With refreshments and Bibles in hand, members of the Free Methodist Fellowship Group gather at 7 p.m. each Tuesday in Mauck Residence for a scripture-based Bible study.
Founded by junior Hannah Socolofsky and sophomore Adelaide Holmes, FMF is a gathering meant to bring students and adults in the Hillsdale community together.
“We wanted a way to integrate college students with other adults in the church,” Socolofsky said.
The group follows the Lectio Divina Bible study style, which consists of reading scripture twice together before splitting up and meditating over it individually. The group then discusse the passage as a group. This year, FMF is studying the Book of Hebrews.
“This structure has really allowed us to sit with Scripture, which has been a very unique experience for me,” Socolofsky said.
In addition to a Bible study, FMF meetings consist of fellowship over refreshments.
“We wanted to create a homey environment so the study feels like a place where you want to come and fellowship and learn about each other’s lives,” Socolofsky said.
The pair started the study after Holmes approached Socolofsky in the cafeteria and asked if she would be interested in creating a Bible study.
“It’s been cool to see how the Lord has brought us together as friends,” Holmes said. “We have very similar faiths and similar passions, and this Bible study shows that we have the same vision.”
The pair began planning for FMF during the spring semester of 2017. They hosted an introduction night at the end of the academic year and held their first official meeting on Sept. 5.
“It’s been a good turnout,” Holmes said. “We have had a pretty even split between adults and college students.”
Since the first meeting, Socolofsky and Holmes have received positive feedback from members of the church.
“We have had several adults in our church say, ‘This is a huge need in the church; this is an answer to our prayer,’” Socolofsky said.
Hillsdale Free Methodist Church’s pastor, Keith Porter, has also seen the positive effects of FMF.
“The Hillsdale Free Methodist family is looking forward to nurturing an even better relationship with the students of Hillsdale College,” Porter said. “The Free Meth Fellowship Group will go a long ways to making that possible.”
Although originally meant to unify the Free Methodist community, FMF welcomes people from all denominations.
“We would love it to grow because the conversations have been really edifying,” Holmes said. “We don’t want to limit that to people of a certain church.”
