By Travis Hamm, BR-KC Collegiate Minister and MBC Collegiate Ministry Strategist
College Ministry Partnership
On Tuesday, July 30th, Collegiate Impact hosted our first New Partners Training. Representatives from 7 K.C. area churches gathered to learn what it looks like to partner together in discipling college students. The evening included introductions of individuals and churches, training on how to disciple college students, opportunities to ask and answer college ministry questions, and a time of prayer for our colleges, the students, and our ministries.
I could not be more pleased with who God brought to this event. In just a couple hours, I witnessed the beginning of new friendships as these total strangers shared their passion for ministering to college students. Some individuals exchanged contact information. Others sought ways to get students from their churches connected to on campus ministries and vice versa. It was beautiful to be in the same room as these gospel laborers.
This event was the first of what I hope to be many New Partners Training events as we welcome more Kansas City area churches to join our network to bring the gospel to college students throughout the city.
New Ministry at Maple Woods
Since January my Ministry Apprentice, Daniel Graham, has been working to launch a new college ministry at Maple Woods Community College. Over that span we have celebrated one student becoming a follower of Jesus, we have seen a handful of students gather around a shared desire for ministering on the campus, and we have connected with two faculty members that want to help facilitate on-campus ministry. With the fall semester starting at Maple Woods, Daniel and some of these students have been meeting with new students and inviting them to attend a monthly worship gathering on campus. On Monday, September 10 Christians on Campus held their first gathering, and were excited to see 13 students in attendance. This is a good start, and one we hope God will build upon.
Men’s Bible Study at UMKC
Like many of the colleges in Kansas City, the University of Missouri-Kansas City has a large commuter population. I have had the opportunity to start a men’s weekly Bible Study with four of commuter students. What’s exciting for me about this group is that it is a mix of believers and not-yet-believers. We’re looking to God’s Word to help us understand what the Gospel is all about and how it impacts our everyday lives. I’m praying God uses our time to equip the believers to be disciple-makers and for our not-yet-believers to put their trust in the gospel of Jesus.
