Bible Study Club at Govs

The Christian faith is having a moment among Gen Z of late. The New York Times reported in February 2025 that a major study indicates Christianity’s decline in the U.S. appears to have stabilized and may even be reversing. Young, conservative males, especially athletes at the high school, college, and professional levels, are playing a major role in this revival. This trend may be fueled by Gen Z’s desire for a stronger sense of community and spirituality in an increasingly uncertain world. While male athletes are often the face of this movement, many non-athletes—both male and female—remain steadfast in their faith, with numerous teens attending church weekly, mirroring the practices of older generations.

At Governor's, a Bible Study Club, predominantly led by male athletes, has gained significant traction over the past year. Inspired by their desire to share Christian fellowship with other students, Charles Cochran '25, a boarding student from Fayetteville, Georgia, and Brock Geraci '25, a boarding student from Scottsdale, Arizona, started the club on campus last year.

The group welcomes boys and girls from all faiths, with no prior knowledge or experience with Christianity required. Despite this inclusive approach, the club struggled to attract members in its first year. “Many times, it was just me and Brock at meetings,” said Charles. “We decided over the summer to switch up our format. We used to watch a video followed by a discussion—it got very repetitive.”

This year, the club has implemented a new strategy for both meetings and attracting new members. Meeting participants are encouraged to read a pre-assigned passage and share their interpretations and feelings openly with the group. The club is now 40 members strong, with an average of 20-25 members attending each gathering. Much of this growth is thanks to other club leaders—including Gaige Geraci ’25 (Brock’s twin), Tony Silva ’25, Connor Hennessey ’25, and Cole Riehl ’24—who invited friends and teammates to drop in, check out a meeting, and join the conversation.

Club leaders take turns leading discussions, although Charles typically facilitates most meetings. “I got involved because my faith is the most important thing to me. I want to draw kids closer to the Lord,” said Charles. He recently gave a Chapel Talk in which he shared a deeply personal and tragic experience that inspired him to reconnect with his faith and deepen his commitment to following Christ’s teachings.

It's important to us that everyone feels welcome. We have members who've never studied the Bible before, or maybe they've never attended church, or have lost touch with their faith...

"Although every meeting has a leader, everyone is encouraged to voice their opinion or talk about a verse they like," said Charles. "It's important to us that everyone feels welcome. We have members who've never studied the Bible before, or maybe they've never attended church, or have lost touch with their faith," said Charles. "We want them to feel comfortable, so we make the discussions really open and accessible to everyone." 

Fostering a culture of inclusion and openness remains a top priority for the club. “Our community is very strong and supportive. We can delve into deep topics and share emotional experiences. The vibe is chill and welcoming. It’s a completely judgment-free zone,” said Charles.

Fellow club leader Tony Silva recalled a curious teammate who approached him about the club last year. Tony encouraged him to check out a meeting. “Later that year, he thanked me,” said Tony. “I could just tell that the club had impacted him. Just by thanking me, I knew something in his life had changed.”

Outside of meetings, club leaders look for ways to include even more of the Govs community in their worship. On Easter Sunday, members hosted an informal service in the Moseley Chapel with readings, hymns, and prayer. All denominations were invited to join the celebration and gather afterward for dinner in the Alfond Dining Hall.

Looking ahead, several senior leaders of the club are graduating this month, but they hope the club will continue to thrive and grow. 

"I think the club affects the school positively," said Tony. "We have a lot of clubs at Govs, but not for religious worship. Our Govs community has many diverse beliefs, and having a Christianity club is super meaningful and helpful to the community, not just for us as leaders and Christians, but for all people who like to gather and discuss faith," said Tony.

Tony also credits Charles for transforming the club. "It's important to be consistent and hold weekly meetings," said Tony. "Regular meetings are important, even if they are small and quick. I hope younger kids will take on the role of becoming leaders."

I could just tell that the club had impacted him. Just by thanking me, I knew something in his life had changed.