Why Campus Ministry Matters (and how Your Church can Join the Mission!)

Across the country, university campuses are some of the most strategic, yet overlooked, mission fields. Every year, thousands of students step into a season of change and growth. They are asking themselves, and the world, to answer big questions about identity, purpose, and truth. Contrary to how it might seem, many are receptive to what Christianity has to say, and as the Church, this is a moment that we cannot afford to ignore.

So, why should we care about ministry to university students?

Because the university years are spiritually decisive! Research consistently shows that many lifelong faith commitments (or rejections) are made early in life, and the ages of 18 to 24 are crucial. These are years when students are forming the habits, relationships, and worldviews that will guide them for decades to come. If the Church isn’t present in these formative spaces, other voices will fill the void.

Enter the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO)

We are excited to partner with the CCO through their Affiliate Partner Network, a model that equips local churches and ministries to engage students on nearby campuses. CCO believes, as do we, that students need more than just a Christian club or event. They need a Christian community, rooted in the local church, that invites them to know Jesus and follow Him with their whole lives.

The Affiliate Partner Network provides a framework for churches to begin this kind of ministry, even without prior experience on campus. Through training, coaching, and ongoing support, CCO helps local leaders launch sustainable outreach that brings the hope of the Gospel to students where they are.

How can your church get started?

It begins with prayer and a willingness to explore. Is there a college or university near your church? Has God placed a burden on your heart for young adults? If so, the Affiliate Partner Network might be a perfect fit. CCO walks alongside partner churches, helping them discern the right model – whether that means hiring a full-time campus minister, equipping current staff, or raising up lay leaders.

The beauty of this approach is that your church doesn’t do this alone. You join a movement of churches and campus ministers who believe that students aren’t just the future of the Church – they are part and parcel of the Church today.

Another way that you can join the mission to reach university students is through Anglican Campus Fellowship. I’ve shared about the LIFE Leadership Academy program with you before, but want to bring it to your attention once again. While the Academy is not overtly Christian, the principles that it teaches are bible-based and one of its goals is to open up doors for spiritual conversations. Participants work with Christian leadership mentors, and the impact reaches beyond the classroom into students’ lives. The mentors will have a chance to not only give sound guidance on leadership, but to engage in spiritual conversations that naturally flow from the lessons learned during the workshops.

The Ask is not Big, but the Impact is

Are you a professional, retired or active, that can give a few hours a month to guiding a college-aged student? If you’re interested in learning more about how your church can join this mission to reach campuses or how you individually can mentor a university student one-on-one, contact me so that we can begin the conversation.

Let’s not miss the opportunity to meet students at the crossroads of faith and life. The time is now. The mission is urgent. And the harvest is ripe. Will you be a laborer in the vineyard of the Lord?