Spiritual Life
At FRA, spiritual development is an essential part of the complete educational experience. In support of our mission to provide a challenging educational experience in an inclusive Christian community, our spiritual life department is a place where students have an opportunity to dive deeper into their faith and grow as servant leaders.
Sharing a devotion during daily convocations, attending regularly-held chapels, going on mission trips, serving the local community, and becoming involved with ministries like YoungLife and FCA are just a few ways our students encouraged to grow spiritually and to see the needs of others.
Service & Mission Trips
At FRA, we believe service has an incredible power to transform lives - both those whom we serve as well as our own - and service life is woven into all parts of our school. Students have the opportunity to serve others locally within our community and the greater Nashville area and globally through mission trips, and we hope these experiences will develop skills, leadership qualities, and passion for others that will last long after graduation.
The Center for Philanthropic Studies organizes a large part of the local community service, coordinating Service Saturday events and other service opportunities for clubs and teams. Missions enable our students to serve others while expanding their worldview by experiencing different cultures and communities. These experiences give students a chance to see how God is at work outside of our own community. Students have participated in mission trips to Colorado, Alabama, Appalachia, Mexico, Central America, and Jamaica.
Retreats
Intentional retreats give our students time and space to grow in their faith and in their relationships with one another. Grade-level retreats are held before or during the first few weeks of the school year, cultivating community outside of the normal school day.
Chapels and Devotions
As an inclusive Christian school, chapels and devotions are an important part of spiritual life at FRA, and throughout our campus, our students have the opportunity to learn about Christ, grow in their faith, and impact their world.
Lower School
Lower school chapel is held every Wednesday morning. Students hear a Christ-centered message from a faculty member or lower school class, as well as take part in prayer and song. Over the course of the year, every lower school class leads a chapel by designing, practicing, and sharing its message with the entire lower school.
Lower school devotions are teacher-led and occur daily in each classroom. Devotions include Bible reading, conversation, prayer, and/or worship songs.
Middle School and Upper School
Middle and upper school chapels are held on select Wednesdays throughout the year. These chapels allow students to engage in Biblical study, prayer, and/or worship. A Christ-centered message is the highlight of chapel given by a faculty member, guest speaker, or student leaders.
Devotions are given during convocation daily in both divisions. Faculty and students prepare and share devotion through personal story, song, or video and message centered on a Bible verse.
Spiritual Emphasis Week
Spiritual Emphasis Week is a tradition that can be traced back in our school history. This is a week that focuses on the spiritual growth of our students. Each year, students are exposed to various speakers and activities that are centered around a Biblical theme.
Service Day
The highlight of the week for many students is Service Day, held on the final day of Spiritual Emphasis Week. Middle and upper school students partner with ministries and organizations throughout the city to serve in the community. Students serve in many different ways - from packing and organizing supplies to throwing a Valentine festival for special needs children and adults.
Students have partnered with:
- Front Porch Ministry
- Legacy Mission Village
- GraceWorks
- Feed the Children
- Preston Taylor Ministries
- Cross Point West Nashville Dream Center
- Nashville Rescue Mission
- Room In The Inn
- King's Daughters School
- Operation Stand Down
- Mercy Ministries
- Richland Head Start
- Second Harvest Food Bank
- St. Luke's Community House
