Beyond the Walls: Building Community Before Vespers

Published: September 24, 2026

Author: Liz Dowell

Before Vespers begins, Greenville University students will soon have a new reason to arrive early—and perhaps meet someone they might not have otherwise.

This fall, Vespers student leaders are launching Beyond the Walls, a time intentionally set aside before the worship gathering for students to play games, talk and build relationships.

The idea began with students Jonathan Menuey and Ella Hudspath, who wanted to create more opportunities for fellowship without changing what students already valued about Vespers.

“The original goal for creating Beyond the Walls was to make space for more intentional community and fellowship within Vespers without changing the core of the service,” Menuey said.

“We often see students come to Vespers and do not interact with people outside of their social bubble. Beyond the Walls is fellowship outside of the Recital Hall that creates space for this kind of interaction that we are hoping to see,” said Hudspath.

“We wanted to create a more relaxed environment where students could come and be themselves and just play,” Menuey added.

“9 Square in the Air is uniquely set up for large groups of people to play and lends itself to meeting new people and saying, 'Hi!' To someone you may not know, whether that's in line or while passing the ball to them,” Hudspath agreed.

One centerpiece of that effort is 9 Square in the Air—a game with its own connection to Greenville.

Greenville College alumnus Steve Otey ’99 created 9 Square in the Air while serving as a junior High Pastor.

He often noticed that after a youth group meeting, students would split into groups to play volleyball, basketball, or four square, while others stayed on the sidelines. He began looking for a way to bring them together.

Sara “Zimmer” Otey ’00, Steve’s wife, said those students were at the heart of the game’s creation.

“We wanted to bring in those students that were kind of on the perimeters that just watched or maybe didn’t participate,” she said. “This is a game that actually does pull people in no matter their ability level or athletic skill.”

Years later, that purpose caught the attention of Vespers leaders at the Oteys’ alma mater.

During student leader training, Hudspath told Menuey that 9 Square’s founder was a Greenville alumnus.

Within about 20 minutes, Menuey reached out to the company. Otey agreed to donate a game.

“We wanted to invest in the spiritual life of kids on campus,” Otey said, noting that he and Sara attended Vespers themselves as Greenville students.

For Menuey, 9 Square offers something Beyond the Wall needs: play that naturally creates room for conversation. Students rotate through the game while others wait together in line, giving them opportunities to talk between rounds.

Otey has watched that same pattern unfold since he invented the game in 2009. What began as an attempt to connect students in one youth group has grown to at least 30,000 organizations across the United States and beyond.

“It’s not just a game. It’s a community builder,” Sara Otey said.

Now, that community-building mission is returning to Greenville.

Beyond the Walls is set to launch this fall, and Menuey hopes its impact extends far beyond the minutes before Vespers begins.

“I hope that students can gain new friendships and feel like they have a real home at Vespers,” he said. “I hope they can grow deeper-level friendships and continue to dig deeper in Vespers because of the connection they gain from Beyond the Walls.”