November 3, 2026
By Kennedie Cadman (BA 28)
Making friends and finding community is one of the biggest concerns new college students have going into their first year. Here at Grace, we work to make that transition easier through programs that connect you with your fellow students. One of these programs is growth groups. Growth groups are held weekly on Wednesday nights with the members of your hall, and are led by upperclassman growth group leaders, or GGLs. Growth groups are required for first-year students, but all students are welcome and encouraged to attend! In growth groups, students study the Bible based on the chapel theme for the year, connect with their hallmates, and participate in lots of fun events and activities.
One of the ways that Grace’s growth groups help students grow spiritually is through christian mentorship. GGLs work hard to make connections with the students in their growth groups and lead them in the way of Christ. They work alongside the RA to build a community on the hall. Andi Berkemeier is a second year student with a double major in English education and youth ministry, and she is a GGL in Westminster Hall. When asked about her experience as a student and a GGL in growth groups she had a lot to say about spiritual mentorship:
“It ended up being a space where we were honest and vulnerable with each other, and that was really helpful because before coming to college, I was always very hesitant to share. Having that space was really cool.”
Berkemeier went on to say how her experience attending growth groups as a freshman helped her be able to lead and mentor well as a GGL as a sophomore. “Because of growth groups last year, I’m more willing to open up about some parts of my life and have the ability to lead by example and see all the residents lean into it, too.” Berkemeier says that is her goal as a GGL — to build an environment where people can be vulnerable with each other and feel supported and uplifted.
When asked about the biggest impact that growth groups had on them, students talked most about the community they found through growth groups.
One of the best parts about Grace is that students are surrounded by people in a similar stage of life and with similar beliefs to theirs. Being able to connect with people on a spiritual level makes your friendship with them stronger, and this is especially true in growth groups. Through christian mentorship, students are able to grow in their faith while building relationships with people who can encourage and support them along the way.
Growth groups help students connect and relate to each other’s problems. Sometimes at college, especially as a first year student, it is easy to feel alone. Asher Cadman is a current first year business management student at Grace. He said that the most important part of growth groups for him has been the way that he and the other students in his growth group have been able to relate to each other and connect through their struggles.
“It’s really easy to get caught up in that lonely mindset when you’re struggling with something, but at growth groups, we open up and talk about our problems, and you realize that most people are also struggling with the same things,” said Cadman. “Being around other people that share the same beliefs as you and are going through a lot of the same things as you — it can be a big help to go to growth groups for that.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 calls believers to “encourage one another and build one another up” (ESV), and at growth groups, we do just that.
One of the most exciting ways that growth groups foster community and christian mentorship is through special events. One of these events is Hall T-shirt Chapel, where growth groups from each residence hall perform skits in competition with the other residence halls to win the grand prize – a giant stuffed fish! Growth groups also hold worship nights and larger events on campus. One of the most fun growth group events is Supermarket Sweep, an annual competition between growth groups to see who can earn the most money to purchase items for local food banks. Growth groups do a lot of good and have a lot of fun!
Grace is not just a christian college; it is a Christ-centered community. Growth groups are just one of the many ways that we foster this Christ-centered community at Grace. Learn more about how Grace builds this community through other campus clubs and student involvement opportunities. If you are looking for a christian college with a focus on christian mentorship and community, come to Grace and experience it for yourself!
