Spiritual Formation
Growing in Faith and Purpose
Faith in Christ has shaped PLNU from the beginning and continues to guide everything we do.
That faith takes root in our daily rhythms. Whether it's worshiping in chapel, serving others, growing with a small group, or seeking a quiet place to connect with God, each opportunity draws us closer to Christ and reminds us we are not walking alone.
Find your place in a Christ-centered community where you can grow in faith, serve with purpose, and be transformed.
Faith in Focus
Our Mission
PLNU exists to provide higher education in a vital Christian community where minds are engaged and challenged, character is modeled and formed, and service is an expression of faith.
Our History
Since our founding in 1902, PLNU has been shaped by a deep commitment to Scripture and the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. As part of the Church of the Nazarene, our roots run deep in a tradition that calls us to bear witness to the love of Christ, pursue lives transformed by God’s grace, serve with compassion, and engage deeply with God’s Word.
Our Outcomes
Students graduate PLNU with more than a degree. They leave prepared to serve, lead, and live as faithful witnesses in the world. In hospitals, classrooms, boardrooms, neighborhoods, and churches, you’ll find our alumni leading with compassion, thinking critically and faithfully, and embodying the love of Christ wherever they go.
"Me being here at Point Loma and sharing the love I have for Him, it creates a safe space. Point Loma definitely does that. They give you that openness to love Him and to love what you're doing at the same time."
Faith in Practice
Growth in Community
Spiritual growth isn’t something we pursue alone. At PLNU, students grow by worshiping, learning, and serving alongside their peers, faculty, and staff who are on the journey with them. In this community shaped by compassion, grace, and hospitality, faith is both personal and shared. It deepens through relationships, rhythms, and real conversations.
Explore Growth in CommunityClassroom Integration
At PLNU, faith and learning are not separate pursuits. Across every discipline, students are invited to explore how their field of study connects to deeper questions of purpose, calling, and service. Through biblical study and thoughtful engagement with Christian perspectives in the classroom, students learn to integrate faith and knowledge as they prepare to serve the world with wisdom and conviction.
Discover Classroom IntegrationFaculty Formation
PLNU faculty approach their work as both scholarship and discipleship. They mentor, challenge, and walk alongside students as they explore questions of faith, purpose, and vocation. As scholars and followers of Christ, our faculty model what it means to pursue truth with humility, integrate faith with learning, and use their gifts in faithful service to God.
Learn More About Faculty FormationFaith in Action
Chapel (Watch Live!)
We have several chapel opportunities each week that invite students to encounter God together. Classes and events pause to create intentional moments for reflection, prayer, and worship in a distraction-free environment. Click the link to watch live services and join us in worship!
LoveWorks
For more than three decades, PLNU students have served alongside churches and ministries around the world through LoveWorks. These cross-cultural experiences invite students to step into God’s work beyond their own communities, guided by trained staff, faculty, alumni, and friends of PLNU.
Ministry with Mexico
The mission of Ministry with Mexico is to share life together and build relationships within our dynamic cross-cultural community. We offer opportunities for single-and multi-day trips throughout the year. PLNU students, faculty, staff, and alumni sponsors are welcome to join.
Chaplain Resources
For graduate students, adult learners, and online students: every campus offers compassionate, caring chaplain representation. They’re deeply committed to caring and supporting you through life’s victories and challenges.
You can reach out via Student Life resources in the myPLNU portal.
Student Ministries & Support
At PLNU, there’s a variety of resources to support students beyond the classroom. In addition to ministries by and for students — like alpha groups and discipleship groups for traditional undergraduates — there are also spiritual mentorship, counseling, and holistic wellness services across campuses.
Center for Justice & Reconcilation
PLNU’s Center for Justice & Reconciliation (CJR) strives to honor the dignity of all through advocacy, education, and intervention—especially in spaces where inequality and exploitation abide. CJR answers the calling of Micah 6:8 to “...seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.”
Pilgrimage Innovation Hub
The Pilgrimage Innovation Hub (PIH) is a grant-funded research and development initiative that aims for meaningful theological pilgrimages to be more accessible for young Christian congregations and organizations across North America. Race identity, justice, and faith history are common themes.
Wiley Lectures
For over 75 years, the H. Orton Wiley Lecture Series has hosted thoughtful discourse on subjects relevant to Christian life and ministry. Each spring, a prestigious guest speaker within the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition visits to reflect on a theological topic that holds significance in our current academic, religious, and social climate.
Student Veteran Resources
We welcome and value active duty military and student veterans’ unique experience — and we want to empower them in their next chapter. Our robust military programs and services offer special financial, academic, and holistic support to help veterans navigate their God-given calling.
Walking the Way Together
Living the Faith-Formed Life
Answering God's Calling
Formation Through Story
Meeting the Moment: Judith Hernandez's Journey into Ministry
Research Associates: A Legacy of Faith, Mentorship, and DiscoveryCaptured in Faith
