On Tuesday, Feb. 11, Delight, a Christian ministry for Union University women, gathered in Bowld 247 for their first meeting of the spring semester.
Delight is a national organization for Christian women students that started at Belmont University in Nashville. Delaney Sain, junior public relations major, first encountered Delight after the fall semester of her freshman year. She went home that Christmas break wishing she had discovered more opportunities to grow spiritually and to develop friendships at Union. This was when she came across Delight on Instagram.
After researching the ministry, Sain felt the Lord’s calling to establish a chapter at Union, and she decided to begin the process. As she prayed over it in the next few weeks, Sain began to see the word delight everywhere: during a sermon, while singing a song, in scripture she was reading, in her devotional or while talking to her friends. She said it felt like a sign.
Sain would have to wait another two years, however, until she saw her calling become a ministry. She recognized God teaching her to wait on his timing when he finally opened the door this past fall through Suzanne Rhodes, a junior journalism major at Union.
Rhodes discovered Delight through the dating quiz on their website. Then, this past summer, she met a girl at a camp who told Rhodes she should start her own chapter. Finally back at Union for the fall semester, she contacted Joe Ball about it who then directed her to Sain.
The two girls spent September and October figuring out logistics and getting approval from the board, and on Nov. 5 they had their first Delight night. That evening, they waited in anticipation to see if any girls would come, and Rhodes said they saw the Lord’s blessing as more than 60 girls filled the room.
They continued to meet every Tuesday night through the rest of the semester. Now that classes have resumed after the long break, Delight is able to start meeting again and continue growing together.
So, this past Tuesday, girls from all across campus joined together in a room decorated with Christmas lights, lamps, blankets all over the floor, a balloon arch, picture wall and a snack table with M&M popcorn. In this comfortable and joyful atmosphere, every girl was welcomed. Rhodes and Sain both stressed how they seek to create unity in Delight among girls from all different walks of faith, denominations, personalities and campus organizations.
They kicked off their first week back with a video message from the founders of Delight and an introduction to Union’s chapter leadership team: Rhodes, Sain, sophomore social work major Lydia Cyrus and freshman conservation biology major Hadie Sowell. Then, the girls split into smaller groups and discussed their desire for Christ-centered friendships, things the Lord is teaching them, how they can be held accountable, heavy things weighing on their hearts and the joys and exciting moments they are holding to right now. The room filled with conversation and laughter as girls shared their hearts with one another.
“What’s so cool about Delight is that everyone has their own story, and you’re able to sort of share your story and the way that the Lord has transformed your story without even realizing that you’re sharing your story,” said Sain. “You’re able to come as you are, share your story, grow from your story and see the Lord’s faithfulness through that.”
According to Rhodes and Sain, the discussion groups are one of the most important aspects of Delight this semester because they allow the girls to go deeper and really get to know how God is moving in one another.
“Every time I go to Delight, I leave encouraged by hearing how the Lord is working in each woman’s life in a unique way. I need the fellowship of women who are willing to be real and vulnerable so that we can grow together in unity,” said Maddie Steele, a freshman journalism major. “At the kickoff on Tuesday, I felt like I had a place where my brokenness was welcome and where I could see God’s faithful hand at work.”
This semester, they will also begin having Delight Dates, which are an opportunity for girls who may have never met before to get to know one another. Two names are selected at random from all the girls in attendance, then those two girls will exchange contact information and plan to meet one day later in the week. They can get coffee, have a meal, just talk or really anything to help them connect with one another. Sain hopes Delight Dates will be more than just a one-time event and that they will grow into real friendships.
“My favorite part about last night was probably connecting with my Delight Date,” said Anna Thompson, a freshman social work major. “I’ve never met her before, and I don’t know how we would’ve met without Delight. I would love to see an intentional and close community of Christian women brought together. I can already see this community being built through Delight Dates.”
The leadership team plans to continue drawing new pairs every other week. Another new aspect to Delight is the study on the book of John that the girls will go through together. During the week, they will complete the chapters in the book, and on Tuesdays, the group will review it together. Each week, one of the leaders will also share a part of her testimony as it relates to what they read.
“It’s a thriving community that allows girls to pursue a closer relationship with Christ and godly girls on campus,” said TriciaClare Griffin, a freshman Biblical Studies and Languages major. “I am so excited to dive into intentional worship and study the gospel of John through this ministry this semester.”
Delight will continue to meet and grow in fellowship every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Bowld 247.
This is awesome!!!! Great article and so excited that Delight is at UU!!!