We all know how formative a campus ministry is for students, but it can also be extremely formative for those who lead it. Whether they are called interns, campus missionaries, apprentices, or something else, it is apparent that asking students and recent grads to consider serving on a campus is extremely valuable, not only for impacting the campus, but in shaping their calling as well. Here, a few of these individuals share some of their stories!
“I praise God for my time on staff at the UGA BCM! It has been a sweet time of growth in my personal walk with the Lord. I see many ways it has prepared me for my future ministry plans. I am thankful for the way this job has challenged me to be bold in the Gospel. Through leading students in evangelistic opportunities, I’ve had the chance to talk to many students from diverse backgrounds about who Jesus is. This has given me training in sharing the Gospel in a meaningful and clear way to people from all walks of life. This will greatly prepare me as I move towards working overseas in the future to share with those who don’t know Christ yet. I’m also grateful for the leadership experience the UGA BCM has given me. I’ve grown in leadership skills like balancing the managerial aspects of leading a team while also pouring into the students’ spiritual walks. I’ve learned how to have hard conversations in grace and take advantage of teaching opportunities. These leadership skills will prove useful in any future role, but particularly as I lead teams of people who are traveling for the sake of the Gospel and furthering the Kingdom.”
AK, Georgia BCM
“Becoming the Campus Missionary at Texas Wesleyan has brought about several positive outcomes, among them, the Lord’s guidance in clarifying some key hopes for the future. There were a lot of uncertainties about taking a CM position in a city that I had yet to call home. As the Lord frequently does, His call involved stepping out of my comfort zone. Relocating to Fort Worth, figuring out the ins and outs of Texas Wesleyan, a new campus, getting married, all while searching for a new church proved to be quite overwhelming tasks. Throughout the whole process, I had people from the BSM who aided me in these big life transitions. Not once did I lack the tools I needed to succeed. The Lord used His people in the BSM to show me His remarkable ways of meeting needs. This experience will forever serve as a reminder of how God accompanies His children in any new life circumstance, offering encouragement as I transition into a marketplace job. My takeaways from my time as a CM do not stop at an awareness of God’s provision, however. My time at Texas Wesleyan was beautiful because every hour felt like meaning ful kingdom-building work. The efforts made there for the Lord will always hold eternal value. Students’ now have an eternity with Jesus that they didn’t have a mere 9 months ago. In the midst of a challenging work week, I’ve learned the importance of intentionality. I feel that I have an understanding of what a full work week looks like. Likewise, through my involvement in college ministry, the Lord has deepened my passion for reaching more Spanish speakers with the Gospel. My wife and I have always had a desire to use our love of Spanish culture for the Kingdom, and I know with certainty now that we cannot ignore that passion. While my next step involves transitioning to a marketplace job as my wife takes on my role at Texas Wesleyan, I’m now more in tune to how God leads, forever grateful for how God has used college ministry to kindly correct my priorities and to pursue work of eternal significance, irrespective of my surroundings.”
Morgun Mason, TX BSM
“Ever since God called me to this position, I have had countless opportunities to be poured into. Challenge staff from all over Arizona now know me personally and have offered me help in my spiritual and ministerial growth. My favorite source of wisdom has been my supporters! Support raising has inspired me as I have made relationships with wonderful servants of God that I never would have made without being an apprentice. These incredible men and women care deeply, both about the ministry that they are now a part of, and about myself and my walk with God. It has been an honor and privilege to be an apprentice in God’s work here in Arizona.”
Parker Jones, Christian Challenge AZ
“I am currently wrapping up my second year serving as a campus missionary with the BCMs of Greater Nashville at Belmont and Vanderbilt University. Being physically on campus is a great way to run into students I have not seen in a while! This mostly applies to the campuses I currently serve at since the student population is under 10,000, but I believe it is important to get out of your ministry building and onto campus as much as you can. I will be returning to my alma mater to serve with the BCM at Middle Tennessee State University as the Associate Campus Minister. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve another campus that means so much to me. Being a campus missionary gave me a chance to lead in ministry while having a safety net of experienced campus ministers who shaped me into a more confident leader. I have become a more confident communicator, and I have a better understanding of how campus ministers structure college ministry by knowing the ins and outs of their campuses. Not to mention, being a campus missionary created space for me to discern what my ministry calling is through learning about my strengths and weaknesses.”
Shelby Hall, TN BCM
“I have spent the past year as an apprentice with Christian Challenge at Arizona Christian University. Christian Challenge on a Christian campus definitely functions differently than other Christian Challenge chapters, and we focus heavily on discipleship and equipping our students to become strong leaders for Christ. The past year has shown me how important it is to plug students into community as well as how much a student is capable of when they have Christ at the center of their lives. Arizona Christian University does a great job of preparing their students to go into the world with a biblical worldview and I am glad I had the ability to be a small part of this through working for Christian Challenge. This past year I saw students forge strong community, learn to teach and lead bible studies, and start to get over their fears of praying in front of others or leading large groups. What a privilege to watch students grow in the Lord!
Macy Spangler, Christian Challenge AZ
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