At the heart of Averett’s University Spiritual life stands Reverend Sean Timmons as the university’s chaplain. Timmons dedicates his days to guiding students through their faith journeys, offering counsel, and fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Timmons sees his role as a bridge between helping students, ministerial duties and his responsibilities to the university community. He sees it fit to help students connect with personal experiences and with their spiritual growth.
Whether its one-on-one conversations , organizing campus events, or delivering sermons, he ensures that all students feel supported and heard.
We all know that college is a transformative time where we face some of our biggest challenges at this stage and age of our lives, as we grow into more mature individuals and adults. Many students wrestle with questions of faith, purpose, and identity. Timmons provides a listening ear , encouraging students and others to explore their beliefs without fear of judgement.
“My role is not to push a single doctrine but to create an environment where all students – regardless of their beliefs feel welcomed,” Timmons said.
No two days are the absolute same for Timmons. Sometimes mornings will start out with a quiet prayer and preparation followed by meetings with students or faculty about information concerning the university and its needs.
Afternoons are usually filled with meetings. Once a month he meets with campus Spiritual Life Leaders about planning worship services, leading Bible study groups, and scheduling prayer meetings.
These gatherings are often student led and Timmons will stop by to check in occasionally to make sure everything is going well and is organized.
Timmons is always working on initiatives to strengthen the spiritual community at Averett. Recent projects include organizing service opportunities and retreats where students can step away from their busy schedules to reflect and connect with their faith community.
Timmons encourages us to approach everyone with openness and respect. He believes that creating a safe space for dialogue of any type of conversation is crucial, while encouraging and ensuring students who may ask and receive questions. This is to maintain a spirit of compassion and understanding.
For those who feel disconnected from their faith, Reverend Timmons offers a vital role of simple but profound advice,
“You don’t have to have it all together, or have all the answers right now. Faith is a journey not a destination,” Timmons said.
