Every Monday, between 2:15-3:15, the chapel is transformed in more ways than one. Where a row of office chairs once stood, a circle takes its place. Then the students start coming in. Slowly at first, but soon every chair in the circle is taken, by either a person or their school bag. This is the beginning of Bible Study Club, a new student organization founded by Senior Andrew Schuetz and run by DePaul College Prep’s Mission and Ministry.

At DePaul Prep, there is a school-wide policy that seniors can’t found clubs. Even though Schuetz leads the meetings, it’s technically not his club, or a club at all. It’s an organization that is run by the Mission and Ministry department at DePaul Prep. Schuetz asked Florence Merkl-Deutsch, Director of Mission and Ministry at DePaul College Prep, for permission to start Bible Study and she approved. “Andrew had incredible energy, vision and a skill set that we just had to tap into,” said Merkl-Deutsch.

Merkl-Deutsch tried to create a similar club in the past but it failed since it wasn’t peer-led. “Sometimes when a group is initiated by an adult in the building, we have a hard time getting people engaged,” she said. Schuetz agrees that with a student leading Bible Study, “it could actually work.” In order to get the word out, Schuetz personally invited students to join the emerging club and spoke on the announcements. Since then, Bible Study has become a group of students who are committed to the club and to their faith.

Bible Study is not just a club for upperclassmen. Instead, there’s an eclectic mix of all grade levels. Meeting attendance has hovered around the 15 person mark since the club’s first meeting on January 27th. Meetings start with an icebreaker or game, like Scattergories. After, the group dives into a reading from the New Testament, discussing the chosen passage’s meaning and application to their lives.

The goal of Bible Study? To create a place where students can grow their faith and deepen their relationship with God. Schuetz was inspired after hearing about other faith clubs in high schools in the Chicago area.

“I heard about Christian clubs at other schools in the city, like Northside and Lane, [and] saw how they were bringing the faith community closer together,” says Schuetz.

Although it’s a space where students discuss scripture, Bible Study is not meant to be an exclusive community. “I want it to be somewhere where you can be wherever you are in the walk.” In Christianity, “the walk” refers to a person’s faith journey.  “All are welcome!” says Merkl-Deutsch. Her only requirement is that students should, “just be open and curious!”

Junior Regan Stecz says, “it’s a really comfortable setting. Everyone there is kind, so sharing aspects of our faith isn’t challenging.”  It’s a dynamic community that works together, and gives support to strengthen and explore students faith.

“Andrew leads each meeting but incorporates feedback from the group and from me during the preparation process,” says Merkl-Deutsch. Every member of Bible Study is directly involved in their own faith experience.

After Schuetz graduates, the club won’t leave with him. Merkl-Deutsch plans to continue the club next year and work with students who plan to stay committed to Bible Study next year.