The special time of 11 a.m. Thursday each week can now be shared at any time of the day, any day of the week.

Thursday morning chapel services from Osborne Memorial Chapel will be videotaped and aired on YouTube for interested viewers, such as alumni and students studying abroad.

“The intention is to give a broader access to what happens on Thursdays,” University Minister Ira DeSpain said.

The idea began after DeSpain preached a series of chapel services on love and relationships. He received several emails from past students who mentioned they would like to hear him talk about that and other things.

“It gave me the idea that perhaps we could do something that would put the chapel services online and allow for wider viewing than just Thursday mornings at 11,” DeSpain said.

Those who originally requested to hear DeSpain speak about relationships but could not attend chapel will be able to hear DeSpain preach his newest series, including Thursday’s sermon titled, “What about being single?”

DeSpain believes the online chapel services will be convenient for many viewing audiences.

His intentions are to make it available for alumni, prospective students interested in seeing what chapel services are like, students on campus to have discussions about topics, athletes who are out of town and missed chapel or students studying abroad.

Junior Courtney Chambers is a student who is studying abroad at Harlaxton this semester.

While on campus, Chambers regularly attends chapel services. For her, she thinks the online services will give her a connection back home while she is away.

“It’s one connection to Baker that I’ll still have and I’ll feel like I’m not completely missing out,” Chambers said via Skype.

One concern DeSpain has is that students will rely on the YouTube videos of chapel services rather than attend on Thursdays.

“There’s this power in the room of being with people because it’s not just about a (television) show,” DeSpain said. “It’s about the power of spirit, of what happens among people other people and all. So my biggest concern is that people who normally attend will choose to stay in the room and watch it, because it won’t be the same.”

Online chapel services are an advantage for students who may be sick and need to stay in the room or who will be gone for an athletic event.

“If I miss chapel because of travel I would most likely watch chapel online,” sophomore Cooper Clark said.

Having the chapel services taped is also advantageous for students who missed chapel and don’t want to wake up early on Sunday mornings to attend church services.

“Not many college students like to get up early on Sunday mornings for church,” Clark said.

So far, there have been five chapel services this semester and DeSpain hopes that the services will be up on YouTube each weekend.

There are still technological issues to figure out, and more software has to be purchased before the services can be posted online.

“The marketing department and the photographer … are working together to get what they need to allow those to be uploaded,” DeSpain said.

Once the videos are uploaded online, there will be a link to the YouTube videos on the Baker website.

Students will also be notified through email. when the services are uploaded.