Lee University chapel attendance increases
Lee University chapel attendance increased during the fall 2025 semester, marking a positive trend that campus leaders attribute to intentional programming, diverse worship, and continued student engagement.
According to campus data, both the total headcount and attendance scans rose in comparison to the fall 2024 semester. Wesley Lutes, campus pastor and director of spiritual life, said the overall headcount increased by about two percent, with attendance scans in iAttended rising as well.
“That tells me there are students who are continuing to come to chapel even after their requirement is finished,” said Lutes. “That’s been true not just in the fall, but we’re seeing similar patterns moving into the spring [2025] semester.”
Lee University President Dr. Phil Cook notes both raw attendance numbers and the percentage of total student enrollment increased from fall to fall.
“Anything that’s up and positive, we want to cele- brate,” he said. “I hope it reflects a renewed sense of anticipation. These students are hungry for what God is doing in their lives.”
Both Lutes and Cook emphasized that the increase is not tied to a single factor, but rather a series of intentional decisions about worship style, speaker selection, and the overall chapel experience.
Lutes explained that chael planners have worked to represent a broader range of worship expressions while remaining rooted in Lee’s Pentecostal identity.
“We value expressive, emotive worship, but Pentecostalism also appreciates quiet, reverential worship. We’re trying to make space for both,” said Lutes.
Recent chapel services, including communion wor- ship gatherings, reflect this approach. Lutes said students appear to be responding positively to chapel services reflecting the diversity of the campus community while remaining unified in their purpose.
This school year, chapel leadership has also prioritized featuring Lee faculty, staff and alumni as speakers — voices who understand the culture of Lee and can speak from personal experience.
“These are people who can stand up and say, ‘This place changed my life,’” Cook said. “They love Lee, and they deeply care about the spiritual formation of our students.”
At the same time, chapel planners are continuing to invite outside speakers who may not be connected to Lee but bring strong pastoral and ministry experience. Cook says this balance helps students engage with both familiar and new perspectives.
Looking ahead, Lee is exploring additional ways to engage students beyond the regular chapel schedule. According to Cook, Lee is considering revisiting the idea of larger U-Church events that brought well- known worship artists to the campus.
“We’re trying to find ways to give students a differ- ent experience that still brings them closer to the Lord,” Cook said.
Lutes added that chapel’s impact depends largely on how students choose to approach it.
“When chapel is not seen as a formality, but as an approach for formation, that’s when it’s most effective,” he said. “I’ve been really proud of students who choose to engage even when something isn’t their personal preference.”
Chapel leaders are open to students input for chapel speakers and programming as they plan future semesters.
“I’d love for students to tell us who they think would be great to hear from,” said Cook. “We’re eager to listen.”
