The first L.I.F.T/Bible Club meeting took place on Thursday, Sept. 14 in the Campus library. The club switches between the library and room E132 depending on the week. It is the first religious-based club to come to Southwest CTA.
“I think it’s very important to have a Bible club in high schools, especially in our generation,” Bible Club Leader Gabriel Villacrucis said. “There’s a lot of bad things that go on, and bringing the Bible in and learning more about God’s word is very impactful in a person’s life.”
The club had struggled at first to find stable locations and advisors amidst the CCSD teacher-contract conflict.
“We have 2 [advisers], as of now, and they sort of just take shifts. We have Ms. Reicher who is a counselor, and Ms. Thomann [Spanish teacher],” Bible Club Media Coordinator Biridiana Magana-Contreras said. “Our meetings are either going to be in the library or in Ms. Thomann’s room.”
The club also faced slight backlash as students questioned whether a religious club had a place in a district high school.
“We were on the morning announcements, and there were several people whispering or asking ‘why would they do that, why would they add a religious club at a technical school that has nothing to do with it,’” Bible Club Founder Ilani Miron said. “It’s different though because many people have [non-religious interest], but they also have their religion, so it’s important to share it.”
Others support the club though, even if they are not in it and believe that representing religion in school is important even if some think it is a sensitive topic.
“I know for a fact Sierra Vista has a lot of kids who are religious and who believe in god, and they would also like to have a bible study group, but they don’t have that,” freshman Cason Phillips said.
However, the club hopes to grow in members to continue to create curiosity about religion amongst the students on campus. On average, club meetings get 12 members to show up, and 28 students have signed up for the club’s remind.
“I don’t know if we can make that big of an impact, it’s sort of out of our hands, it’s up to the Lord,” Magana-Contreras said. “Everyone who goes sort of has a different intention, so some people just want to expand their knowledge, some people just want to make friends that also have similar beliefs and morals.”
