Institute for GOD

Sister chapel with !!

We were so blessed to host our friends from Midsouth Christian College on campus this month. Our staff has long enjoyed our friendship with President Nick Griffin, and we were happy to introduce our students to his staff and students on our campus!

Safe to say our students are obsessed with their new friends. We had too much fun to take a proper group pic. Thank you for visiting, for your anointed worship, for preaching the Word and fellowshipping with us !

Very proud of our students who have been ministering at the Davidson County Jail. As a part of our ministry formation program, students get exposure to a wide variety of contexts, learning the practical aspects of ministry right here in Nashville.

Over the course of the semester, students have toured the facility, met with leadership, and trained alongside those serving there day to day. Now, they are leading Bible studies, contributing to life-skills conversations, and helping meet practical needs—from clothing for court dates and release to reading glasses and other requested items.

One of the most notable aspects of the Davidson County Jail is its Behavioral Care Center—the first of its kind in Tennessee. It provides a trauma-informed response to situations that might otherwise be treated strictly as disciplinary issues, addressing underlying mental health needs while maintaining safety and structure.

Students have been working through the book of Philippians with inmates and hearing responses like:
“We really need hope.”
“It’s been a while since we got to sit in a Bible study like this.”

This is the goal—students learning ministry by actually doing it, under the leadership of people who have committed their work to this context every day.

Grateful for this partnership and the opportunity for our students to step into it. Please keep them in your prayers!

Students and staff enjoyed an intimate viewing of the documentary PLAINSPOKEN, co-produced, filmed, and edited by Institute alumni Chris Cameron. We had a meaningful dialogue about racism, injustice, and the call to daily follow Jesus by loving our neighbors in dignifying ways.

Chris shared his experience making the film, his observations of Plains, and how his biblical education prepared him to tell stories like this one, and hopefully many more to come.

It is a powerful film! If you haven’t yet seen it, you can watch on PBS or rent or buy Amazon Prime. Well done !!

Our collab Theater Club with The Arts at Center Street has brought so much joy to our student body!

Enjoy these behind the scenes glimpses of their rehearsals and get ready for their production of Peter and the Starcatcher May 14-17! Yes, there are swords. ⚔️

You can read more about this on The Institute Blog or get tickets at theartsatcenterstreet.org

Jesus endured the darkest parts of human life and let darkness swallow him.

Then God said, it’s not the end.

Welcome our 2026 Student Government!

Students Emma Lyons, Tyler Worlow, and Zion Avery were elected to serve our student body and we are so excited to welcome them!