{"id":31794,"date":"2025-08-03T21:28:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T01:28:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/?p=31794"},"modified":"2025-08-04T16:19:40","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T20:19:40","slug":"more-than-a-dozen-students-chosen-to-reside-in-the-discipleship-living-learning-center-at-tusculum-university-in-its-first-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2025\/more-than-a-dozen-students-chosen-to-reside-in-the-discipleship-living-learning-center-at-tusculum-university-in-its-first-year\/","title":{"rendered":"16 students chosen to reside in the Discipleship Living-Learning Center at Tusculum University in its first year"},"content":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 A new initiative at Tusculum University<\/a> that will enable students to enhance their faith by living in community with others who share the same interest has already attracted 16 students.<\/h3>\n
\"Dr.

Dr. David Cook, right, and the Rev. E.J. Swatsell stand in front of the male house of the Discipleship Living-Learning Center.<\/p><\/div>\n

Leaders of the Discipleship Living-Learning Center are still speaking with other students who might want to choose housing that focuses on spiritual development along with academic growth. Meanwhile, Tusculum is busy preparing the two university-owned houses that will be used \u2013 one for males and the other for females \u2013 by making any necessary modifications. Community members are helping supply some of the key items for the houses.<\/p>\n

Dr. David Cook, provost and vice president of academic affairs, is pleased with the progress and interest the center has attained already as it enters its first full year of operation. New students will begin moving into the center Thursday, Aug. 14, and any returning students who will live there will arrive that weekend.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m extremely excited about what is happening and look forward to seeing these students\u2019 love for the Lord become even stronger,\u201d Dr. Cook said. \u201cThe Discipleship Living-Learning Center is a special ministry that is not available everywhere, so the students who choose to accept the call to expand their faith through community with others will have an exceptional collegiate experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Details about the Discipleship Living-Learning Center<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Discipleship Living-Learning Center, which falls under the umbrella of the Christian Leadership Institute, enables first- and second-year students to live in the university houses. They will engage in Bible study, including learning from local pastors and other Christian leaders, and participate in other ministry activities.<\/p>\n

One of those activities that is in the works is a discipleship weekend, likely in January, for high school students. Students from the center will serve in a variety of camp-type leadership roles during that weekend to help the event run smoothly and enrich the lives of attendees.<\/p>\n

\"The

The Rev. E.J. Swatsell paints the porch of the male house of the Discipleship Living-Learning Center.<\/p><\/div>\n

Students who live in the center will also have plenty of opportunities to participate in other ministries on campus. In fact, the Rev. E.J. Swatsell, director of spiritual life and special projects at Tusculum, said center residents will be encouraged to embrace those avenues.<\/p>\n

Living with the first- and second-year students in the center will be older students, who will serve as peer mentors. These mentors will hold weekly discipleship sessions with the younger students, assist with operation of the Bible sessions and help students with any other spiritual resources they need. Rio Little is serving as the mentor for male students, and Kieley Smith is handling that role for females. Both are juniors.<\/p>\n

The idea is that after living in one of the houses for a year or two, the younger students might become a peer mentor or pursue some other ministry role on campus. The Christian Leadership Institute is a multi-phase initiative, and the second phase calls for the creation of discipleship assistants in the university\u2019s residence halls.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.

Dr. David Cook stands on the porch of the male house for the Discipleship Living-Learning Center and prepares to paint a section of it.<\/p><\/div>\n

Students who live in the center or serve as peer mentors qualify for a $2,000 scholarship.<\/p>\n

Swatsell shares Dr. Cook\u2019s joy about the center.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the pinnacle of my career in ministry because I\u2019m on the ground level of developing something that will have a positive impact on our university and the community,\u201d Swatsell said. \u201cBeing involved with the Discipleship Living-Learning Center in a significant role is important to me. I think we\u2019re going to establish community leaders who are focused on developing relationships \u2013 first with Christ but then with each other in that atmosphere. If you can enter the workforce with a base of working well with others in a biblical mindset, there is potential that could have a positive impact on our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Incoming students and preparations for a house<\/strong><\/p>\n

Students who will live in the center include:<\/p>\n