Judson College Celebrates 10 Years of House System Community for the Cause of Christ

This fall celebrates the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Judson House System. What started as four houses, 20 leaders, and 70-80 students has grown into five vibrant, thriving communities with grounded identities, unique cultures, and long-standing traditions. The House System, composed of on-campus college students under the age of 25, now includes 337 house members.

“When I think back on the beginning of the House System, I often think about a trip that Jamie Dew, Jake Hatfield, and I took to New York City 10 years ago,” shared Seth Bible, dean of Judson College. “We went to see firsthand the impact a house system was having on a like-minded Christian college. What we witnessed was a thriving community of Jesus-loving students, spiritually flourishing within the structure their house system provided, and we believed, without reservation, that the same kind of foundation could be built at Judson College.”

Over its 10-year lifespan, the House System has continued to adapt and thrive amidst a variety of challenges, including the disruption of COVID-19 and the rapid growth of the college.

Throughout it all, the House System has provided students with a stable structure for community as they embark on some of most formative years of their lives. Their house supports and stays with them all the way from freshman year to graduation.

Bible, who served as director of Student Life at the launch of the House System, has seen just how far this system has come.

“What God has done through the Judson College House System has far outpaced our initial dreams, and I believe we have only scratched the surface of what it can ultimately become,” he commented. “We have learned that the House System is the perfect co-curricular complement to Judson’s academic and ministerial mission: preparing students to give their lives for the cause of Christ in the church, among the nations, and in every aspect of society. I am so encouraged by this first decade of the House System, and I can’t wait to see what God does in the next one!”

Erin Owen, house system and discipleship supervisor, first came to Judson in 2018 as a new college student and member of Liele House. During her time in college, she served for two years in house leadership, including as Chancelor (president) of her house. After graduating from Judson, she went on to complete her master’s degree at Southeastern Seminary and has served on Judson’s Student Life team since 2019.

Reflecting on the last several years, Owen shared, “I think what makes the House System unique is our commitment to the mission of Judson College, which is ultimately the mission given to us by the Lord! Our students and leaders are bought in to that mission, and it has made Judson such an exciting environment to study, work, and live at.”

“I also think that our commitment to giving students leadership opportunities is special,” she said. “We say to our leadership teams every year that they have been given one fifth of the college to steward, lead, and serve! We truly desire that the college students, not just the ones elected to formal leadership positions, are given opportunities to learn and grow in leadership — from putting on events, serving on an upperclassmen advisory board, or leading a D-Group.”

We say to our leadership teams every year that they have been given one fifth of the college to steward, lead, and serve!

From its founding, Judson’s House System was designed to place responsibility and leadership back into the hands of the student. Every year, the student body elects the leadership teams of each house from their midst. These leaders are responsible for guarding and cultivating the culture of their house as they steward the traditions and community passed down to them by those who came before. Together, house leaders urge their houses towards Christlikeness and Great Commission living.

“The 10th anniversary of the House System is such an incredible reminder of what God has done through Judson College,” shared Jake Hatfield, director of student life and one of the originators of the House System.

“We have watched students come through these houses and scatter across the world, giving their lives for the cause of Christ. As Judson continues to grow, I’m excited to see how the House System continues to build community and develop leaders who serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. If the first 10 years are any indication of where we are headed,” Jake said, “then I’m incredibly excited about what God is going to do through our students in the next 10!”

 

To learn more about the House System and how you can be equipped in community to give your life for the cause of Christ, visit judsoncollege.com/housesystem.