Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) is kicking off the fall semester of ministry with gospel-fueled, welcome week events on campuses across the state.
In Little Rock, the BCM kicked off the school year with a jam-packed welcome week. They started with an ice cream social, where they saw over 130 unique individuals connecting with others inside their BCM building on campus.
The next night, Little Rock BCM held its annual Baggo Bash on campus, where they saw over 250 individuals gather to connect with others and compete for prizes. Following that was their first BCM Collective service of the semester. They had 108 students gather on the Tuesday night before classes started and reported multiple responses to receive Jesus.
Little Rock BCM Campus Minister Matt Stubbs said the following Tuesday was even larger with 133 total students gathered and two more individuals responding to surrender their lives to Jesus.
Stubbs called campus ministry “the most strategic mission field on the planet.”
“College students from all around the state, the country, and globe are being brought to the campus for what they believe to be their ‘purpose.’ They will try and find their purpose in a sport, a relationship, a major, a job, etc. As campus ministers, we get the privilege and opportunity to show them that their true purpose is to know Jesus and make Jesus known for the rest of their lives,” he said. “Campus ministry does not merely have a momentary impact, but an eternal impact.”
At University of Arkansas in Monticello (UAM) they had 108 students attend their first fall worship service. In Magnolia, South Arkansas University had 92 attend their first worship service of the semester. During its first service of the school year, University of Arkansas in Fort Smith (UAFS) welcomed 107 students in attendance with five showing interest in following Jesus.
The BCM at Arkansas Tech University (ATU) had 140 students attend its first worship service of the fall semester.
ATU BCM Campus Minister Adam McCampbell said their main events happen on the first three days of classes. They partnered with First Baptist Church in Russellville for a welcome party, where students came to play games and win giveaways. They also broke into Community Groups that night for students to have a chance to meet the BCM’s Community Group leaders. Another event they hosted is their annual BCM Luau. They had nearly 80 freshmen at this event.
To finish off the week, they went to the top of Mount Nebo, where Caleb Reynolds of First Baptist Church in Dover led worship as they watched the sunset. They had nearly 90 attend this year.
Since the beginning of the semester, McCampbell said the gospel has been shared broadly on campus and at BCM. They have seen four salvations and have several others wanting to rededicate their lives.
“Arkansas Tech BCM’s goal is to mobilize students to serve. We have nearly 40 leaders this year, this semester, and everything we do, they lead,” McCampbell said. “It is awesome to see students giving up hours to serve for the purpose of reaching other students.”
This semester, ATU BCM is partnering with Church in the Dirt for what they are calling “Project 1121.”
“Our vision for this is coming from Acts 11:21. We are asking students to pray every day at 11:21 for God to move and stir the hearts of those far from Jesus on campus. Our goal is to share the gospel with every student on campus this fall by Nov 21 – there are around 2,500 students on the campus of Arkansas Tech,” McCampbell said. He said they have ordered about 3,500 bracelets with the King’s Way witness on them for the students to give out and share 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.
“We have found that for our students, this has been very helpful in getting them to have gospel conversations,” he said.
In Northwest Arkansas, University of Arkansas BCM had 275 students for their first service with 103 first-time guests and many indications of wanting to talk further about following Jesus. Arkansas State University (ASU) had 156 in the room for worship for its first worship service of the semester, the highest in 10 years.
Henderson State University BCM engaged in 15 gospel conversations throughout welcome week events, invited over 300 students to BCM events, and reported 11 students who have indicated that they would like to know more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) welcomed 80 students to a BCM lunch. They received 35-40 first time guest cards and heard from 20 people who want to know more about following Jesus. South Arkansas Community College in El Dorado had over 50 attend its first ever BCM lunch meeting.
At Conway BCM, they saw 420 students at their first Collective service of the fall, including 180 freshmen, and reported two salvations. They hosted multiple events leading up to the worship service including a carnival on campus, where multiple churches were involved, as well as a lawn party.
Conway BCM Campus Minister Thomas Guinee said campus ministries are incredibly valuable. From a campus perspective, he said campus ministries help with retention.
“Often, we see that a student who does not connect anywhere as they come to campus is a student that often times drops out or goes home. Getting involved in places like campus ministries is a significant part of why many students stay on campus,” Guinee said.
From a BCM perspective, the Lord is working through campus ministries at the universities. “Students are encountering the gospel and lives are changed as a result,” Guinee said. Campus ministries also provide leadership opportunities. He said they “want to be the very first people who are willing to give a student an opportunity to lead.”
“We see a lot of students who are able to step into their giftings or are able to lead for Christ in what they’re doing on campus,” Guinee said. “Not only does the Lord use them to change the lives of others but those leadership opportunities truly help them step forward and grow in their faith with Jesus as well.”
These are just some of the ways BCMs are already making a Kingdom impact on campuses in Arkansas this fall.
On Sept. 19-21, BCMs from all around the state will gather at Camp Paron for their annual Fall Retreat. Stubbs said it “will be a tremendous time of worship, teaching, and fellowship all weekend long.”
“Students may come to know Jesus, and leaders will be equipped to be the hands and feet of Jesus back on campus and all over the world,” he said.
Each week, BCMs meet throughout the state in university spaces, ABSC-owned ministry buildings or in local churches, with one purpose: to give every student the opportunity to encounter Jesus and experience life. By enabling the work of BCM, Arkansas Baptists are engaged in ministry to the most strategic place on earth – the college campus.
If you lead college ministry and have not yet stepped into Greek Life, you could be missing one of the most connected and influential communities on your campus.
Fraternities and sororities are more than social clubs. They are close-knit, tradition-rich groups that shape campus culture, drive service projects, and influence the rhythms of student life. That makes them both a challenge and an incredible opportunity for the gospel.
Langston Baptist Church’s College Ministry in Conway, South Carolina, recently embraced that opportunity by hosting a Greek Night that drew more than seventy students from Sigma Phi Epsilon and Phi Sigma Sigma at Coastal Carolina University. The plan was simple: create a welcoming space, share a meal, and start honest conversations. The result was powerful. Twenty-four students indicated they wanted to follow Jesus, take a step toward baptism, or explore faith further.
The evening began with Chick-fil-A and open tables, making it easy for students to relax and connect. Along the way, leaders handed out resources, including study Bibles. For some, it was the first Bible they had ever received.
A short teaching on Biblical community set the tone for the rest of the night. Then came a live question-and-answer session where students anonymously submitted their questions. The questions were personal, honest, and sometimes raw. Leaders responded with Scripture, grace, and real-life application. It shifted the night from something people were attending to something they were part of.
Things wrapped up with “Cookies and Conversations,” a chance for small group discussions where relationships could take root. This unhurried ending allowed ministry leaders to connect on a deeper level with students who may have never walked into a church before.
One Greek student can influence an entire chapter. These organizations are already built around community, shared experiences, and loyalty. When the gospel takes hold in one member’s life, it has the potential to ripple outward quickly.
Yet the reality is that many Greek students will not walk into a ministry event on their own. Their schedules are full. Their social calendars are packed. Some have had negative experiences with Christians or simply assume faith is not for them. This is why going to them or creating something designed with them in mind matters so much. Langston Baptist did not wait for them to come. They extended personal invitations, built a night that felt like theirs, and made sure the welcome was genuine.
Building a Greek outreach is less about a perfect program and more about intentional presence. Relationships come first. Learn what matters to them, show respect for their commitments, and offer something that adds value to their lives. Create environments where questions are encouraged and honest conversation is normal. Be ready for the follow-up since personal connections after an event often matter more than the event itself.
If you picture your campus as a pancake, you imagine one big flat space where everyone is basically the same. A campus is more like a waffle. It has pockets that represent subcultures with their own identity and rhythms. Athletic teams, student government, music groups, and Greek chapters are all different pockets. Reaching the campus means being intentional about entering those pockets one at a time. Langston’s Greek Night worked because it targeted one specific pocket with purpose and care.
Greek Night was more than a one-off event. It was a model for how a ministry can focus on a specific campus community and build real connections that point to Jesus. Imagine what could happen if more ministries committed to stepping into these pockets, not just for one night but for the long haul!
When that happens, you might find yourself in a room full of fraternity brothers and sorority sisters wrestling with questions of faith, perhaps for the first time, and beginning a journey toward life in Christ.
Chad Stillwell is the Evangelism Team Leader and Collegiate Ministries Director for South Carolina.
The World Cup has officially arrived in the United States. For the next several weeks, the globe will be captivated by the beautiful game. Stadiums will roar with excitement, nations will hold their breath, and legends will be made on the pitch. But long before the first whistle ever echoed across an American stadium, God was already at work. A passionate group of college students from South Carolina had the privilege of witnessing a far greater victory than lifting a golden trophy—they saw God move powerfully, using the sport as a tool to save souls and help a church reach and connect with their community.
In late May, the Lord led ten students from South Carolina BCM to travel on mission to Manchester, United Kingdom. Partnering alongside IMB missionary Kris Kuriger, dedicated British believers, and Trinity Church Manchester, this team didn’t just cross an ocean; they stepped into divine appointments orchestrated by God. Their primary mission field? A neighborhood soccer pitch beating in the heart of one of Europe’s most legendary soccer capitals.
In Manchester, it’s not just soccer. It’s football. And football is the absolute lifeblood of the city. It dictates the rhythm of the week, shapes deep-rooted community identity, and dominates daily conversations. Knowing this, God masterfully took the very pulse of the city and used it as a brilliant bridge for His Gospel.
The Lord worked through the South Carolina BCM team as they joined forces with a local British church and an IMB missionary to host a dynamic football outreach camp for neighborhood children. As the student volunteers ran drills, cheered on every child, and forged authentic relationships, the Holy Spirit opened doors to share the ultimate story of love. By using the profound narrative of Abraham and Isaac, they illustrated a Heavenly Father who willingly sacrificed His only Son for our salvation.
God’s impact was nothing short of miraculous. Hearts were softened by His grace, and right there at the soccer camp, the Lord drew four individuals to make life-altering decisions to follow Christ!
But God’s transformative work didn’t stop with the local community; He was actively igniting the hearts of the American college students, too. Tyra, one of the students serving on the trip, watched the Holy Spirit move in real-time.
“One way I’ve seen God move on this trip in Manchester is seeing kids who were not interested in Christ having questions and becoming curious about Christ,” she shared, her faith renewed by the raw spiritual hunger God was awakening.
This is the beating heart of collegiate missions: God using students who are available and willing to go.
Across the Baptist Collegiate Network, the Lord is raising up a generation of students. Guided by His Spirit, they are dedicating their spring breaks, sacrificing their summers, and giving their absolute best through Baptist collegiate ministries, local churches, state conventions, Send Relief, NAMB, IMB, and other vital mission partners. From the bustling streets of North American cities to remote, unreached corners of the globe, God is sending these students into places of deep spiritual need.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, these young adults realize they do not need to wait until after graduation to fulfill the Great Commission. God is sending them now. Their leaders are helping them recognize that their campus years are not a mere “waiting room” for future obedience. When students are intentionally discipled, equipped, and surrendered to God’s will, He uses their open hands and willing hearts in extraordinary ways.
Collegiate leaders are helping students understand that they are not just preparing for life after college. They are following Jesus now. They are not merely future church leaders. They are present-day witnesses.
Beyond the football pitch, the Lord guided the team as they partnered with Trinity Church Manchester to reach out to Muslim families in the northern part of the city. The students witnessed the Holy Spirit empowering local believers to love their neighbors. Students were blessed to partner with church members who themselves give time each week to genuine conversations and intentionality to share the Gospel. One member, an 80-year-old retired nurse, uses her time each week to share the Gospel with people who have little access to the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Justin, another student profoundly impacted by the trip, watched God crumble walls through honest, spiritual dialogue.
“I have seen God move in amazing ways,” Justin testified, “and one of those ways is having people coming from a Muslim background who have never been to church asking deep theological questions about Jesus and wanting to really seek Him and learn more about Him.”
IMB missionary Kris Kuriger emphasized that God has made Manchester a profoundly strategic training ground for college students, offering immediate impact.
“One of the benefits of coming to the UK is there’s no language barrier, so you can jump right into ministry,” Kuriger noted. Yet, the spiritual hunger is immense. “Most of the UK is less than two percent Christian now,” he urged. “It is an opportunity for Christian students to come and actually reach the least of these, and so we want to invite you as a college student to join in with what God is doing.”
Through Baptist collegiate groups, God is actively helping students discover their divine calling in this global mission. For some, He uses a single, one-week trip to shatter their worldly perspective and open their eyes to His global heartbeat. For others, God uses a summer assignment to forge an unbreakable courage to witness as they learn to rely on Him in a new city.
As the World Cup dominates screens across America, millions will celebrate the world’s game. But in Manchester, God allowed a team of South Carolina college students to see the Creator of the universe use a simple sport to open eternal doors. They saw God love children through time spent around a football. They rejoiced as the Holy Spirit called four souls from darkness into light.
The Lord has made the college generation ready. He is equipping them to serve, giving them the hunger to go, and preparing them to carry the Gospel from their campus quads to the nations. The only question that remains is whether churches, ministries, and leaders will continue to partner with God by boldly calling them, training them, and sending them out into the world He so desperately loves.
Chad Stillwell is the Evangelism Share Team Leader and Collegiate Ministries Director for the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
Several years ago, a group of young men at UH began meeting regularly for a men’s Bible study. Week after week, they gathered in our building or somewhere on campus to read Scripture, pray, and share life together. This past fall, some of those same men felt led to pursue deeper accountability and spiritual growth.
At our January leadership retreat, our male staff met with these student leaders and asked what they hoped to see in ministry to men. From those conversations, accountability groups were formed for any men who wanted to participate. Now, each week, these small groups meet to pray for one another, encourage one another, and engage in evangelism together.
It has been a gift from the Lord to watch these followers of Jesus step up and intentionally invest in their relationships with God and with one another, seeking to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” After just one semester, we are already seeing the fruit of their faithfulness and intentionality in the spiritual growth and maturity of our young men.
“UH BSM, this is Shannon.” “Hello, is there a priest there that I could meet with?” “No, but I am a minister, and I’d be happy to meet with you.”
That was how I first met a wonderful Iranian student I’ll call M.
M came to my office, and we spent a couple of hours getting to know each other and hearing her story. Week after week, she returned. She was not a believer, but she was open to conversations about faith. She described herself as someone who had once been atheist but now considered herself agnostic. During our conversations, I would share stories from Scripture that related to her circumstances, and we would close our time together in prayer.
Toward the end of the semester, life became especially difficult for M. The demands of her academic program intensified, while concerns for her family grew as tensions escalated in Iran.
Around that same time, another ministry in Houston, Global Gates, was hosting a group of gap-year interns. They hoped to connect with Iranian students during their four days in Houston in order to build friendships, learn more about Iranian culture, and create opportunities to share their faith. Kevin reached out to ask if I knew any Iranian students who might be interested.
M was one of the first people I texted. A few days before the event, she met with Kevin to hear more about the plans for the week. In the end, M not only attended herself but also connected five other Iranian students to the group.
The evenings were filled with conversation, shared testimonies, cultural exchange, dancing, games, and genuine friendship. At the end of the week, M texted, “I had an amazing time with my new friends, and I miss them already.”
I continue to watch with great expectation as the Lord works in M’s life. It has been a privilege to walk alongside her patiently, trusting God to continue drawing her to Himself.
Rose came to college with a Christian background, but during her freshman year, she began drifting from her faith. Through Instagram and campus platforms, she started seeing information about the BSM. She wanted to check it out, but she was hesitant. What if the group was strange or overly intense? She noticed that the BSM regularly hosted coffee outreach on campus and thought that might be a low-pressure way to connect.
One morning, while walking through the student center, Rose saw students giving away free coffee. She grabbed a cup and walked away, but after a few steps, she realized this was the very group she had been wanting to meet. She turned around, went back to the table, and met Moriah and Ashley.
Ashley, who leads the Freshman Bible Study, invited Rose to come check it out, and she decided to give it a try. After meeting the group, Rose told the leaders, “Wow, y’all are cool Christians.” That moment became the beginning of Rose diving fully into community and discipleship.
Rose soon started attending free lunch gatherings, where one of our staff members, Hannah, who also co-leads the Freshman Bible Study, had the opportunity to hear more of her story. During one of those conversations, Rose shared that she had previously accepted Christ but wanted to be baptized again because her first baptism had been forced on her. This time, she wanted it to be her own decision and expression of faith.
At our final worship gathering of the semester, we were able to celebrate that step with her baptism. Rose invited several of her non-Christian friends to attend. When asked to share her confession of faith, she said, “I am ready to take the Lord with me through all walks of life and turn the old into new.”
Shannon Lambert is the Student Minister for BSM at the University of Houston. Follow the ministry on Instagram @uhbsm.
God is moving in Arizona! This year, Challenge AZ is partnered with 20 local churches reaching out to 24 college campuses. There are 35 missionaries spearheading these ministries. Below is an update from Ellie Lambert, Campus Missionary at Arizona State University’s downtown campus.
“At the end of 2025, I celebrated 5 years of serving with Christian Challenge as a collegiate missionary!
When I started my college journey, I had no idea the Lord would call me into vocational ministry, but I am so thankful for his intentional and careful direction in my life. Through Challenge I have been able to cultivate a lifestyle of living out the gospel, sharing Christ’s love with others and raising up leaders for his church.
This semester we have a student leadership team of eight: one senior, three juniors, three sophomores and one freshmen. Together they are leading two small group bible studies on campus as they dive verse-by-verse into the book of Genesis. Please be praying for our leaders and these intentional small group studies.
One leader I have had the pleasure of growing close to in discipleship and development is Rhiannon. (Above is a photo of Rhiannon and I at tabling.) Rhiannon was a brand new believer when I first met her freshman year. Since then she has grown exponentially in her faith and enjoys discipling other girls, sharing the gospel with anyone she meets on campus, leading bible studies and organizing missions projects. It is clear the Lord has placed a call to ministry on her heart and she has been working closely with me to take on some of my role as a missionary. Praise God for her faith and growth! It is a true joy to watch as the Lord uses our ministry to mobilize servants for his kingdom!”
You can follow the ministry at ASU DT on Instagram @challengeasudt, and Christian Challenge AZ @christianchallengeaz.
This school year has brought about some new challenges in our world of international students. Across the United States, the number of international students has greatly declined because of the political climate. It wasn’t a surprise, but we have seen its effects now. However, this past Thanksgiving was wonderful! At Purdue University, we have a program created by our university called, “Host-A-Boiler”. In this program, international students can sign up with it and be assigned to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with a family from the community.
For our organization, Launch Campus Ministry (formerly known as the Purdue BCM), and families, we hosted over 60 students between two homes. We had students from 16 different countries. Between two homes, we prepared over 34lbs of turkey and 10lbs of ham. It was a wonderful experience for everyone involved.
One Korean grad student shared, “Thanks so much for your invitation! I truly enjoyed the food. I was alone and lonely, but you helped me a lot.” Another Columbian grad student shared, “Thank you so much for hosting us! It was a wonderful Thanksgiving day and a great opportunity to learn from different cultures. God bless you and your family!”
Some Gospel conversations were had, but hospitality speaks loudly as well. We would highly recommend finding ways to show the biblical practice of hospitality to the “foreigner” as often as you can. It is a sacrifice, but a rewarding one at that. Hebrews 13:2: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Dennis Runner is the International Team Minister with Launch Campus Ministry at Purdue. Learn more about the ministry at launchcampusministry.com.
Giving international students a good send off and finding ways to stay connected is so valuable in keeping an ongoing relationship with them. It is encouraging to see God at work in their lives, even beyond the time they spend on your campus. As the semester is ending, here are things to consider as students are graduating or transferring to another college.
Teresa Royall is the Campus Expansion Consultant for Georgia.
It’s been said that who leads your college ministry will largely determine who your college ministry will reach. I’ve seen this to be true over and over again. The selection of staff and lead team members matter, and it ripples (or doesn’t) throughout campus.
When selecting lead teams, select leaders from the parts of campus that you want to reach. If you want to reach all sections of campus, ask God to open doors with leaders who represent all parts of campus. This includes gender, melanin, and campus activities such as sports, clubs and Greek life. Seek students who spend time in a variety of campus locations as well, including an assortment of residence halls, apartment complexes, and academic buildings.
Share a clear and honest vision and invite leaders into the vision. King Solomon’s wisdom in Proverbs 29:18 speaks to this; “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Repeat the vision of your ministry often, keeping leaders on track and affirming the part they play in it.
Enlist people who are NOT like you yet have chemistry with you and are unified with the vision of your ministry. Try to include people who are introverts and extroverts, morning people and night owls, planned and spontaneous, detailed and big picture, grace and truth, risk takers and safe players. Paul encourages believers in I Corinthians 9:20 to “be all things to all people so by all means possible some might be saved.”
Engage people who are already leading, not necessarily in your ministry but on campus. These are the students who people want to be around. If they throw a party, everyone will want to come. In Henry Blackaby’s Spiritual Leadership, he states that “a spiritual leader leads all people not just church people.”
Some common characteristics of next-level leaders include:
Spiritually and emotionally, they aren’t perfect but they are committed to the journey of growth. John Maxwell has said that “the secret of your future is found in your daily routine.” Eugene Peterson writes, “The spiritual life is long obedience in the same direction.” Next-level leaders are committed to following Jesus, one good habit at a time.
Romans 12:10 says, “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” This kind of leader can walk in the middle of campus and be at home with whoever they may find there, showing honor to the sinner and the saint alike.
Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests but take an interest in others too.” They have the correct perspective about their own weakness, sin, and need for God. This allows them to easily enter into another’s life with grace and humility.
We read in Galatians 5:25, “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” It truly is a paradox – God has called us to do something that only He can do. Spiritually aware leaders get this.
Jabez’s mom named him a Hebrew word similar to a word meaning distress or pain because his childbirth was so painful. He prayed the opposite of this for his life, and God granted his request. His prayer is found in I Chronicles 4:10.
“Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory? Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain?” Next-level leaders hope for more, pray for more, and plan for more!
Galatians 6:10 teaches, “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone…” Next-level leaders tend to respond to opportunity with, “YES!” They are committed to excellence, which is different than being a perfectionist, and they don’t get too bent out of shape with lots of moving parts.
They will likely have a natural gift of one or the other, but they see the value of both seeing the big picture of where we would like to go and how we can move from point A to point B.
Next-level leaders need and appreciate several things from you, including clarity, freedom, and time. Lead with clarity. Let your leaders know what you want from them, what result is desired, and the why behind the tasks. Repeat the why or the vision often. Give your high-capacity leaders freedom to lead with a safety net if needed. Show them how something is done. Do it with them. Watch them do it and give feedback. Finally, let them do it alone. Let them know you are in it with them and have their back. Failing forward is still a win. Give them regular time with you to share life, speak truth, and develop them as leaders and disciples. This can be as little as 45 minutes every two weeks or as much as an hour per week, but the key is for it to be a consistent priority.
Once these high-capacity leaders say yes to serving on your team, invest in them in a way that makes them want to continue!
Linda Weir is Director of Ministry at Pinelake Church in Starkville, Mississippi. You can follow Pinelake’s Starkville campus on Instagram @pinelakestarkville.
“What is God’s will for my life? I think I’m going to change my major. What do you think I should do? I’m freaking out because I’m graduating and have no idea what to do next. Can you help me?” How often do you get questions like these from students?
We all desire work that is fulfilling, meaningful, and aligned with who we are and who we strive to become. However, such opportunities are hard to find. The statistics consistently show this, but you don’t need to hear them; you see it around you—in people you know who feel unfulfilled, unhappy, burdened, and depressed by their jobs. It is frustrating to witness students struggle without effective tools or frameworks to address their challenges.
Students are at a stage where some key input from seasoned leaders could have a lifelong impact in this area. Because they don’t know their purpose, students often lack passion and confidence in their vocational direction. They struggle with anxiety, disengagement, and apathy because they lack clarity or a sense of God’s direction in their career choices. You have the potential to help every student you know avoid the trap of unfulfilling work.
Every student is unique, individually called by God, and gifted in special ways. Yet few are aware of how these factors should impact their lives or vocations. They need assistance in discovering a path that leads not just to a good job but to a fulfilling life centered in God’s design for them. To build the right foundation, they must ask the right questions, gain a clearer understanding of themselves, and gain real-world experiences and feedback.
Implementing a vocational discipleship plan for your students likely requires only minor additions to your current activities. However, the level of insight and deeper conversations with students could be revolutionary. Helping them find the intersection of their gifts, strengths, passions, and preferences with their calling will guide them toward career fulfillment, confidence, effectiveness, and the freedom to advance the Kingdom as they lead in ministry, mission, and marketplace.
These blocks enable students to ask the essential questions needed to discover their calling. To grow, you need a solid understanding of yourself, knowledge of your options, and an honest assessment of your current reality. With this understanding, you can develop a plan and take actionable steps to move forward. As students apply this information and gain experience, they will progress further and faster with a guide who regularly evaluates their progress toward their goals. When you create opportunities for students to engage in real work and receive constructive feedback, growth can occur rapidly.
Many great discovery tools are available to help students get to know themselves. The best tools reveal students’ motivations, preferences, interests, behavioral tendencies, strengths, weaknesses, and growth opportunities. Great books and online tools can help, as can assessments like Strengths Finder or the Harrison Assessment, which I use almost exclusively. Some are inexpensive or like the Harrison Assessment require some investment.
The key is creating a systematic way of ensuring students in your ministry have a dialogue about these topics. Simple tweaks and additions to how you develop students to create vocational discipleship opportunities can have a game-changing impact on student confidence in this area.
You likely already do this, at least with your student leaders, interns, and staff. This should include planning, implementation, testing, feedback, course correction, and redirection. You can do this through group interactions with your leadership team and in one-on-one sessions as well.
For leadership development to be effective for our students, it must include at least three elements: a plan or task that provides them with something to accomplish; implementation, where they actively engage in the task—typically, the best learning tasks are repetitive and occur consistently over a semester; and finally, reflection, where they can think about the positives and negatives, consider potential improvements, and receive feedback on how they can improve.
Reflection is where you provide the most support. Asking insightful questions prompts them to pause, reflect, and possibly change their behavior, attitude, or thoughts to improve and change. I’ve found that coaching is the most effective format for this process. In coaching, the student is the one doing the thinking and reflecting; you don’t do it for them. By asking good questions, you help them draw out what went well, what needs improvement, and how to create a plan for next time. Personal ownership is crucial.
One of the greatest strengths experienced Collegiate Ministers have is their capacity to effectively gauge students’ spiritual and emotional health. Often, through a few conversations, you can gain a solid understanding of a student’s maturity and developmental needs. Tools like the Harrison Assessment offer extremely accurate and quick insight into these same dynamics, removing guesswork. The knowledge acquired in a single session reviewing a student’s results dramatically shortens the time needed for discovery through one-on-one meetings. This speed in understanding students can greatly enhance their growth during their time in your ministry.
Here is my encouragement:
Your impact in this area has countless potential ripples. Students with a fulfilling vocation aligned with their calling, empowered to influence God’s kingdom, represent a beautiful vision. It’s disheartening to see students continue to grapple with confusion about majors, vocation, direction, and calling, particularly when they lack effective strategies for support. Surely, God’s plan is to deepen the pool of potential ministry and mission-focused students. The process isn’t complicated, but it’s not always easy. If you would like to continue this conversation, I would love to talk!
Chad Wilkin is the co-director of the BCM at Indiana State University in Terra Haute, Indiana.
