Founded last semester, Delight Ministries continues to embrace students on campus.
The group was started to invite Lipscomb’s female students into a community centered on God, rest, and good friends.
Junior Sinney Chan heard about Delight through chapter’s president, Haley Gilliland. As an international student from China, Chan struggled to find her place not only within American culture, but within religion.
Sinney said she never knew where to start when it came to God. She tried to immerse herself in many clubs and service groups on Lipscomb’s campus but never felt like it was the right fit.
After becoming close with Gilliland, Chan knew that the girls in Delight would welcome and accept her just as her friend had.
After a few meetings with the Delight group, Sinney was asked to join the team and help lead the close-knit bible group.
“It helped me to see the love of God for all of us, regardless of gender, race, or age,” she said. “Delight has allowed me see the seeds that has God planted in our life, and how God is impacting us on a daily basis.”
Chan attends weekly meetings on Wednesday nights, as well as bonding events that Delight provides, including weekend bonfires and laid-back sleepovers.
Sinney said that since finding her faith freshman year, it has dwindled and wavered.
“Study abroad was a really difficult time for me,” she said. “I was running low on a lot of things, faith in God being one. Delight has allowed me to see how God is a part of each girl’s life, including my own.
“Because of Delight, I learned to appreciate God’s presence and I’m more grateful for each event that has happened in my life. Delight gave me the opportunity to be vulnerable with girls that I didn’t know very well before.”
Sinney said that the Wednesday night meeting is the anchor of her week, giving her fuel and encouragement to take on the rest of the week.
Not only does Chan use Delight to find her identity in the Lipscomb community, but said she also uses it to experience and dive deeper into her faith and trust in God.
“It is very powerful to see how strong a community can be when a group of people are dedicated to spread God’s words and wisdom, and their own story,” she said. “If we tell our story well and create a safe space for each other it could have a huge impact in the community.”