Student Life Spiritual Life

Spiritual Life

We pay special attention to developing the practice of godliness that will prepare you for whatever the Lord may have in store. In addition to the richness of your studies, local church community, and friendships here at TEDS, we have some wonderful opportunities to aid your spiritual formation and growth.

TEDS Chapel

Wednesdays, 11:00am –11:50am in the A. T. Olson Chapel.

Worship is at the heart of the Christian life and at the heart of our mission as a university! Chapel plays a crucial role in forming us into a community whose lives please God, thereby shaping us to offer all that we know and do as a means of glorifying him. For all students, attending Chapels is an encouraging break from classes throughout the week – a chance to be grounded in God’s word, lifted up by the support of other students, faculty and staff and challenged by speakers, reflection and conversation.

The preaching of the Word is a prominent part of chapel. Trinity is blessed to have a wide variety of speakers from among TEDS faculty, as well as highly respected leaders from around the world.

Chapel Lectures

Spiritual Formation Groups

Formation Groups are important to our students’ personal, spiritual, and ministry development. As a place for informal, faculty-led discussion, prayer, and mentoring, Formation Groups complement more formal education and offer a warm place for mutual encouragement and fellowship in the context of ministry and theological education.

Formation groups at TEDS are guided by two main objectives:

  • GROW TOGETHER IN BIBLICAL WISDOM: By bringing Scripture, theology, and history to bear on relevant personal, ministry, cultural, and sociopolitical issues.
  • GROW TOGETHER IN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATIONAL SKILLS: By engaging in the building of relationships, mutual ministry, and service to others; providing encouragement and accountability with those who share the unique challenges of ministry and theological education.

Our students meet weekly in a small group led by a faculty member. Participation in Formation Groups is required for MDiv students as a part of the candidacy process. However, other master’s program students are encouraged to attend. Participation in two semesters of Formation Group can serve to fulfill one field education requirement in those programs. In addition, some Formation Groups also serve as a time of gathering for TEDS campus organizations, such as Mosaic Fellowship.

Mosaic Ministries

As people entrusted with the Gospel, TEDS Mosaic Ministries aims to advance the ministry of reconciliation and renewal by equipping students, developing resources, and creating new networks.

Through our weekly Mosaic Gathering, we desire to equip our learning community as ambassadors for Christ in the ministry of reconciliation around topics and issues currently affecting our communities. We hope to model how the church can create space for dialogue, learning, and mission around these challenging areas. Short talks are presented and are expanded through table discussions with fellowship meals.

We also offer the Mosaic Cohort Scholarship experience for those seeking a deeper learning experience in the ministry of reconciliation. Recipients experience spiritual formation and leadership development. We also provide opportunities for like-minded mentor-to-peer and peer-to-peer relationships.

More About Mosaic Ministries

Local Church

TEDS encourages our students to connect with a local church if they are new to the area. We are committed to seeing our community active in the church while in school.

Every October, the Ministry Networking EXPO is held on campus. Representatives from a number of denominations come to primarily meet with TEDS students who are interested in ministry placement in these traditions. This is a great opportunity for students to interact and connect with representatives from church and ministry networks and various denominations! In recent years, representatives from Presbyterian, Covenant, Methodist, Baptist, Full Gospel, Evangelical Free, Mennonite, Assemblies of God, Anglican, and other denominations have attended.

Certain student-led groups encourage you to connect and grow in your faith and knowledge with others as part of your Trinity experience. Student groups meet regularly on campus around common interests and concerns.

About Student Groups

Families on Campus

We believe that campus life can positively affect the lives of children and spouses as well as students. The friendships and community built here while living on campus provide strong foundations for a lifetime of ministry connections and partnerships.

Learn more about how we support student families by connecting them with opportunities on campus, in the local community, to Chicagoland, and beyond.

More about Families on Campus

Student Life Office

Contact us at [email protected]

Visit Us

Visit our main location in Deerfield, Illinois. We want to welcome you personally to campus and let you experience TEDS for yourself. See for yourself why TEDS is regularly listed as one of the top evangelical seminaries in the U.S.

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Choosing the right school is an important step on your educational journey. Our team is here to help! We want to make the process of learning about Trinity’s programs, degrees and admissions process as hassle-free as possible.

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Combining unrivaled academic rigor with a wholehearted commitment to gospel fidelity and an abundance of flexible options, TEDS offers a theological education that equips you to serve Christ with wisdom and grace, in truth and love.

A Singular Vision

TEDS has formally begun the process of joining Trinity Western University as its seminary.