Persecution, prayer, praise, promises—these four elements are the core of Secret Church. Many people at John Brown University have heard the phrase “Secret Church,” but few have understood what it is and why it is a secret if it is advertised to everyone on campus. Secret Church, presented to JBU students via Student Leadership Ministries Team (SMLT), is an opportunity to join the global Church in a fourth-of-a-day journey of intense scriptural study.
Yet, some students may also not be familiar with the organization on campus that presents such an event. Student Leadership Ministries Team (SMLT) is an organization that connects JBU students to opportunities to serve Christ. Frank Huebert, director of service and outdoor ministries, explained the history of SMLT. Huebert states “SMLT began in 2002 and grew out of CAUSE,” a group giving students on- and off-campus ministry opportunities. Huebert continued to state, “[A] new leadership team was created that brought all of these various streams of ministry together under one umbrella. SMLT was created by the Office of Christian Formation (the university chaplain at the time and Tracy Balzer, director of Christian formation).” In other words, SMLT resulted from the union of multiple CAUSE ministries the mission remaining the same—serving Christ.
Claire Mitchell, a two-year SMLT member, gives her reasons why she became a part of SMLT. “I decided to be a part of SMLT after experiencing the impact that it has had on my journey here at JBU. I have felt the impact and need for spiritual formation on campus, and I felt called to serve and continue to partner with the Lord in what he is doing on campus.” She said that she is part of the campus ministry team which “seeks to provide events or opportunities for students to spiritually grow and connect with each other in community.”
The reason for SMLT’s existence, Mitchell said, is “to cultivate intentional [faith-based] communities through scripture, prayer and fellowship … [which] happens through various SMLT sponsored activities including Growth Groups, CAUSE Ministries, Trips and Retreats.” One such activity includes the enigmatically named “Secret Church.”
SMLT is advertising this “Secret Church” because of its spiritual benefits to all who are looking for a special way to explore Christ with intense devotion. The publicity of such event appears to reflect the opposite effect of “Secret” in “Secret Church”. However, Mitchell explained why the event is named “Secret Church.” Mitchell said that “Secret Church is an event put on by Radical by David Platt. David Platt has been a missionary to foreign countries where Christianity is illegal or dangerous. Thus, Secret Church gets its name based off how this preaching event was done in different countries.” Mitchell explained that it is not a normal service as might be perceived in the United States: “Secret Church is not necessarily a church meeting the way we think about it. But instead, it is the action of the global Church coming together to recognize the persecution happening to the global church all over the world … Secret Church differs from church in the way that we understand it in the U.S. The event is set up to represent how persecuted areas have been forced to receive preaching in secret. Thus, it is an [six-hour] event with nonstop preaching.”
For those interested in attending this year’s Secret Church on campus, Mitchell said that SMLT will be hosting the event at the Missionary in Residence house off campus. (SMLT usually hosts Secret Church is at Simmons Hall). Chapel credit is not offered by attending this event. However, Mitchell gives JBU students a deeper, more Christ-central reason for attending Secret Church, stating that, “SMLT hopes that Secret Church inspires, informs and impacts the students that choose to come. It is no small thing to sacrifice six hours on a Friday night, so … those who come … will be mirroring the sacrifices that those across the globe have to make in order to hear the gospel.”
The secret is out: the Church is being persecuted around the world. SMLT invites JBU to join them for the annual Secret Church event to help pray for God’s Church around the world.
According to Radical’s website, “Secret Church is an opportunity for us to gather and intensely study the Bible and pray like and for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world … Participating in the Secret Church livestream is easy. You can stream from your church, home, office, or anywhere you have an internet connection.”
Photo courtesy of Akira Hojo at Unsplash