This post was updated Dec. 10 at 9:56 p.m.

Alpha Gamma Omega fraternity combines its love for faith and food in hopes of bringing the UCLA community together every other Thursday night.

Jesus Burgers, a weekly ministry hosted by the brothers of the Christian fraternity, serves as a place to pray, meet new people and destress after partying – something that traditionally happens at UCLA fraternities Thursday evenings. Located at 515 Landfair Avenue, AGO plays music and makes food from 11 p.m. onward.

Grilling anywhere from 240 to 410 burgers a night, the fraternity creates a welcoming space for anyone passing by.

Daniel Nava, the president of AGO, said the fraternity tries to create a space where people can come and enjoy themselves with no pressure. The goal of the night is to show someone support and give them something to satisfy their hunger, he added.

“We believe in the Bible. We believe in Jesus, and we see him live a sacrificial life where he loves others, where he heals others and tries to bless others,” said Nava, a fourth-year anthropology and psychology student. “We’re doing that in a very small way here at Jesus Burgers.”

Before the burgers start cooking, the brothers host a free prayer circle to promote connection and allow people to ask questions about Christianity and life, said Daniel Melendrez, a fourth-year psychology student and the fraternity’s chaplain. The prayer circle allows members to show the authenticity of what it means to be a Christian and meet new people who are open to having a conversation, he added.

From the warmth of the fire pit to the intentional fairy lights hung up around their doorway, the idea of Jesus Burgers was inspired by the UC Santa Barbara missional movement, created in 2001 as a simple barbecue and prayer group that has since expanded, added Nava.

Mikiah Aubert, a fourth-year communications student, said she attends Jesus Burgers for the sense of community, with the event being open to people irrespective of their faith. Aubert, who said she does not go out to parties, added that she regularly spends her evenings with the brothers of AGO – who she met at church.

“It’s really cool to have a space to talk about my faith and dive more deeply into questions about life,” she said. “It’s crazy do at a frat on a Thursday night, but I’ve had some really insightful conversations with people.”

Eli Mayerson, the vice president of AGO, said Jesus Burgers is a convenient location for students who are going out to find a late-night meal or make new friends.

Hannah Estrada, a self-described regular at Jesus Burgers and a fourth-year political science student, said having a place to meet people in a more casual setting is a nice alternative when she does not feel like going out.

In addition to community, safety and comfort are the fraternity’s main priorities, said Chloe Armani, a first-year psychology student. The brothers hand out water bottles to anyone in need and pay attention to everyone who walks through the door, she added.

As bouncer for AGO’s events, Armani said her job is to make everyone feel safe and welcome, especially girls who come from other parties throughout the night. AGO has given her the opportunity to deepen her faith by answering people’s questions about their mission and serving others at Jesus Burgers has been a way of showing her love for Jesus, she added.

The fraternity aims to make everyone’s night better in any way they can, Mayerson said. Jesus Burgers is all about community and creating a safe environment where even people who are new to the organization can feel included, he added.

“The whole point of Jesus Burgers is to be able to welcome people with open arms,” Mayerson said. “We just want you to come, eat our food and enjoy a conversation with us. We want to show you that we love you the way Jesus loves you.”