Exploring beliefs, building connections: Students reflect on BIFL
Bethel College seniors share how the Basic Issues in Faith and Life (BIFL) course has helped them grow spiritually, connect with classmates, and rethink their perspectives.
Every senior at Bethel College is required to take Basic Issues in Faith and Life (BIFL) as part of their graduation requirements. This four-credit, upper-level course invites students to thoughtfully engage with complex questions surrounding faith, personal identity, beliefs, and issues going on in the broader world. Through guided readings, in-depth discussions, and personal reflection, students are encouraged to critically examine their beliefs, listen to diverse perspectives, and cultivate a deeper understanding of how faith intersects with everyday life.
This year, students read the book of Isaiah and So We and Our Children May Live by Sarah Augustine and Sheri Hostetler – two texts that opened doors to reflection on matters like justice, responsibility, action, and community. Designed to foster meaningful dialogue, BIFL equips students with insights and tools that continue to impact them long after graduation.
Through this course, many students gained meaningful knowledge and perspective. April Powls, a senior from Garnett, reflected on how BIFL introduced her to unfamiliar scripture and helped her rethink how she views her peers. “I had never read all the way through the book of Isaiah so it was really interesting to learn about prophecies and visions that Isaiah writes about.” She added, “I learned so much about my friends and classmates. Up until BIFL I had preconceived ideas of who they were, but this class helped me to see them differently.”
Jordan Twenter, a senior from Independence, Mo. also experienced a shift in how he views others, and stated, “I learned a lot about what I believe in, but nothing new about the topic. The main new thing for me was seeing what others believe in and understanding their reasoning.”
For some students, the course also became a way to reconnect with personal faith practices. Eddie Gaeddert, a senior from Goessel, touched on his perspective on faith and spirituality by sharing, “I have always been a believer, but I have struggled with reading scripture, so it helped me a lot to actually get into the Bible.”
Josh Leinbach, a senior from Hesston, had similar thoughts on this matter, “Growing up in a Mennonite family, attending church every Sunday and regularly reading the Bible was a central part of my life. However, I often found it challenging to truly engage with the text on a deeper level. This class, especially our study of Isaiah, transformed the way I approach scripture.”
With the course’s emphasis on discussion, many students found themselves growing not just in faith, but in communication and interpersonal skills as well. Powls shared, “It is almost completely discussion based which is not something you are going to get in other classes and is such great practice for preparing to talk about your own ideas out there in the real world.”
Powls also emphasized the community-building aspect of the course, “It is a great way to connect with people you do not usually interact with who might be more similar to you than you think.”
Gaeddert echoed this point, emphasizing the importance of hearing perspectives that differ from his own. “BIFL is mostly about talking with people who have different opinions than you, you get a sense of other views and it really helps broaden your horizons”.
BIFL has been a core part of Bethel’s curriculum for many years, with numerous students and professors contributing to its ongoing impact. Assistant Professor of Bible and Religion, Peter Goerzen—one of the instructors of BIFL—shared his perspective on the course, “We depend on each other to do theology well, so we have to show up having done the reading and prepared to discuss it thoughtfully. We learn in conversation with each other, and from each other’s perspectives.”
For future seniors preparing to take the class, Goerzen offered this advice, “If you invest in yourself deeply in the course—in the readings, the discussions, and papers—you will have a transformational experience. I certainly did when I took the course 18 years ago.”
“If you invest in yourself deeply in the course—in the readings, the discussions, and papers—you will have a transformational experience. I certainly did when I took the course 18 years ago.”
Peter Goerzen
As seniors prepare to leave Bethel, many are taking the lessons from BIFL with them. Twenter shared, “No matter what cultural background people come from, their beliefs are valid. I learned that everyone does have a part to play in my faith, and it is up to me to decide whether or not it is important, minor, or convenient.”