Kathryn Spadafora
Equinox Staff
Christian Life at Keene State
I’m a Christian. These are three words I have often been afraid to say here at Keene State College. It’s no secret that Keene State is a largely atheist school. Few professors discuss religion or faith in classes, and even fewer discuss it in a positive light. My freshman year, I felt as though I was the only student on campus with faith, and was often laughed or scoffed at when students learned about my religion. My Bible which I carried (and still carry) in my backpack became a source of shame to be hidden. And every Sunday I walked to church alone with a constant longing to find a friend my own age to go with.
This was one of numerous reasons I decided to take a leave of absence spring semester my freshman year, and when I came back to campus in the fall I was determined to make a change. I was lucky enough to find a roommate who was also Christian and invited me to church with her. Since then, I have found a plethora of opportunities for Christian life here at Keene State.
The first of these is CRU, or the Campus Crusade for Christ—a group of Christian students who gather from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday evenings. During this time we play games, enjoy snacks and beverages, catch up on the happenings of the week and take prayer requests for one another before doing a Bible study and discussion. All interested students are welcome to this small family, which not only offers students an opportunity to discuss their faith and learn about the word of Jesus Christ but also connect with a group of like-minded individuals who look after one another and pray for each other’s needs. This is a bond I never expected to make here at Keene State, and now I cherish it greatly.
Many members of CRU also participate in Friday morning Bible study at the DC, which also includes members from Sturtevant Chapel and Elm City Church. A men’s study is held at 7 a.m. and a ladies’s study at 8 a.m., over coffee and breakfast. Once done eating, a specific Bible passage will be chosen to read aloud and discussed.
Slightly off campus is REACH—a Christian group that meets on Monday evenings and is an alternative to CRU for students who are looking for a larger gathering. Students who wish to participate can be picked up outside Hoot ‘n Scoot at 6:30 p.m. and dropped off back on campus around 8:30 p.m.
All of these organizations are wonderful opportunities for Christian students on or near campus, and Keene also offers a variety of churches within walking distance of campus. Some include: Sturtevant Chapel (Nondenominational), The United Church of Christ in Keene (Congregational), Saint Bernard’s (Catholic), Saint James (Episcopal), Elm City Church (Evangelical), Next Level Church (Nondenominational), Saint George (Greek Orthodox), Keene Unitarian Universalist Church (Unitarian Universalist), First Baptist Church of Keene (Baptist), Trinity Lutheran Church (Lutheran), Monadnock Covenant Church (Evangelical), Crossway Church (Nondenominational), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) and Hope Chapel (Foursquare/Trinitarian).
If you have any questions regarding faith or Christian life here on campus, please feel welcome to contact the following students for further information.
Katie Spadafora- Kathryn.Spadafora@ksc.keene.edu
Sarah Ruest- Sarah.Ruest@ksc.keene.edu
Sam Henry- Samuel.Henry@ksc.keene.edu
Melody Crist- Melody.Crist@ksc.keene.edu
Kathryn Spadafora can be contacted at kspadafora@kscequinox.com
