Fresh Space, More Snacks

The purpose of the Spiritual Life Center on the Oklahoma Christian University campus is to support students’ mental and emotional well-being in addition to their spiritual health. While this definition encompasses a vast range of roles, in respect to what they do for the campus, Sarah Bailey, Spiritual Life Mentor, put it this way:

“We want to do life with you guys, and if we want to talk about silly things, wonderful. I’m always down for silly, but also, if life gets hard and you need someone to just talk to, that’s what we’re there for too,” Bailey said.

Over the past three years, the Spiritual Life Center consisted of only two people: Scott Young and Bailey. Both worked out of an office space up on the second floor of the library, enabling students effortless access to resources and faculty. 

Bailey commented, “Our office was across from the Brew, [and] that was a really, really great place for us. We were able to be convenient for the students and then intentional with the time we got when they could come in to say ‘hey,’ or get a snack.” Bailey said. “We’d be really intentional with conversations and start building relationships.”

Many changes have been made around campus: remodels, new hires, and policy changes, and the Spiritual Life Center was not left behind.

“It was proposed to us this summer to move here, and then we expanded our Spiritual Life Center to incorporate more than just the two of us,” Bailey said. “A part of that conversation was [also] wanting Spiritual Life to have a bigger presence on campus, instead of an office.”

Now Spiritual Life encompasses much more than just “an office.” Relocated from the Mabee Learning Center to the Williams-Branch Center for Biblical Studies, the new space has expanded into an entire corridor, complete with a lounge space. Not only that, but a separate Minister’s Lounge has been added as well as the TCK one down the hall. Programs such as the TCK group and people such as the Associate Director of Church Relations Rick Odell and Major Gifts Officer Amanda Noblin are now included within the sphere of the Spiritual Life Center. Even physical changes were made to the west wing of the WBC building. 

“All new lights, all new flooring… and then they knocked out a couple of walls to open up space,” Bailey said. “It is a really inviting space.”

The fresh room for Spiritual Life has been an exciting new addition for the faculty members. Furnished with couches, a kitchenette, and a table, the area is flexible for many events. Although the room does not have a declared purpose, it has already seen a wide variety of users. Ranging from an irregular casual class meeting to a regular Bible study, it has become a versatile space. Not really intended as a games and noisy party area, although the TCK lounge was recommended for that, it is the intention that, as Bailey explained,

“If someone needs a place to hide and study, it is going to be a little quieter back in here,” Bailey said

Grace Burk, an early childhood education and elementary major, said, “It is really cute. So fun and colorful back there. A nice little spot for studying. I love the people, special shout-out to Amanda Noblin, who always says hi to me when I see her.”

When asked about the bright neon sign reading “Cookie Time” hung up in one of the outside facing office windows, Bailey said,

“Well, I mentioned earlier the conveniences of being across from the brew, and I pride myself on having a good snack cart. So I needed more of an enticement to get students to come all the way over here,” Bailey said. “I make cookies every day, and when they are fresh out of the oven, I turn on the light.”

The placing of the sign was strategic, as Bailey explained. It is possible to see the sign clearly from the Brew windows, and the idea is that students can get their coffee and come over to grab a cookie too. Whether it is an enticement for more students or simply a snack on the way to class, it is the hope that through this proverbial cookie jar, someday students will stick around and visit.