God is on the move: Paradigm student ministry grows fast in fall 2024

BY ANNABETH JOHNSON / Multimedia Journalist 

Students are now settled into their schedules and might find that they have some free time on their hands. Paradigm hosts Bible study and worship at 8 p.m. on Thursdays and welcomes everyone to join. 

Paradigm is a nondenominational college ministry that meets weekly with hundreds of other college students to praise God and learn about the Bible.

Paradigm’s main objective is that through its instruction of the lessons in the Bible, students will be confident to share Jesus’s story with the world. 

The ministry has seen an incredible  growth in attendance during the first half of the fall semester.

Paradigm’s growth has been  measured by  students returning each week and responding to the teachings in the Bible in ways that have changed their lives. 

Drake Wayland, the college pastor at Paradigm, expands on the causes of the growth within the ministry. 

“The first thing is that God has showed up. It is something that we’ve prayed for,” Wayland said. “Secondly, everyone in our ministry is running in the same direction. We are all following the vision that I casted of evangelism. So we can see Jesus change the hearts and lives of students on Tarleton’s campus. My prayer is that we will continue to be faithful with what God has given us so that we will continue to see growth.”

Kyle Earp is a senior at Tarleton State University and has been going to Paradigm for a few years. He is in his second year as a Challenge Group Leader which is a Bible study class.

“I think people keep coming and staying at Paradigm because I think they feel God moving in our ministry,” Earp said. “This semester we have really opened up to the spirit and have a vision that is aligned with God’s will. People see that and they feel that so they are responding to that.” 

Paradigm begins at 8 p.m. every Thursday night at 555 W Washington St. Stephenville, Texas 76401. Visit https://www.paradigmtsu.com/ for more information.