Paul Patrick leads Bible study

Erskine College and Seminary Chaplain Paul Patrick led the first "Student Fellowship at the Barn" Sunday evening at his home near Due West. Patrick, his wife Marie and their two children greeted the 140 students who signed up to attend the event, which included a cookout, music, and Bible study.

"We had more students than we expected," said Patrick. "Special thanks go to Randy Moore of ARAMARK, who graciously agreed to provide the meal." Patrick said a student ministry team and student musicians helped make the evening a success.

Patrick is conducting a Bible study with a twist during the Sunday night series. "We're playing off the movie The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, " he said. In the movie, set in an alternatve universe in 1900, Queen Victoria assembles a team of fictional heroes to save the world from destruction.

"Our study is called 'The League of Ordinary Gentlemen' and will be a look at the truly ordinary men and women God used throughout the Bible," Patrick said. "We began with the fourth chapter of Acts, in which the first Christians are seen as unschooled, ordinary people who were used by God to turn the world upside down."

Patrick said he believes the study should give students hope. "My personal goal is to orient students to the whole story of redemption in the Bible," he said. "As they see God as the real hero of every text, they can reach an understanding of the doctrine of grace."

The students are using the Reformed University Fellowship hymnbook, Patrick said, in which the lyrics of the great hymns of the church are set to contemporary music. "The students love it," he said, adding that some Erskine students will be attending the Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) regional conference Sept. 26-28 at Camp Greystone in Hendersonville, N.C.

Patrick was encouraged by the large turnout. "We hope to continue the Sunday night fellowship out at our property as long as the weather permits," he said. "During the winter we plan to move back onto the campus and discontinue the meal."

Students flip burgers

Students get ready to eat


Students gather at the Patricks' barn