to achieve Spiritual Growth requirements for a second time, at any time during a student’s college career will be withdrawn from the Warner University. (Students who are withdrawn may write an appeal to the Dean of Students within 48 hours). All appeal decisions are final. Students may reapply for admissions after one full semester.

      Graduating seniors’ who do not complete their Spiritual Growth requirements may walk in the commencement ceremony, but the presidential conference of degrees will not apply to students who have failed to complete Spiritual Growth requirements, and the diploma will not be sent. Seniors may make up their Spiritual Growth credits by watching chapel services from the semester on YouTube and writing a two-page reflection paper for each unearned Spiritual Growth credit.  Students transferring away from Warner to other institutions will not leave Warner in good standing. If student’s return to Warner within two years they must complete two-page reflection papers for each unearned Spiritual Growth credit. After two years your case will be reviewed by the Dean of Students.