The Smith Grove Bible Study and Community Connection

Published: April 05, 2026

Author: Lydia Cahill

From the moment students enter the Zbinden family home, they know they are welcome. With warm mugs in their hands, home-cooked meals on the menu, and faithful fellowship pervading the evening, it is no wonder the Smith Grove Bible study has become a key link to the community for many students during their time at Greenville University.

Although friends become like family during the college years, students may still miss some aspects of home. To fill that void, for campus life, Christina Zbinden '02 and her husband, Luke Zbinden, members of Smith Grove Baptist Church in rural Greenville, offer students a Bible study from the comforting embrace of their home.

Every Sunday at 6 p.m., the Zbindens host students for a meal and a deep dive into God’s Word.

Luke is the Director of Facilities at Greenville University, but neither he nor Christina holds a professorship role as in traditional on-campus studies. Additionally, the study is affiliated with the Baptist church, but students from all denominations and religious traditions are welcome.

Finally, the Bible study is open to college-age students in the Greenville community, not just to Greenville University students. This has allowed young college graduates and attendees at local community colleges to participate in the study.

It All Began with F.O.O.D.

Christina and Luke have huge hearts for ministry with college-aged students. This love began when Christina herself was a student at Greenville College.

“The Bible study was started my freshman year of college by Luke, who ended up being my husband,” Christina said. “He and another student decided they wanted to reach out to the Greenville College student body.

Luke said that part of his motivation to create the study was to foster a youth-group-like atmosphere for college students. When the group originally started, it was similar to a worship service, but students led. He wanted to be able to reach out to others of his age group at Greenville and allow them to find community and belonging away from home. Although others have hosted and led the Bible study since its inception, Luke and Christina are the primary and current leaders.

Christiana added, “When it started, it was held at Smith Grove Baptist Church, and they called it FOOD: Fellowship of Obedient Disciples. They named it that because they knew if there was food involved, college students were likely to show up.”

Christina explained that she was one of the first college students to attend the Bible study, and after she married Luke, the study moved to their home.

Amidst great changes in the lives of students, a real home can be a place of solace. The Zbinden family recognized this longing in students and filled it by opening their doors.

Christina said, “We thought the home environment was something different for the students: to have a home, and a place to have a meal together. I remember students saying, ‘It's nice to sit on a real couch.’ Just being in our home, and with our kids, the students liked being around a family.”

She added that the Bible study is a partnership with the Smith Grove Baptist Church. A family in the church usually cooks the food, and the church has given them a budget for these studies along with supporting them through prayer.

Lifelong Lessons

For students and leaders alike, the Smith Grove Bible study has shaped their faith, leading them to a deeper, stronger connection with God.

Christina relayed how much the Bible study has meant to her. “I love the discussions I have with students, and the relationships I've been able to build with them. The biggest blessing is the continued relationships with the students beyond college and seeing all the things that God does in their lives.”

Lillian Manuel ’28, a sophomore English major and Bible study attendee, said: “The Bible study has allowed me to hear perspectives from both new and older Christians, and it has helped me come up with new questions and perspectives.

“Through Bible study, I’ve learned it's okay to question your faith, and it's good to have a community of people who can help you with those questions,” Manuel continued. “This mindset allows me to face my doubts, not ignore them.”

Just as students have learned much from them, Christina said that seeing faith in college students, praying with them, and hearing their comments in conversation has also taught her.

“I absolutely love hearing what the students have learned in their classes, because so many of the classes at Greenville are integrated with faith,” she said. “Hearing how students grew up and the kinds of churches they come from, enriches me in seeing the huge body of Christ.

“The Church is not just one expression of faith, but many different denominations and traditions,” Christina added.

Kara Zbinden (’27), Christina and Luke’s daughter and a junior English major at Greenville University, holds many childhood memories of receiving students into her home, and she continues to attend the group as a GU student. For her, the Bible study has been a positive influence throughout her life.

“I love learning from my parents; I think they have a lot of wisdom to share,” Kara said. “Bible study is a space where I can explore my faith in a different way and with different people than at church.

“Some of my best friends go to the Bible study,” Kara continued, “and I've really enjoyed getting to know everyone that comes. I love welcoming them into our home.”

Deep Dives into God’s Word

Every semester, the Smith Grove Bible study changes its focus, allowing students to learn about a variety of topics, biblical books, and elements of faith.

“Last year, we did a study on how to read different genres of the Bible,” said Kara. “We went over the Torah, poetry, letters, histories, and how they operate in the Bible and how to read them as their own genre.”

The most recent study the group completed was a video series published by 321 Speak Life. The series covered the basics of Christian faith and belief, but from new angles.

“I think that type of review is helpful because we do a lot of things with the basics of our faith,” said Kara. “It's good to be reminded, even for those of us who've been around the church our whole lives, about what we believe as Christians.”

Community Connection

No matter where students get involved, Christina encouraged them to connect with families in Greenville—many of whom welcome college students with open arms.

“There are lots of churches in town that love college students,” Christina said. “Even though the campus has many offerings, I think that there are some strong benefits to being part of the wider community.

“That's my encouragement to Greenville University students and college students in general: if faith is important to you, there are so many benefits to plugging into different ages and stages in the different churches. The community loves college students getting to be part of families for a short time,” she said.

Smith Grove’s Bible study welcomes college students and helps them grow in faith. Through fellowship, faithfulness, and food, the Zbinden family offers students a supportive home away from home.

Kara summed up the invitation for students looking to get involved with the study:

“All are welcome; come and eat.”

No matter a student’s background or faith level, they will find a family and home at Smith Grove Bible study.