The Honors College is conducting a reading group for interested students.

Honors College students gathered with Dr. Chris Flanders, assistant professor of missions in the Department of Bible Missions and Ministry, on Monday for the first meeting of the Honors reading group. The meeting occurred at approximately 5 p.m.

Over the next five weeks the students will be reading the book Friendship at the Margins by Christopher L. Heuertz and Christine D. Pohl. Students can participate in the reading group and will have the opportunity to converse about topics related to the book.

The reading group for Honors students is one of four different groups studying the same book across the ACU campus. Other groups include faculty members, graduate students and international studies students.

On February 27 and 28, ACU will host the Broom Colloquium, a missional conversation for the whole school. Chris Heuertz, one of the authors of the selected book, will be on campus speaking at the colloquium. Colloquium credits are required for all Honors college students.

“This is a time where we try to bring a missional topic that is important and hopefully compelling to the whole campus,” Flanders said.

Heuertz will also speak in Chapel, at a Chapel forum and at a special session held for only the reading group participants. Heuertz is executive director of the non-profit Word Made Flesh, whose mission statement is to “serve Jesus among the poorest of the poor.”

“What we’re anticipating is that this group of students will have special access to the author,” said Dr. Michael Harbour, executive administrative director of the Honors College. “Honors is seeking to provide their students with small classes, top faculty and connections with remarkable speakers and authors.”

Currently seven students have signed up. They will meet in the commons area of the Honors College in Zellner Hall where Flanders will facilitate conversation and reflection as they discuss a chapter a week.