Junior Melody Poole wanted a community of like minded people. She wanted a community where everyone’s beliefs were unified. She found that with the Good News Bible Club.

“I like it a lot its gave me a second family almost,” Poole said 

During the pandemic, the Bible Club wasn’t active like it was in person. Mrs. Beasley, an English teacher, offered to restart the club over virtual meetings. 

“What was really cool was that soon we had 16 students join our online Google Classroom community for a place to share life stories, ask for prayer, and read encouraging Scriptures from the Bible,” Mrs. Beasley recalled. “We ended up calling this rebirth of the group The Good News Bible Club.” 

The first Bible Club meeting this school year took place on Sept. 6. It was led by Mrs. Beasley and Junior Lamonte Baker.

 “I can tell you with confidence that these students have a lot of amazing leadership skills, energy, and hope for their future,” Mrs. Beasley said. “As I watch the students interact and set up their club this year, I see that they are benefitting from the solid encouragement in knowing someone else like them exists on this school campus.”

Everyone is on a different part of the journey, and many of the students are curious about the Bible and have not read much of it, while others are avid Bible scholars.  

“The act of fellowship that we can come together and talk about something that we all are passionate about,” Baker said.

The act of fellowship occurs when individuals come together in a spirit of friendship.

Members say fellowship promotes a sense of belonging, unity, and collaboration among individuals who share common values, interests or objectives. 

“Everyone can just come as they are and just the welcoming environment of it, how we all can just treat each other like family, even if it’s like someone that just came in its their first day,” Baker said.

A Bible Club has been part of Merrillville High School’s culture and heritage for several years. 

 “When I first began teaching here in 2016, I recalled hearing announcements that the Bible Club was about to meet in the Lecture Hall with Mr. Patton or in Mr. Moslander’s room,” Mrs. Beasley said. “They used to have the meetings at 7 a.m., before school started.  I would attend at times and listen in, but was not able to really be a regular at that time with my schedule.”

Over the years, the Good News Bible Club has stood strong with continued growth while helping others along the way. 

“It is such an encouragement to me, as a teacher, to see young adults with hearts on fire for their beliefs and their determination to live it out,” Mrs. Beasley said. “It is beautiful to see.”