Senior Billy Rodriguez enjoys sharing the message of love through faith with his peers. photo by Gavin Vasquez
Faith moving through the halls of Thomas Jefferson.
Over the past few years, TJ’s Bible Study club has expanded from a small morning gathering into one of the most active and widely attended clubs on campus. The meetings originally began in 2024 as casual before school meet-ups led by TJ class of 2024 graduate Nahom Gmicheal with only a few students attending. As the group continued, seniors Billy Rodriguez and Simon Turner saw potential in what it could become and took over leadership, ultimately transforming the informal gathering into an organized, school recognized club.
Turner remembers those early meetings as “a very small but very fun intimate group” that gave him what he described as an “amazing outlet for my faith.” Even with the smaller attendance, the meetings offered a comfortable place for students to explore their beliefs and build meaningful connections.
Once Rodriguez and Turner took on leadership, they focused on making the club more accessible and welcoming. Always implement the message no matter how much or how little you know about the Bible you are welcomed. One of their first major decisions was moving the meeting from before school to lunchtime. Turner reflected on this shift, “I wouldn’t say we saw fruit right away, but we definitely started to see some growth.” Rodriguez and Turner explained that there was one day last year where TJ had a combined lunch with all the grades and that was the day they saw a big boom in attendance. From that day, what once averaged around ten students developed into one of TJ’s largest clubs. Rodriguez shared that the club now has “over 100 students consistently,” and that, “…it’s really awesome to see that growth.”
The momentum only continued to build this year, with the very first meeting drawing 98 students in 5th period alone. TJ operates on a unique schedule in which freshmen have a separate lunch from the rest of the school and few clubs manage to meet during both periods. To make Bible Study accessible to everyone, Turner and Rodriguez run two sessions; Turner leads the 4th period freshmen and Rodriguez leads the 5th period meeting for the rest of the school. Their commitment to operating during both periods has played a major role in the club’s growth and its ongoing success at TJ.
For both Rodriguez and Turner, the club’s purpose extends far beyond numbers. Turner hopes students are learning, questioning, and deepening their understanding of their faith. Rodriguez emphasizes that his priority is creating a caring environment, explaining that he wants to “reach broken, hurting people… and show them that they are cared for, valued, and loved when they step into that room regardless of whether or not they believe.”
Today, Bible Study club stands out as one of the school’s most interactive and supportive communities. Rodriguez said he is continually surprised by “so many people who I never expected to show up.” Turner shared that watching the meeting’s impact on students’ lives and seeing their excitement, understanding, and growth has been beyond inspiring and rewarding.
What began as a small, early morning gathering can be defined by far more than the rising attendance. It’s a testament to the dedication of its leaders, the willingness of students to show up for one another, and the desire of students to grow their faith. As Bible Study continues to grow, it represents the impact students can make when they commit to creating a space where everyone is welcomed, and given a chance to belong.
