Friday mornings have taken on a new meaning, thanks to Ben Velazquez, a student leader with a passion for faith, “Fun Friday” has become a weekly gathering that brings together students and faculty through games, worship, and a shared desire to grow closer to God. What started as a small idea has blossomed into a community where everyone—whether they’re a long-time Christian or someone curious about faith—can come together to experience the love of Christ.
The idea for Fun Friday came from observing the way the girls’ soccer team would meet before practices to play games while enjoying each other’s company.
“The idea of Fun Friday originated from Faithlyn Bennett and the girls’ soccer team,” said Velazquez. “SLM (Student Led Ministry) wanted to allow this opportunity for everyone at Carroll with Jesus at the center.”
Velazquez and his partner, Autumn Partin, saw an opportunity to take this concept and create a space where everyone could come together in a fun, welcoming environment.
Every Friday at 7:45 AM, students meet for a combination of games and worship. The first part of the meeting is dedicated to activities like basketball, spike ball, and cornhole—games that help build camaraderie and break the ice. Afterward, the group transitions to worship and Bible study.
“We start with games, and then we move into bible study and worship, where we learn about and praise God,” Velazquez said. “We focus on thanking God, especially for the small things in life.”
What makes Fun Friday so unique is its open invitation to everyone at the school. This is not an exclusive group for only Christian students—it’s a space for anyone who is open to learning about Jesus.
“We want to have a perspective like Jesus had, where we include everyone and bring the community together for one goal: to show the love of Christ,” said Velazquez.
Fun Friday has had a profound impact on those who attend because the environment fosters openness, acceptance, and a comfortable atmosphere allowing people to grow in ways they never imagined.
“I’ve seen the love of Christ represent itself in the people here at Carroll,” Velazquez said. “We’ve seen the accepting atmosphere allow people to open up and grow in ways I’ve never seen before.”
For Velazquez, the experience of leading this group has not only strengthened his faith, but also provided a sense of fulfillment.
“It has shown me that Jesus is so worth it,” Velazquez said. “Preparing for Fun Friday with my partner Autumn gets stressful, but when Friday hits, we get to witness the love of Jesus shining through so many people, which is priceless.”
Velazquez has ambitious plans for Fun Friday’s future. He hopes to grow the group and connect with other leaders who are passionate about spreading Christ’s love.
“We plan on making sure that Fun Friday isn’t a one-year thing,” Velazquez said. “We’ve talked to the regional leader of FCA, and we’re talking to others in hopes to meet more leaders who are younger, that we think will seek the love of God.”
For Velazquez , the most rewarding aspect of Fun Friday has been seeing the spiritual growth of those around him along with his own faith.
“The most powerful part is witnessing how the love of Christ can change lives,” said Velazquez
At the heart of Fun Friday is the belief that love and community are key to living out Christ’s message. This is reflected in the group’s mission to build a space where everyone is accepted and valued, no matter their background.
As Velazquez put it, “Nobody is better than anyone else.”
This message of love aligns perfectly with the Bible’s teachings. Matthew 5:16 reminds us, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven,” while Romans 13:9 emphasizes the importance of loving others: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbor; Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.” These principles are the foundation of Fun Friday, where the goal is to reflect Christ’s love in both big and small ways.
