Olivet Theological College & Seminary wants to provide an atmosphere of spiritual enrichment through Christian living, allowing students, staff, faculty, and administration to receive the power of the Holy Spirit and live emboldened by Jesus Christ. Olivet challenges every community member to live totally committed to Jesus Christ, in the image of the apostles and saints of the early church. Students should honor Christ and express love for him by assuming his humility and attitude of self-sacrifice, revealed through a life of faithful service. To this end, Olivet Theology College & Seminary actively seeks to cultivate the habit of continuous scriptural study and the practice of discipleship in our students.
The chapel program assists in the spiritual development of students’ Christian character: spirit, mind, and body. As a vital activity for which the Olivet Theological College & Seminary community meets regularly, Chapel contributes significantly to the spiritual development for students. Consequently, Chapel is viewed as an integral part of the Olivet experience.
Olivet Theological College & Seminary students are required to attend Chapel, which is held every Tuesday and Thursday. Students should have a participatory attitude towards worship. There are approximately 30 chapel services or convocations offered each semester. Attendance at chapels and school-wide convocations is required during each quarter at Olivet.
Absences due to “extended” illness, referring to sickness or injury from which a student is either hospitalized or unable to attend class for a week, can be excused. Absences due to the death of a family member, or participation in jury duty, are excusable in a similar manner. Absences for any other reason will not be excused. Students will only need to excuse the difference between chapels taken and required, not between chapels taken and offered.
For online students, broadcasted Chapel will be uploaded in the Chapel Classroom of MyOlivet. Attendance at chapels and school-wide convocations is required during each quarter of enrollment at Olivet.
Daily “Quiet Time”
Olivet encourages students to devote time each day to bible reading, “Quiet Time,” meditation, and prayer. However, this foundation of biblical knowledge should not be the end, but rather the start of a deepening relationship with the scriptures. Such a relationship requires reflection, especially in the forms of meditation and writing. To achieve this end, the Olivet Theology College & Seminary community collectively engages in “Quiet Time” (QT) at the beginning of each day to meditate on the scriptures.
Prayer
Olivet Theology College & Seminary strongly encourages students to maintain a daily prayer-time. Students can participate in “Set-time prayer,” a prayer given at a specific time of day over a period of time. Students can also do “Continuous prayer,” which can be done spontaneously. The Chapel is open for morning and evening prayers to the entire community.
Fasting
Fasting is abstaining from food for a period of time in order to master the cravings of the physical realm, thus opening ourselves to the spiritual world. Fasting is more than a diet adjustment- it involves spiritual intensity and prayer intercession. Fasting should always be accompanied with prayer, meditation, and scriptural study.
Anyone may fast voluntarily for a personal prayer topic or for self-discipline. However, students are strongly advised to counsel with the Olivet Chaplain or the Dean of Students before deciding to fast.
Evangelizing
Olivet Theology College & Seminary desires to train disciples of Jesus Christ to serve as leaders in Christian mission and ministry. Thus, Olivet’s community members should not conclude by knowing God. Rather, they must practice the teachings of the scriptures by actively seeking to make Him known to the world. To this end, Olivet Theology College & Seminary strongly encourages students to incorporate daily evangelism into their academic and personal routines.
