Press Release

Yet another school year has come to pass. As another chapter in the lives of fourteen graduating Alumni of the fraternity at the University of Florida is pushing forward, a new chapter in the lives of men seeking brotherhood and discipleship in the upcoming Fall is pushing towards fruition.

Brothers spent the Annual Alpha & Omega evening reflecting on their testimonies and involvement with the fraternity. After having poured four years of their lives into the brotherhood, experiences recounted were so numerous one could write a book, not just any book, a textbook. Brothers founded in the blood of Christ are rare to find in today's culture, especially during college years. Community through the foundation of Fellowship Groups (FGs) and Accountability Groups (AGs) defined the year. A refocus on what bonds us together spiritually and spiritual growth propelled the fraternity through the semester and will surely propell the fraternity to new levels spiritually in years to come. As Alumni leave the city where Championships are born, their connection with the brotherhood will live on through the plans for an Alumni Association and Board headed by Aaron Shoemaker and Mark Mayleben which will provide counsel, prayer, and support to the brotherhood. Dave Chauncey, next year's fraternity President, led the celebration of the brothers time with the fraternity. As each brother embarks on new chapters, our bonds in the blood of Christ and our commitment to encouraging one another in the faith will live on.

The fraternity focuses mainly on brotherhood through discipleship through weekly chapter meetings with worship, prayer, and devotionals. This provides brothers an opportunity to share in their bonds and focus on growing as men of God. The fraternity also held its annual Formal with Sigma Phi Lambda at an upscale downtown venue.

Brothers also committed time with leading an afternoon of games with the elderly of Gainesville, addressing the need for a wheel chair ramp for the elderly, and spending time making and delivering meals to people of need. Former Kappa Chi brother Kory Cassell helps leads Unite NOW, a campus wide event where over 800 Christ followers worship and pray for one another, the Campus, the Nation, and the World at the Reitz Ampitheatre each semester.

The Chapter celebrates the lives of these brothers graduating, not because of their vast involvements and accomplishments here at the University of Florida, but because of their focus on discerning God's will and living their lives for His glory. We pray for your ministries as you begin new chapters in your lives and hope to stay in close contact. God bless you and Godspeed.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33

GAINESVILLE, FLA. - (April 18th, 2009) - Kappa Chi held its twice-annual Family Weekend.  The weekend supplied an opportunity for parents of brothers to both meet and enjoy fellowship with other familes and brothers. The brotherhood held a BBQ after familes walked together to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for the Orange and Blue Football game. The event was held at the fraternity's Home just off Sorority Row. The home's large deck proved to be a perfect venue for fellowship and playing cornhole. Brothers Andrew Rametta and Josh Strope headed up the grill and kitchen.

Familes toured the nine-bedroom house just a five-minute walk from campus and received a presentation on the ministry their sons are involved in at the University of Florida. Ten brothers reside in the home and offer it up to the fraternity to use for gatherings and events.

GAINESVILLE, FLA. - (March 29^th, 2009) - Kappa Chi and Sigma Phi Lambda held their Spring Formal this past weekend at the upscale-downtown restaurant Steve's Café American. The black-tie event provided a night of fellowship and dancing. Several brothers and their dates went out to dinner before being met with hors d'oeuvres and desserts at the large Mediterranean-style themed venue

President of Kappa Chi David Donovan reiterated the brotherhood's appreciation to the sisters in Christ and ladies of Sigma Phi Lambda for the jointly-supported evening.

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS, FLA. – (February 22nd, 2009) Who knew it could get down to below freezing in Florida? Well, the brothers of Kappa Chi did not let that be a deterrant to a weekend focused on spiritual growth through discipleship. The men braved the wooded lands of Keystone Heights in a weekend bathed in prayer and worship.

Keystone Heights State Park is northeast of Gainesville, about half-way to Jacksonville. Chaplain Chad Mizelle coined the term “From the Inside Out” for the weekend's theme. A brother and graduating senior headed to Dental School at the University of Florida, Drew Byrnes, recounted his spiritual testimony, emphasizing the life lesson of obeying God in the littlest of things and turning your heart toward Him. Even being in our early twenties it is vital to give every aspect of our lives over to God and seek to do nothing less than our best as he prepares us for bigger plans in the future. We will only be eternally satisfied in this life when we give our lives over to God and allow the Holy Spirit to consume our very beings and shape our desires and values. Drew reflected on the moving of his spirit through expressing his testimony with his brothers in Christ. Several conversations with brothers stemmed from his talk.

Fraternity Chaplain Chad Mizelle challenged brothers to go deeper in the Word and be rooted in the truth of the Word which has stood the test of time. We must not sway to the winds of this culture, but must be leaders of this culture by discerning God's will in the Word and Prayer and then living out our lives as servants to His calling.

Joseph Thompson, a brother in his pledge semester reflected that retreat was a very moving and trying experience spiritually. The tasks assigned to us were challenging, but rooted in Biblical purpose and I came away a stronger man of God because of the experience.

The brothers spent time playing a friendly game of football, igniting much too large fires (something about the Faith lures us to Fire), choosing of Big Brothers for spiritual discipleship and counseling.

Another brother in his pledge semester Shawn Crews coined the phrase "Go Left!" during a leadership-building exercise which through random, should be noted.

GAINESVILLE, FLA. - (January 20th, 2009) - This weekend, Kappa Chi was pleased to announce 7 brothers in Christ entered into their pledge semester. These men will embark on a journey of discipleship as they grow to strengthen their faith and seeking God in all decisions.

Currently, the chapter has over fifty active brothers. A brother in his pledge semester highlighted his desire to come closer to God through discipleship and is excited for the pledgeship as it is rooted in the Word and will encourage him in his faith and grow his bonds with his brothers in Christ. He reflected that the brotherhood encouraged him to get plugged into ministries and involvements on campus and in the local community. Tyler is stoked for what God has in store as he seeks God's vision for his life.

The brothers in Christ will take part in a 10-week program spiritually-intensive discipleship program is meant to set them on fire for Jesus Christ so they can fulfill his calling to be disciples and servants to the Lord and leaders for Christ on campus and in the community.

Kappa Chi brothers are commited to serving the community. Two years ago all the recylables left on campus after tailgates were thrown away. Through an initiative with the Office Of Sustainability community volunteers were able to gather over twenty-thousands pounds of recycables.

The Tailgator Recycling Program is a volunteer based service opportunity run by the Office of Sustainability at UF. The volunteers, collectively known as the “Green Team,” receive funds from a grant allocated based on service hours collected on game days. Among one the top three organizations of recycling volunteers, Kappa Chi Brothers provided over 100 hours of service. The service work included handing out recycling bags to various tailgaters, sorting recyclables out of trash cans, and circulating through the tailgating hotspots to advocate the program and ensure proper usage of the recycling bags. Dedee Delongpré, Director of the Office of Sustainability, describes the program best when saying, “It is not glorifying, but it is gratifying.”

Kappa Chi’s participation in the program generated over $1,400, which came from a grant from the Burkhardt Sales and Service Department. Kappa Chi brothers heavily involved included Beau Frail, Dan Holden, and Scott Stallings.

The funds were put towards a mission trip to New Orleans during the Spring semester. Kappa Chi will send 15 Brothers into the 9th Ward of New Orleans that was destroyed after Hurricane Katrina to help reconstruct houses and participate in other service events.

Kappa Chi also participates in service events such as Habitat for Humanity, serving meals at the St. Francis House, volunteering for Urban Meyer’s Golf Scramble, and renovating a local Childcare Center in Gainesville.

“Anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for Me.” Matthew 25:40

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