One of the early gospel efforts Tammy and I were privileged to serve in at Temple Baptist Church was the Christian Volunteers ministry on the campus of the University of Tennessee. During that time over twenty years ago God stirred a deep burden in my heart to reach college students for Christ. Kyle Austin also caught that passion and has now committed himself to helping local churches begin Collegians For Christ chapters at universities and colleges across America. I am happy to share his guest post and hope that you will pray about how God could use you to take the truth to your local campus and touch the world…
Where can you go to reach America and its future leaders? Where can you go to reach atheists and agnostics from all over the world? What about Muslims from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, or Iran? What about Buddhists and Hindus from China, Thailand, or Japan?
The answer to each of these questions is the colleges and universities in America! The college campus is quite possibly one of the most powerful launching points from which to reach the world with the Gospel.
We are told that roughly 70% of 18-22 year olds who regularly attend church stop attending during this age. Where are these young people at? 79% of high school graduates attend some form of higher education by the second year after graduation with 88% attending by the age of 26. The vast majority of our young people can be found on the college campuses.
Another tremendous aspect to reaching the colleges is the fact that the world has come to the campuses of America. The 2017-18 school year was the twelfth straight year in a row that the international student population hit a record high with 1,094,792 students studying in America. The average college campus is represented by 40-80 nations. Many of these students come from countries listed as restricted, hostile, or unreached by missionary efforts such as China, India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Kuwait, and Vietnam. Think of the opportunity that God is giving the church in America to reach world leaders from many different countries.
The door is not closed to carry the Gospel to these campuses, it is wide open!
God has provided a tremendous door of opportunity to establish a student-initiated ministry on the college campus through a sponsoring local church that the school recognizes. This provides full access to the students, faculty, and staff. We are witnessing ministries being established with both American and international students believing on Jesus Christ. Students are growing in their faith, connecting and serving in the local church, making strong friendships with other believers, and are active in outreach in the community and on their campus!
Would you like to learn more about this amazing open door God has provided and how you can have an active ministry on your local campus? Collegians for Christ is a local church ministry that is equipped to assist churches in establishing these ministries on their local campuses. We provide the necessary training, tools, and resources to start, maintain, and grow an effective ministry.
If you have questions or would like more information you may contact Kyle Austin at 828-832-6505 or austin@cfccampusministry.com. Visit Collegians For Christ online at www.cfccampusministry.com.
